An Ever-Evolving Political Scene

(parenthetical and italicized editorial comments included pending researcher's revision of the document)

A problem that Ann Arbor faced in the 1850s is one that is also common today: the massive consumption of alcohol by students. With the end of the civil war, the enrollment at the University of Michigan rose to 1,205, making it the largest university in the nation. Rambunctious behavior was common at universities across the nation, but the citizens of Ann Arbor held themselves up to a higher degree of behavior and such low-grade activity would not be tolerated.

The citizens agreed with Tappan, and in 1869, brought to the Ann Arbor City Council a petition with 1,100 signatures demanding the enforcement of the liquor law that prohibits saloons from doing business on Sundays.

The demand for order was so great that in 1871 the citizens elected Silas Douglas as mayor.

Douglas was the first University faculty member to become mayor. His stance was that "good moral influences should prevail in our University city." Douglas went to every business that sold alcohol and warned the owners to follow the anti-liquor law or face prosecution. This proved to be successful because of the respect Douglas commanded. Soon, an ordinance creating a permanent police force followed Douglas' efforts, which was funded by license fees saloons had to pay.

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