The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-06-22
RETURN OF
COUN TRY To
SPOILERS
JAMES scHERMERHoRN PRES. OF
DETROIT TIMES CO., DECLINES
TO JOIN IN RATIFICATION or
CONVENTIONS WORK.

Declining 20 serve as a vice-presi
dent M the meeting TO be held in thu
Light Guard armory 10 ratify the &C
ton of the Chicago convention, James
Schermerhorn. president OF The De
troit Times CO., gave his reasons II
the following letter 10 Hugh Shep
herd, president OF the Wayne Count,
club. under whose aus
pieces the meeting will be held
Detroit. June -. 1905.
Nr. Hugh Shepherd,
President Wayne County Re-
publican club,
Detroit. Michigan.
Dear Sir:
II have yeur courteous favor or
the 18th advising ME that have
been named by your executive
committee as one OF the vice
presidents Of the rally and mass
meeting TO be held in the Light
Guard armory 10 ratify the work
OF the Chicago convention, and
requesting an early reply.
For reasons that are obvious |
have awaited the completion OF
the word OF the convention before
answering now beg 10 say that
while have the highest regard
for the Republican nominee for the
presidency as d citizen and full
appreciation OF his public sery-
ices, DO not feel that the pro-
Ceedings at Chicago-with refer
ence either 10 platform or ticket
offer any definite hope OF 4
continuance OF President Roose-
velt's rugged policy OF correction
and reform with anything like the
required vigor
The resolutions fall short of
what the president has favored
explicitly: and the circumstances
attending the spiritless triumph
OF Mr.. Taft--taken in connection
with the natural conservatism OF
his judicial temperament and his
disinclination 10 proceed IN any
reform enterprise 10 the point or
breaking with party associates
inspire the fear that mis- election
would mean return the com
placent acceptance OF whatever
the predatory rich see fit 10 pres
cribe for us, as it was under his
gracious predecessor in the presi-
dency from Ohio.
| would have been glad TO ratify
the nomination OF Roosevelt or
La Follette-the latter, in my
opinion. was the one logical sue
cessor of our reform president
because believe either one of
-tt1en would have kept The burn
ing issue OF a square deal AT the
fore; but fear Taft would prove
more OF conciliator than crus-
ader
Developments at Chicago make
IL devolve upon the approaching
convention at Denver TO give the
country a candidate and platform
that will declare with all possible
earnestness against the yielding
OF an inch of the ground that has
been gained for better govern
ment, for an ethical standard in
business and for fairer economic
conditions.
The nomination OF James s.
Sherman, OF New York, for the
vice-presidency. by a convention
absolutely dominated by the pres
ident, is simply amazing. Mr.
Roosevelt must know that in pub
lie life as well as in business
practice, representative Sherman
violates the letter and spirit or
the Republican platform just
adopted. He belongs TO the Can
non school Of standpatters, OBJ
structionists and practical politi-
clans. II the president sanction
ed his nomination as a running
mate for Mr. Taft, as he must
have done TO make his selection
possible, IL goes far to confirm
the belief that the country is not
going 10 find any great disparity
between what Mr. Taft stands
for and what the traditional Office
seeker Of his party has stood for
in the past. The curious combin-
alton presented by the ticket Is
explainable on no other ground.
This, then. as see II. is the
great and vital issue of the hour.
Shall we let the country fall
back into the hands Of the
spoilers. or go on from victory 10
victory in the name Of the com
mon people
l..