The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-11-23
HERE, SURELY IS
A PROGRESSIVE
]. ]. Lentz. Candidate in Ohio for u
IS. Senator. Outlines Vigorous
Program II He Wins.

John j. Lentz. the picturesque for
mer congressman. who may have the
honor of being the only Democratic
senator from Ohio I'm 20 years, was In
Detroit for few hours, Tuesday az
ternoon, leaving for his home In Co
lumbus, o., In the morning.
This Is the harvest yeaS for the
Democrats" said Mr.. Lentz. "and II
they don't make the most OF their
advantage by giving good account
OF themselves to the people. they'll
be mighty foolish.
"Ohio went Democratic for the
same reason that states all the way
from Maine to California went Dem
ocratic, or, at all events, gave the
Republican candidates vastly reduc'
ed majorities 1t would be wrong to
say that this was accomplished by the
Democrats. More than 100000 Re-
Republicans went out and voted the
Democratic ticket this fall as q pro
test against the work of the support
ers OF Aldrich and Cannon and the
attitude of the administration toward
Ballinger and it Is safe to say that
another a. 000, 900 stayed at home and
nursed a crouch and a sore toe.
Il predicted the result In Ohio
when l announced my candidacy for
the senate, Sept. 90 last. Maine and
Massachusetts and Michigan had
spoken, and IL seemed to me that the
thing affecting the voters in one To-
cality were also working in other
districts, and we have elected a Dem
ocratic majority In both houses OF
the state legislature.
Il should very much like to go
to the senate next year. One of the
first things | should do would be to
introduce bill for government
telegraph system, with an office In
every postofflce. The government
has ceased to keep pace with the de-
velopment of the means OF spreading
information. 1t began with the saddle
horse and blackboard and stopped
with the express train. Morse was
given 100000 to test out his tele-
graph system, but the government
lost control of the line. The reason
never was explained.
LAS a member of congress. fought
the Loud bill to increase the postage
rate on second-class' matter. ] think
the postofice is the greatest univer-
sity we have, and that information
in the shape of published matter
should be transmitted at the lowest
possible rate.
There has been much said about
publishing campaign contributions
before or after election. The very
discussion implies confession that
these contributions are not for le-
gal purpose. should like to get
back of a bill to prevent campaign
contributions. What is the use OF
this hiring of halls and brass bands
and all the paraphernalia of mod
ern election. Almost every commune
ty has>its public halls. and II not,
they should be hired at public ex-
pense. the same as the voting places
are. and the candidates of all parties
should be brought together on com
mon platform to discuss the issues.
The people would then be enlighten-
ed. and there would be no suggestion
OF the interests having contributed
to a fund for the purpose OF securing
improper favors after the election"
who will be the Democratic candi-
date for president in 1922" Mr.. Lentz
was asked.
II don't know We have strong
candidate in Ohio in the person OF
Gov. Harmon. I should be nightly
interested, however, in race be.
tween Col. Roosevelt and William
Jennings Bryan. do not think 1t
would be such an unequal contest as
MANY might suppose"