The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-09-02
Primary Reformers Should Vote For
Fred M. Warner.

k3CONFlNUED FROM PAGE FOUk.
in fact, Mr.. Warner, the republican
candidate for governor, was the pro-
nounced advocate of this plan, and had
most to do with its adoption. AT the
same time he had the courage to an
nounce that he was so truly democratic
in his beliefs that he would as governor
sign any good measure for primary re-
form that the representatives OF the
people, the legislature, should adopt; so
that, if the Legislature next winter
should pass full direct voting bill he
would deem it his duty to accept it and
make it law by his signature. We do
not see any reference to these facts In
the democratic candidates speeches
nor in the democratic and assistant
democratic press.
There was an element in the republi-
can party who did not believe that any
change at all was necessary and who
were as radical in their contention as
the sweeping revolution advocates. An
cHOIC Was Iiduc w IeoOh q SoiiPiOihioO,
which finally settled upon the local
option plan, it being the proposition
favored by far the greater number. 1t
was and is the belief of the great major
ity of the party, which includes such
men as Homer Warren, Gen. Duffield,
Milo d. Campbell and William Alden
Smith, direct nomination advocates,
that this compromise idea should be &C
copied by all the various factions in or
der to work out the problem inside the
party, as many others more important
have been solved. They did not bolt
and seek to disrupt the party because
their plan was not adopted and put into
execution at once. They were and are
content to work along their way inside
the party lines. The specious democrat
ic attempt to capture the governorship,
the United States senatorship and the
patronage did not fool them into be-
lief that it was lofty and noble effort
to preserve the sacred liberties of the
masses by electing state executive
who would have to execute laws passed
by a republican legislature. 1t is on a
par with Judge Parker's plan to put in
to effect the democratic ideas of tariff
emasculation-if the senate will let
him.
Republicans who have any thought
of voting for Mr. Ferris on this so-called
primary reform issue are dissipating
their influence and throwing away their
votes. They can get the largest measure
Of primary reform that they long for
only by voting for Mr.. Warner, for if
Mr.. Ferris should by any chance happen
to be elected he would be in duty bound
to veto the local option bill that the re-
publican legislature would pass, and
which he is now opposing as not pri-
mary reform at. all. And if democratic
legislature should be chosen, (Which, in
this presidential year and with sena-
tor to be selected to succeed Senator
Burrows, we concede is wildly improb-
able), Mr.. Warner would sign any good
| primary reform bill passed, even a
sweeping one, because he has gone on
record to that effect and he is absolute
| ly man of his word and of the strict
est integrity. So in the election of Mr..
Warner the direct nomination republi-
cans have two chances to secure all or
some measure of their desire. while in
the event of Mr.. Ferris election they
have only one very improbable chance,
and as a matter of probability, none.
1t is therefore to the interest, as well
as the duty, of every republican to vote
for Mr.. Warner upon this primary re-
form question.