The Detroit times., 1910-04-06

time 10 not ripe for a statewide
campaign"
The Michigan Anti-Saloon league Is
already making preparations to con-
tinue the fight against the saloons, and
the vets are fixing their fences to meet
the attack.
The headquarters committee OF the
Anti-Saloon league and the field force
Of that organization will meet in De
troit Friday. At that time the ques-
ton Of plans for next years campaign
will be taken up. A date will also oe
set then for a gathering OF the local
option press and also a meeting at
which the Anti-Saloon league represen-
tatives in every county OF the state
will convene TO discuss progress. This
latter gathering will have the final say
as to statewide campaign.
Ii seems certain that practically
every county in the southern peninsula
Of Michigan in which the question OF
the licensing OF saloons was not sub.
mitted Monday will be In the fight next
spring. The vets have already de-
olared their intention of asking for re-
submission in every one OF the 19 coun-
ties In which they lost last year, while
the 6rys are ready to start the fight in
all the remaining wet counties except
Wayne and possibly Saginaw.
Thus, the prospect is for a far big.
ger fight in 1917 than that OF 1910.
The vets are already under way in
Genesee county, II which Flint 10
located. and will got busy in other
counties Immediately. Whether the
Anti-Saloon league will again attack
the upper peninsula next year seems
q doubtful question. They may go
into Iron, Ontonagon, Baraga and
Delta counties. but IL is not thought
that Menominee, Houghton or Kee-
weenaw counties will be touched.
Another coming battle is for the con-
troll Of the next legislature. Each side
has already laid plans for the nomina-
ton and election of men known to be
favorable to it's cause. The vets be-
lieve tina. they will have a stronger
showing than in the last legislature.
They depend upon a solid Wayne
county delegation as starter, having
elected practically solid delegation
last time. Saginaw, Grand Rapids aud
other cities OF the state are also ex-
pected by them TO send legislators
who will favor the strengthening OF
the Warner-Cramton law to provide
even stricter regulation.
Apparently the opposing movements
with regard to the amendment OF the
local option law have been abandoned
for the time being The Anti-Saloon
league would like to have the features
az to counties voting dry retained and
also would like to be able 10 have local
option elections by which cities. viii
lagos or townships in wet counties
might vote dry. The only change that
the vets want is one by which the
county would be displaced as the unit
by the municipality or townshop.
THAT would be real home rule"
GAYS w. c. Manchester, counsel Tor
the Michigan Brewers association 1t
would be in line with the home rule
idea for each city to declare whether It
will be wet or dry, independent OF the
vote OF the remainder of the county"
I'VE oppose the repeal of the county
local option law" says Pliny w.
Marsh, counsel for the Anti-Saloon
league. ANY move In that direction
will bring statewide prohibition
quicker than anything else"
Discussion OF this project has been
only in the abstract so far, however
What is certain is that a number oil
amendments TO the Warner-Cramton
law will be proposed and the complex
ion of the legislature will have much
to do with the fate of these. The sen
sational question Is going to come into
bead-on collision with the liquor ques
ton right along throughout the cam
Iaign. The managers of both senatorial
candidates are avoiding the salooc
proposition deity now, but they vii
have to go against situations later or
where the election of Legislators
pledged to their respective candidates
the primary law 10 the contrary not
withstanding-is ali mixed up with
the wet or dry leanings OF these can
didates.
1--WE feel that the result Of this cam
paign has been largely a victory" said
Attorney Marsh, mot alone in oW
gaining the majority OF the counties
but in education. In Oakland and
Wexford, where we lost this year, the
merchants and manufacturers were
against us when the question was first
submitted while they were almost
solidly with us this year. The reason
for those counties going wet is 10 BE-
found in the influx of population tc
these two cities Of Pontiac and Cadil
lac and the feeling on the part Of a
great many people who do not think
deeply that they would like 10 try the
effects OF strict regulation
There is no doubt but that. after
they have had two years In which Il
compare regulation with local option
prohibition. they will come back by
largely increased majorities. In the
northern peninsula, the very fact thai
we could get the question submitted
at all shows a remarkable increase In
public sentiment. the same being the
case I'm Kent and ST. Clair counties
No doubt there were hundreds In those
counties who favored the saloon wher
the campaign started. who voted dr.
when Il ended. ! feel we have mad,
great progress.
Attorney Marsh calls attention e
the opportunity given villages unde
the village charter act by which vii
lagos may initiate prohibitory amend