The Detroit times., 1908-07-13
WATER WAGON TO
BEAT OUT STEAM
ROLLERS
Jos. p. TRACY.
PROHIBITION PRESIDENTIAL POS
sieILlTY SAYS HIS PARTY WILL
CARRY SEVERAL sTATEs-cRIT
lclsEs DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Jos. p. TRACY

The Democracy made a mistake
In not putting a plank on the liquor
question In It's platform"
This Is the opinion OF Joseph p
Tracy, the Detroiter. who may be
chosen to head the national ticket Of
the Prohibition party.
There was undoubtedly great
deal OF agitation on that question In
Denver. although II did not come 10
the surface" says Mr.. Tracy. That
was because Democratic conventions.
like those OF the Republican party,
are not truly representative. They ad-
here to the old plan of having two
representatives from each congress
sional district. Our conventions are
based on the number OF votes cast
for the ticket.
Had that been the case with the
Democrats, more attention would have
been paid to the prohibition plank
They made a mistake in catering II
the Democrats OF New York. Michi
gan and other states from which they
will never get an electoral vote. A
strong plank on the liquor question
would have strengthened the party
In Illinois. the Dakotas and othe-
states that are now Republican"
Tracy Is strong. vigorous man,
who believes In the future OF hi
party as the coming rival OF the pres
ent national parties. He believes that
compromises ARE not worth
and he says damn" right cut loud.
He Is not a one-sided man. but In
herits the firm political conviction of
a father who was an abolitionist who
to be such seemed as hopeless as TO
be Prohibitionist now.
The Prohibition platform will be
a broad-gauged one" he declares. ut
will deal with all the progressive is
sues fully-more fully than either Of
the other parties. We shall appeal 10
all broad.minded men.
What Prohibs Did In Illinois.
'In Illinois two years ago we had
a platform that called for a two-cent
railroad fare. primary elections,
school district reforms. and other
questions that the old parties had not
mentioned We carried Senator Cul
Ions town, ward and precinct; we
carried Urcle Joe Cannon's legislative
district and put three legislators In
the state house"
THAT vote OF 100000 in the state
resulted in a longer session OF the
legislature than ever before. the en-
actment OF local option laws and all
the other reforms that .we-and nei-
Their OF the other parties-had called
for We had 'em scared. That Is
the only way to do things.
Now that Roosevelt Is out Of II,
look for big smash In both Of the
old parties. Those parties are ar
chaic. What Is there to bind the pres
ent generation to them? Their pol
icies date back to the time of the war
Outside OF the office-holding class,
the would-be office holders and the
privilege-seeking class, the people are
not strongly bound to those parties.
There is a great spirit of indepen-
dence among the voters OF the nation.
and It will come TO us on progressive
issues. We shah carry some states
this year That will be beginning.
Before We can triumph, We must have
a strong political organization--yes,
and the spells OF ONCE which will hold
people who desire honors and reward.
Says Water Wagon viii Win.
THE elephant and the donkey are
both hitched up to the steam-roller-
and the water wagon will beat them
both out.
I'VE will have a full ticket In state,
county and city. The liquor and
sporting element has a strong hold
in Michigan now. The only way we
can have enforcement Of the laws Is
by electing people who are sworn be-
forehand to uphold the law and who
are elected on that platform. I do
not care a snap OF the finger for a
law that Is not enforced. What we
want Is men who will enforce the
laws.
IT am a member OF the committee
OF One Hundred and can only say
to the officials who do not do their
duty-eat, dring and be merry for the
third day Of November Is coming. On
that day each voter will have his
chance to do his part In improving
our government"
Mr.. Tracy Is an admirer of both
Taft and Bryan. He is In business
here with the Detroit Salt Co.