The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-09-02
THE TWO PLATFORMS.
THEY ARE NOW BEFORE THE
PEOPLE FOR SELECTION.
A Comparison OF the Two SO far as state
Interests Are Concerned---D Democratic
Dodges and Republican Directness---
Choice Reading for Voters.

The platforms of the two leading
parties in the state are now before the
people for their selection. The Demo
cratic platform is notable combina-
ton of lodges, especially significant for
what it omits. Voters will look in vain
for any words of encouragement on
certain subjects in which they are di-
rectly interested, but will find evasions
and misrepresentation enough on
other subjects. On the contrary the
Republican platform deals with the
recognized evils of the day and tells
the people what the Republican party
proposes to do about them.
The Democratic platform commends
''the honest, faithful and economical
administration of Gov. Edwin b.
Winans, who has set an example well
worthy of emulation" but the conven-
ton gave the lie to the platform by
turning down, in cold blood, the only
Democratic governor the party had
succeeded in electing for 80 years. That
was emulation" with a vengeance.
1t commends ''the action of Gov.
Winans in recommending to the legis-
lature in special session a commission
to devise means for the improvement
of our country roads," but it does not
explain why the Democratic legisla-
ture of 1891 spent six months in regular
session, without doing anything on the
subject of road improvement, and then
in the extra session shuffied the re-
sponsibility off on the "next legisla-
ture." The only rational explanation
is that the Democrats know that the
"next legislature will be Republican
and quite competent and willing to
attend to the matter.
1t condemns the present system of
employment of convict labor and
recommends "the adoption of such
legislation as will change the present
system y either by engaging
them in constructing the highways Of
the state or such other manner as the
legislature may deem best;'' but 1t
utterly fails to notice the fact that
that change is one of the great things
that were to be accomplished by the
'squawbucks," but was given up in
despair after six months of experiment
tation on several proposed schemes.
Again the Democracy desires to shift
responsibility upon the next legislature.
1t also declares "that it is the duty
of the state legislature to establish
proper tribunal with power to summon
defendants before it, adjust all dis
putes and enforce its judgments by
proper process" Then it pledges the
Democracy to the establishment of such
tribunal. It does not mention the
fact, however, that the Republican
legislature of 1889 passed an act for
that very purpose, but that Gov.
Winans not only neglected but posi-
lively refused to make the necessary
appointments to carry the act into
effect. Nor does it explain why the
Democratic legislature of 1891 did not
pass better act if that of 1889 is not
good enough.
Then the platform throws in two
recommendations that no one has
asked for and in which the people will
take very little interest, viz: The
election of mine inspectors and rail-
road commissioners by the people.
This is the sum total of what the
Democracy intends to do for the people
if retained in power.
On the other hand the Republican,
platform deals directly and fearlessly
with the two evils in the state of which
the people have most complained, viz:
The length of legislative sessions and
the railroad pass. Note the language
of the platform:
Long sessions of the legislature are an
unnecessary expense to the public, and we
condemn the practice, and pledge the people
that II the Republican party has control of
the next legislature. the business will be
done with fidelity and ppomptness.
That the next legislature should submit
to the DeOule. a constitutional amendments
providing that all compensation to legis-
lators should cease at the expira tion of 100
days from the date such legislature shall
| convene.
That we condemn the practice of railroad
| companies In giving passes to and the same
being accepted by legislators and other
| public officials, and demand that such laws
shall be enacted as will effectually put q
stop to this evil.
Those two subjects were the ones on
which the Democracy founded it's
loudest campaign howls in 1890, but
when it found itself unexpectedly in
power 1t failed utterly in dealing with
them. 1t has preserved a discreet
silence in its present platform, in hopes
that the people will overlook the sub
jects and its cowardly attitude in
reference to them.
The Democratic platform in fact
says nothing and was intended only
for sham. II indicates but another
of that party's usual changes of base.
That party has no principles this cam
paign and wants none. 1t does not
wish to be hampered by any lines of
policy, for its campaign will be made
entirely on the assumed popularity of
its candidate for governor man who
has been all things to everybody ever
| stnca ha 1aft Nh RepI hlican partv