The Prohibitionists

A half dozen prohibitionists met in Fireman'8 hall, yesterday at 11 a. m., thé time fixed for the Washtenaw county conference of their party. This number wa3 ncreased to twenty-five by noon. With the exception of the appointment of a commlttee on resolutions, no business was transaoted at thig session. The chair man of the county committee, B. J. Cjürad, presided; and he stated the objert of the conference. A good deal of bitterness was displayed against the Republican party cor.cerning the local cption law. Joseph Falk, a Germán, of Ypsilanti, would not even sign a petition for an election : he diiin't want local option at all. Others, and by far the mnjirity present, would eign such a petition if it were brought to them. O. R. L. Crcz:er, of Ann Arbor, would sign a petition to prohibit the use of liquor in the wood-yard acros3 the way, wbich could be eeen from the window ; but he thought local option was nonsense. Rer. J. D. Shulta, of Augusta, $aid that the local option law was intended to etave ofiF the question 1 11 after the presidential election; and that if it carne before the supreme court it would be declared unconstitutional. This idea was combatted a little; but i)O sympathy for the local option law was created. Charles Boylan was indignant and wanted the Republicans to nurse their own " local option baby." Rev. G. L. Poote, f Ypsilanti, wanted the prohibitionists to keep qiiiet about local option, but to help sny movement in that direction. A committee ou resolutions relative to ihe local option law was appointed aR Wlows: Chirles M. Fellows, Shron; O. R. L. Cnz.er, Ann Aibor; Rev. G. L Fuote, Ypsilanti; Rev. J. D. Shults, Augusta; Andrew J. Smheiland, Ann Arboi. The conferrnce then adjourned to Cropsey's hall, where the ladies had provided dinner for the cause. In the aftemoon, Hon. Chas. S. May, of Kalamezjo, sppe:red before the conference and tnlked about forty minute, dwelling largcly upon the neceesity of political organization to carry om their ideo. Tnere were about one huodreii ladieB and f. er tlemen present. At the close of the speech the fdlowing resolutious were adopted without dii-cusi-inn: Whereas, We df plore the evils of inteir.perance.it is the uniud expression ol tbis con Ierence that weare thauklul for all the LegisJature has done in tiie Jine of lempeiauce and prohibítory legislatiuu, therelore Roenlved, That as prohibitionists we will hail with joy tlie banishment oí the saloons from the coi.uty either thiough local i.ption or by a Mate law enloretd by Biatc authonty ; Resolved, That we will eamestly work forprohibitmu ihrough local oplion wilh the party that pa&ed the pr sent law wuose duty ve deern it to be tu petitiuii aud proceed as the biatute provides; ReKolved, That we will contii ue to work lor piohitntiou in the couuiy, sta e. and uation, and Tole only for Ihose who will make and execute laws to iliis end. The iollowing persons were appointed a committee to hire a speakrr to canva.-s the counfy: Wm. Slyer, John Schumacher aud Isaac F. Dunn, of Anu Arbor. After Mr. May reached Ann Arbor, it was decided to have him make hismain address in the evenitig. Fireman's hall was well Slled, a number ot students being in niiance. Tne Iollowing is a brief abstract ot the evt-ning ddress: ABSTRACT OF MR. MAY'S SPEECH. Mr May said ihat continu, d agilation against wrong aud wicvkedness is the law of human prosret. tan weturvive a a ptople-a fiec people - at the rate ftt which weare now Kping iu ctrtaiu directioii!! Can we 8end a lilllluu oí dollars every ytari lor strong drink and tobáceo to Poíhou, müiiijtt:, aud corrupt the blo id of our people. and munuain liberly and free government .n ibis Imiui ? We want religión, educaiion, public and prmale iniegrny. aud similicity. He fipoke of the ttri! íble lucrt ate ot extravagance and garub'lug as brelaking dowu the mtegrity of tlie peop;e. Mi.re than allí, we want temperance. Intemperanue is our Areatesi evil, our greatest dauger ; It aggrü vates all ulie othert. otliingcan bt; d ne while this remnius li thn.tcij8 tvery inierest. The baloon thri-aileus ihe home, society, the stat, and mai houd. Vtihat coi stiiutes a siati ? Men I Anatíon oí drunl.ardc rnoi Le depended upon. A volum of iniquity is pouring throiuh the greut sireom ( il hireduj to poiu and vmp our puBicriiy aud our libe.ty. Ml-u of America, have we any timi ! to loe? What o her ksue is to be comp&i ed lo ti lis? He tppealed to patiiotifcm, to cuDMUnM e. "No," taid Mi . May. "we havt the legal right ano powtr todei roy this great tvil. We musí uo it. Thcre is oiil y ouc iignt wy,- Fiolnbi ion. 'O tte ws nt wilh baloims? Wilh "j .Ui.o rum-selliTS? V i ;h n.ne hundrtd million -pent in cniik every ye u ? Ve niUM niake rmu drii kipg imponible, ind rum-beiling unlawlul. '10 license ii is i., eoi btuttoic. 'O, ihnt all ii. ;n could fee their duiy on this greal queMion I V iih uieot tvil n moved, ihmk ht our cfouniry mght be ! H.iw sublime and kI'TIuUs thefl prospect 1 What hope lor the future!" Mr May dweltl upon the physlcal extenl nd basis ot this vasiliheatre of ou nalionw drama, and compHied ii viihtjieece, Kouie, and Engiand. HeliOKed at our ace, ai our jonth eompured with otlier nationjs, our iDbtlimloiw ol dvn lib rty, ai iheudvaniiKts oi our tempt rute zo e. on thisgieai stage iM tiie mih diama pioeceding. We are in the lasiB act in the urma. Hi re upon this vast Mage isl Makid the hop.s of the lace. The diama eau I go no lurtier. The miülny "mareh of empiBre" has reaihed the Pacilic, whow fa'thcM uam'es ilash on tlie shores of that same Orieiit whert ulorliu hiMorj begau.