The Detroit times., 1908-06-20
FEARS RETURN OF
co j n TRY TO
SPOILERS
JAMES scHERMERhoRN PRES. OF
DETROIT TIMES CO. DECLINES
TO JOIN IN RATIFICATION or
CONVENTIONS WORK.

Declining TO serve az vice-pres
dent at the meeting 10 be held in III
Light Guard armory to ratify the a.
ton OF the Chicago convention. Jane
Schermerhorn. president Of The d
troit Times Co. gave his reasons {!
the following letter to Hugh SheI
herd. president OF the Wayne Count
Republican club. under whose aus
pieces the meeting will be held:
Detroit, June 10. 1908.
Mr.. Hugh Shepherd.
President Wayne County Re-
publican club.
Detroit. Michigan.
Dear Sir:
| have your courteous favor of
the 18th advising me that | have
been named by your executive
committee as one or the vice.
presidents of the rally and mass.
meeting TO be held In the Light
Guard armory TO ratify the work
Of the Chicago convention. and
requesting an early reply.
For reasons that are obvious I
have awaited the completion OF
the word OF the convention before
answering. | now beg to say that
while | have the highest regard
for the Republican nominee for the
presidency as citizen and full
appreciation of his public serv-
ices, | do not feel that the pro-
ceedings at Chicago-with refer
ence either to platform or ticket
nj
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 TO the point OF
breaking with party associates
inspire the fear that his election
would mean a return TO the COM
placent acceptance OF whatever
the predatory rich see fit TO pres
cribe for us. as II 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 l believe either one OF
them would have kept the burn
ing issue of square deal at the
fore: but fear Taft would prove
more Of q conciliator than crus-
ader.
Developments at Chicago make
II 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 8.
Sherman, Of New York. for the
vice-presidency by 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 Of
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. It goes far to confirm
the belief that the country Is not
going to 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 IT. Is the
great and vital Issue OF the hour.
Shall we let the country fall
back into the hands OF the
T spoilers, or go on from victory to
victory in the name OF the CON-
mon people.
Very truly yours.
xrro CrrIEnMEp JnpN