The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1901-03-15
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
Judge Adsit Nominated to Oppose Mont
gomery-The Platform.

Judge Adsit Nominated to Oppose Mont
gomery-The Platform.
At the Democratic state convention,
held at Grand Rapids on the 9th, the
following candidates we've placed in
nominations:
For justice of the supreme court
Judge Allen c. Adsit, of Grand
Rapids.
For regents of the state university
Edmund G. Shields, of Howell, and
Elmer Il. Goldsmith, of Petoskey.
The convention was called to order
by Mark Sevens, of Flint, in place OF
Mayor Perry, of Grand Rapids, who
had been invited to perform the duties
of temporary chairman. After the
various committees were appointed the
convention took recess for a couple
of hours. Up to this time there had
been very little talk as to who would
be named for the supreme court JUS
tic"ship. Apparently only Judge
O'Iara, of Benton Hdrbor, wanted the
nomination, but the friends of Judge
Adsit were determined that he should
have 1t. Votes were not solic-
cited, and delegates cast their vote
without having pledged themselves to
anybody. Considerable talk took place
after the above gentlemen had been
nominated, and before the ballot was
taken, it looked as though the Benton
Harbor man had a wali-away, as Judge
Adsit had instructed u delegate not to
allow his name to be used. When the
vote was taken it was found that the
Grand Rapids man was the choice of
the convention by good majority
The convention then proceeded to
nominate two candidates for regents.
Dr. Welsh, of Benton Harbor, was
candidate. but was beaten out by
Shields and Goldsmith.
A long resolution of regret was
adopted at the withdrawal of Chair
man Campau, and several Democrats
from various parts OF the state said
many kind things about him. Justin
II. Whiting, OF st. Clair, being the
choice of the convention, will sue
coed Mr., Campau as chairman of the
state committee.
The Platform.
Sincerely believing in the principles of de-
mocracy as laid down in the Declaration of In
dependence, the Democratic party OF the state
OF Michigan, In &C invention assembled, solemnly
reasserts its faith in Il government by the peo-
pie direct and its unalterable opposition to any
other form of government.
Events have demonstrated that all reforms
in financial, industrial and commercial fields
are doomed to remain in state of theory until
our governmental machinery has been reformed
so that the will of the people and no longer the
self interest of privileged few shall enact the
law.
AS citizens OF this commonwealth, we deeply
deplore that the corrupting influence of those
seeking special privileges has succeeded in con-
Eliminating our government to such an extent
that even the appearance OF common decency
has been dropped as being SuperfiuouS, and we
have been confronted with the sad spectacle
that the most exalted official in the state openly
aided and allotted the thieves appointed by him
and cast ASPIRATION on court accused of met
ing out punishment for factional hatred under
the guiso OF justice.
We remind our fellow citizens that corruption
in our Legislative halls has become so apparent
that grand jury found it necessary to indict
not only some OF the members, but also the
speaker Of the house of representatives and
though the evidence against them was convinc
ing, they all so far have escaped trial.
We remind the electors of the commonwealth
that few individuals, who found their way into
the senate, were enabled in protecting vested
rights of wealthy corporations to defy the out
spoken will of tho people, and that equal taxa
ton" is nothing but theory today; and we
peat our warning that unless the people obtain
a direct control over the law which governs
them, their welfare and the perpetuity OF their
remaining free institutions must inevitably suf-
fer until all of liberty be lost
In view of this impending crisis we call upon
our fellow citizens to set aside, as we do, all
predictions and unite with us in the one de-
mand that the constitution Of the state of Mich
igap be amended so as to provide that reason
able number of people, say per cent of quail
fed voters statutory law, or 10 per cent on
constitutional amendments, by filing petition
with the proper Official, may demand that the
matter petitioned for. shall be submitted to u
vote of the people for adoption or rejection at
the next election.