The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-08-25
HEMANS ASSA|LS
REPU BL|CAN
MlSRULE
MASON, MICH, MAN, WHOSE
EYES ARE ON GovERNoRsHIP,
DOESN'T FAVOR PERSONAL
PLATFORMS.

MASON, Mich. Aug. -(Special)
"A formal statement on the issues OF
the campaign has been isued by Law
ton r. Hemans. who will be the
Democratic candidate governor of
Michigan. As for the big issues a;
stake Mr.. Hemans asserts that the
people want these laws and that they
should be passed. The Republican
party is attacked for its mIsrule for
the last 10 years. Mr.. Hemans adds
that he does not favor personal plat.
forms for gubernatorial candidates
and he refrains from making any per.
scnal declarations on any OF the big
auctions confronting MiehisaH.--
Mr. Hemans says in his statement:
- am not greatly impressed with
the value OF individual platforms OF
candidates for the governorship. We
have legislative bodies In this country
and they have rather more TO do with
the making OF laws than does the
governor. A candidate for the COVER
norship assumes no responsibility
" Hen fe-pHts= Forth II tssii sounding
platform. indeed. the more alluring
lihood there is that they will ever be
realized in ths form OF legislative en-.
actments Promises from men in
public life have far less significance
than is TO be attached to their past
associations, sympathies and actions.
Good Laws Desired
THE questions involved in the taxa
ton OF telephone and telegraph com
panies; in the perfecting OF primary
nominating system; In the prohibi
ton of stock watering. so.called. and
In the comforting OF powers upon the
railroad commission. are not political
issues, because there Is no consider
able public opposition TO any OF them.
The great majority OF men in all par
ties agree as TO the general desira-
bility of all the propositions from
Branding lobbyists to Less politics
and more business
THE question or Issue presented Is
not the desirability OF the things pro-
posed; but why II Is that. with their
desirability admitted, they cannot be
obtained through our legislative and
executive machinery?
G. O. P's Misruie.
The history of Michigan for the
past 10 years is much truer index OF
its government for the next two or
four years. under Ike political condi-
tons, than the enthusiastic declara-
ton of any candidate can be-.
Political parties are as much in
situations in our government as
though provided for in our constitu-
tions: they have come-into being be-
cause of the inherent tendencies OF
men aud our governmental hecls.
Because men In public life are gov
erned as much by their fears as ny
their patriotism. political parties
serve their purpose best when they
are of comparative equal numerical
strength. Under such conditions the
conscientious and independent ele-
ment of a party is able to visit punish
ment upon it. for trust violated and
rights outraged. In Michigan for more
than 10 years the disparity between
the two leading parties has been such
TINT when The men of patriotic indie
pendence who have been made alive
TO the situation within the dominant
party to redress present evils or pre-
vent threatened wrongs, their COM
bilcu SiItu6Nn Hdo Dceu manly Aicu-
sands less than majority.
IT Is the great preponderating- ma
jority OF the dominant party In Mich
igan that makes futile Its fairest
promises, that places the mediocre
where excellence should be, and pro-
notes program with altogether too
frequent incidents OF shame and dis
grace. Men charged with political du-
ties will come far from doing the right
thing when there is no penalty FOR
doing the wrong thing.
As for Grand Juries.
One is well within the truth to
say that during the past Is years
Michigan has suffered more in as
saults upon her political integrity than
during all the years OF her previous
history. In this brief period % men
who had been elected or appointed
To high positions OF trust and honor
in the state have answered TO indict.
ments charging them with crimes and
misdemeanors of grievous nature.
Three times within this period have
grand juries been called 10 investigate
scandals involving some OF the high
est officers of the state. During these
years the people of the state have wit
messed REORGANIZATION contests Tor
the governorship within the majority
party as in the Bliss campaign, when
bribery and corruption walked
abroad in the full light of day and
were not ashamed Within the same
time, N we are 10 believe the charges
now freely made and not denied. We
have seen men elevated to high posi-
| ,tono NJ funds contributed nv mower
full corporations. who loved their bene-
fciaries only because they expected
to own them
| "In every legislature for the past
dozen years there has been coterle
of men sufficiently numerous and pow.
erful either as 'lmmortals or Boxers
To generally complicate and sometimes
defeat legislation backed by the most
wholesome popular demand. While
nj other times both legislative and
executive have been willing to sac
rlfice dignity and honor and violate
the rights OF municipalities by pass
ing so.called Ripper act In further
ance OF the basest political purposes
During these years We have seen leg
islation enacted involving the expend
iture OF hundreds OF thousands or dol
lars wherewith TO promote the amDi
4t4ens-t,f- frpepea-+aallldiia ls -and-lu
this year OF grace, 1905 the2Michigan
taxpayer learns that of the SIs,S5I,
652.l7 demanded by the state in the
form OF direct taxes during the states
history that s25,60l ,s69.05. or nearly
one.third of the whole amount. has
I been taken srnCe me inauguration N
I