Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-04-05
A NOTABLE AFFAIR
The Anti Prohibitory Conference
Looked Forward to With
Great Interest.
Hundreds Of Republicans viii
Renounce the "SettIed
Policy" Idea.
The Convention Expected 10 DO
Larger Than Any Ever Before
Held I'm Des Moincs-Good
Work OF the Secretary.
The Anti-P rohibitory Conference.

The Anti P%rohibitory Conference.
Dies MONIES, March 29.-The anti
prohibitory conference, to be held in
this city On April g, bids fair TO be n
Of the most notable meetings held in
Des Moines for many years. The call,
issued by such men as Governor Kirk
wood, ex-Congressman Thompson, Craig
L. Wright, and many other prominent
republicans, has arrested attention, and
in a talk with the secretary Of the
movement, III. S. Fairall, it is learned
that some forty counties of the state
will be represented. II Is expected
that there will be from W
hundred to three hundred prominent
republicans present. The object of the
movement is primarily TO have IN effect
upon the present legislature, to secure
a modification OF the prohibitory laws,
and, il failing in that, to bring about
such a sentiment in the republican party
rs will induce the next republican state
convention to noun the settled
policy" idea and place the party upon \
more liberal platform. Mr.. Fairall has
ClOStu ms preliminary "oihs having
been here some three weeks. In this
time, from a modest beginning OF
q few republicans who were bold
enough to declare themselves
openly as opposed to the position the
patty had taken, he has placed himself
in communication with hundreds OF
leading republicans who agree with him
In all those parts of the state where pro-
addition is q failure. In some forty
counties he has succeeded in getting
local organizations, more or less com
plete, and delegates to the approaching
conference have been already appointed.
The attendance from the several local
tiles will vary. There being no state
officers to nominate at this meeting,
there will of course be lacking that
throng Of followers Of candidates
that always swells the number
attending a convention. Then again,
some cities thai have already held their
meetings have deemed the selection OF
one or two prominent men as sufficient
to voice their feeling on this subject.
Mr.. Fairall, however, expects that the
meeting will be fully as largo in mum =
bers as is desirable. Another feature
of his work during the past three weeks
has been to send out petitions, asking
of the legislature a modification OF the
prohibitory law, and these have come
back to him signed by hundreds OF
names. He did not feel at liberty TO
give the exact number OF nameson these
petitions, as they have not yet been
presented to the legislature, but ono
thing was learned, and that was that
shn cirunro a ra in ua ri a hlu man nf hiUh
standing in every community, and most
prominent in business circles, present
ing a striking contrast to the petitions
that have swarmed in from prohibition
centers, signed by all classes Of people
and even women and children. Mr..
Fairall will return here at the begin
ming Of the week, and continue the
work incidental 10 the holding Of the
convention. lie has quarters at the
Slavery house and is backed up by strong
committees from many parts OF tho
state. The movement has been run en-
tirely Independent from the democrats
or any other interest, but, at the same
time, all interests have watched it with
feelings of anxiety.
Concerning the movement 70 have the
prohibitory amendment resubmitted.
MI. Fairall said that, so far as he was
concerned personally, he was opposed,
and always had been, to putting any
such a law into the constitution. He
regarded the bill supported by the anti
prohibition republicans as virtually
submitting the question to all COM
munities that are directly interested In
it,. He furthermore intimated that the
resubmission idea came from republi-
cans who really want the law changed,
but take this means Of letting them
selves down. He felt rather iubilant
over the idea that has gained ground
that the resubmission proposition, sup
ported as it is by many of the prohibit
tionists, is virtually a recognition OF the
idea proposed by anti-prohibition re-
publicans that something should be
done to amend the laws, and that the
sentiment Of the people favored this.
1t is now known definitely that Gov.
ernor Kirkwood will personally attend
the convention, and among the dele
gates will be many republicans Of repu'
tation. There will also be many prom
inent prohibitiohists, who, while adher
ing to the idea of prohibition and favor
ing it in all localities where the present
law is a success, are nov willing to con
ccde that in communities where prohi
bition is a failure local option should be
pranted.