Against The Saloons

The circuit court room wag crowded by a representative gathering, last Saturday, of people who believe ia abolishing the saloon. It was a non-partizan conference. The prohibitionists were mainly instrumental in bringing about the meeting; but republicang took an active share in the prooeedings; some demócrata were present and many more expressed gympathy with the movement. The best of fetltng prevailed on all " sides. There were a few who feit it to be unwise to bring on an election at this time, and singularly a majority of the committee were of this kind. They were perfectly willing to take part in the confest if the conference were to decide to do so, but in their otherwise acceptable resolutions, they embodied doubt of success. No one knew positively, of oourse, that the friends of prohibition would win in the election ; 'but the conference was not in the mood to enter the campaign by sending notice to the enemy in advance that they expected to get whippad. On the otcer hand, many expressed tne greatest confidenoe'of success. Before the adjournment for dinner, the conference chose öeo. S. Wheeler, of Salem, for permanent chairman, and Howard M. Holmes, of Ann Arbor, for secretary. A commiUee on resolutions was appoioted, consisting of Oreo. (J. Smithe, editor of the Ypsilantian, Rev. T. Holmes, of Chelsea, Geo. W. Merrill, of Webster, N. W. Cheever and J. Q. A Sessions, of Anu Arbor. Messrs. Geo. 8. Foote, of Ypsilanti, John Schumacher, oL Ann Arbor, and Jas. H. Murray, of Salem, were appointed to report relative to the number of signatures which had already been obtained to the petition for an election. Mr. Wheeler, on tukine: the chair said that it was time to consider the question of temperance again. It will not down. It is bound to be the prominent question of the day. As for him, he thought the circumstances favorable for an eleotion now. We can noir pies updn it on its merit8, and can concéntrate all the temperance element in the county. Ia the afternoon Mr. Foote reported that the committee had petitions bearing 674 names, and they knew of others which had not been handed in. Probably at that time there were 900 gignatures secured, one-half the required number. Rev. T. Holmes, of Chelsea, as chairman, made the report of the committee on resolutions. The resolutions express the opinión that county prohibition will do much to advance the cause of temperance and that an effort should be made to use it in every county in which there is a reasonable prospect that it can be carried. The committee recommended measures for the campaign providing the conference Bhould decide to enter upon it. The resolations expressed doubt about the advisability of bringing on the struggle at this time ; and as this did not guit the conference, a substituto, offered by W. B. ThompsoD, of Salem, was adopted as follows : Resolved, That it ia the expresstou of this meeting that the best interest of temperance demanda that iramediate acUon be taken to canviss the county of Washtenaw under the local option law of the state, and ihat a vote be taken on the subject at the earlieat opportunity. mscussioN. Eev. T. Holmes, of Chelsea, and Geo. O. Bmithe, of Ypsilanti, spoke ia favor of delay. Mr. Holmes thought tbat it would disoourage other couniies if we should try and fail, and he thought that one or two yearg henee the chance of winning would be greater. Mr. Stnitho went over ihe gaina and losses ia counties where prohibition had been carried, - gains and losses oompared with the vote for the amendment, - and paid that d order to win in Washtenaw county we must make as great a gain as was made in Barry county. E. S. Sfaaw, of Ypsilanti, made a strong speech in favor of having the election 8 soon as possible. He said that we cotild carry it now. He had talked with a doaen mea who voted agabst the ameadment but who would vote on their side tbis time. The professors of the University and Normal would help. 1. Austin Scott said that he had no doubt prohibición could be carried in Washtenaw county. There were a thomand who voted against the amcndment who would vote for prohibkion nnde the looal option Uw. He had talked wit a great many of them. Better try it now than a year henee. George S. Foote of Ypsilanti said tha hundreds ot our Germán citiüens wou!( vote for closing the saloon, because some of their soos were ruined by the saloon Mr. B eed made an impassioced plea for the election now. John Schumacher aid that he had 100 names on the cali lor this meeting and on the petitions of men who voted againsi the amendment. Divid B. ïaylor, of Chelsea, said that he had looked up the question carefully and was oonvinced that this was the best time. Quiet reigns in politics and business. Oue year from now ome one will be defeated in politics and will be inau. ín ow, every one expects to get elected, nd there will be no party jealousy arouaed. Now we will have the moral effect of viotories in other countieg which will vote j tst before Washtenaw doei. Geo. S. Wheeler, the chairmaD, called Mr. Schumaeher t the chair, and then made a regular oíd war-horse of a speech in favor ot fighting it out now. He had listened to the argumeuts oa both sides, and thought thatthey were in favor ofimtnediate action. The ?novement must be kept non-partizan, and then we can masa the temperance sentiment of Washtenaw. He goes for the enemy every time he gets a chance. A1 moral advance has been gained by aggression. This is a moral question that we can't agítate too much. Mr. Wheeler stirred up the souls of all present. Even if he knew we would be defeated, he would go tor it just the same. COUNTT COMMITTKE. The cointy committee was appointed as follows : Ann Arbor, First ward- E. B. Lewis. " 2d ward- A. H. Roya. ; 3d ward-Geo. 8cott. " 4th ward- J. Schumaeher. oth ward- Spenoer Lennon. 6th ward- A. F. Martin Ann Arbor town, John C Mead Augusta-Rev. J. D. Schultz. Bridgewater- Qeorge Rawson Dexter-WlUlam Smith. Freedom- John Reno. Lima- C. M. Bowen. Lodi- Edward Glover. Lyndon- Charles Oanfleld Manchester- Dr. A. C. Taylor. Northfleld- Haícali Laraway Pittsfield- David Wiltsfe. Salem- George S. Wheeler. Saline- Wm. Dell, ocio- R. P. Copeland. bnaron- M. L, Kaymond Superior- Freeman Galpin. Syfvan- David B. Taylor, Webster- George W. Merrill. York-Alex. W. Smith. Yysilantl town Huston. city, lst ward- Dr. 0. 8. Bonsteel. ' 2d ward- Prof. Austln George. " 3fl ward-Dr. D. A. Post. " 4lh ward- Eugene Holbrook. 5ih ward- 3. w. Paraons. Each committeeman waa given power to chooso such aasistants as he may deern neceasary, and to organize township or ward committees, of which he shall be chairmaD. IXECUTITK COMMITTBE. The executivecommitteeappoiated was as follows : B. J. Conrad, J. Austin Scott, S. G. Miller, J. C. Knowlton and John Schumacher. The conference a-3journed to meet on Jan. 13, at 1 p. m., when it is expected tnat sufficient wgnatures will have been secured.