The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-10-07
''PR0H|BS" HAVE
BROAD PLATFORM
Draft Prepared for State Convention
Suggests Many Reforms-Local
Option Denounced.
PROHIBITION PLATFORM.
Abolition Of the beverage liquor

PROHIBITION PLATFORM.
Abolition Of the beverage liquor
traffc.
Woman's suffrage.
Removal Of delinquent public
officials.
Civil service In state and
municipalities.
Tonnage ore tax.
DiscontInuance Of the foe sys-
tenn.
Abolition OF tax on mortgages
and contracts.
Squeezing OF water out Of cor
poration stock.
Prison reform.
Good roads.
Municipal ownership.
Protection OF bank depositora
Employers liability law.
Forestry encouragement.
Public schools to fit pupils for
public life rather than for COL
Iege.
A seat for every pupil In every
school for full day.
That the "broad-guage" Prohibi-
tionists are In control OF the party's
affairs In Michigan this fall became
apparent as soon as the Prohibition
state convention was called to order
In the Y. w. G. A. auditorium, Friday
morning This was seen In the skele-
ton OF the platform prepared by Ger
rift Messelink, of the Ferris institute.
Big Rapids, candidate for lieutenant
governor, as presented above. The
keynote speech of William A. Taylor,
of Battle Creek. Prohibition candidate
for United States senator, and who
acted as temporary chairman Of the
convention, also was along broad
lines.
Mr.. Taylor, who has been a Metho-
dist preacher and IL now editor of the
Official Prohibition organ. THE True
American" took a decided stand
against local option and roasted the
local optionists for supporting candi-
dates of the old-line parties instead
of the Prohibition candidates. Men
who profess to believe In Prohibition
principles and then vote for Republi-
can or Democratic nominees are
traitors to the cause, he declared.
The scene presented In the Y. w. c.
A., when the Prohibition convention
was called to order was In marked
contrast to the smoke-befogged inter
Tor of>the Wayne pavilion ON the oc-
casion OF the Republican state con-
yention, Thursday. Only about IS
delegates were present and some of
represented at all.
DR.. Alfred Lowther. OF Detroit, called
the convention to oraer at 1890, and.
after prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Crosby,
OF the Haven NJ b. church, took occa-
sion to mention the state central COM
mittee's lack OF funds with which to
prosecute the campaign as 1t should
be prosecuted. The primary, he said,
had proven a rather expensive luxury
TO the party, costing about $500.
Before the convention was called to
order the state central committee Eeld
a meeting and discussed plan 70
finance The True American" and
make 1t power In the campaign. The
delegates will be urged to subscribe to
stock in the paper, and in this way II
Is hoped to raise $4,000. This will
admit Of circulation of 100000.
turn enough votes to enable them 10
make good showing.
DR.. Lowther introduced Mr.. Taylor,
who spoke for nearly an hour. A re-
cess was taken while the delegations
selected their committeeman, and
after the names had been handed II
a recess was taken until afternoon.
There were no candidates for the
various nominations to be made and
the convention may have difficulty in
filling some Of the places. Fred w.
Corbett, Of Lansing, nominated for
governor In the primaries, was one of
the early arrivals and took an active
part In the convention proceedings.
William Mccormick, Of Detroit, Is
slated for permanent chairman, and.
SO far as known. there is no opposi-
ton to his selection.
II Is understood that no attempt will
be made to incorporate an anti-local
option plank In the platform.
A conspicuous figure at this conven-
ton. as he has been at every state
Prohibition convention. with one ex-
ception, since the party was formed, is
the Rev. John Russell. the father Of
Prohibition, who now lives in Detroit.
Though SO years old, he still enjoys
excellent health and shows remarkable
vigor for one Of his years. He has
great faith in the party and believes 1t
will ultimately triumph, when the peo-
pie realize that only through this
party can the liquor traflc be abol-
ished.
They can't dislodge u.s." said Mr..
Russell mo other party can take up
Prohibition as an issue and live. My
theory, In a nutshell, is this: Where
members Of a political party are rad
ically and irreconcilably divided on
any question. 1t becomes impossible