The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-03-07
'MussELMAN GIVES
'0UT HIS PLATFORM
Candidate for Republican Nomina-
ton foi Governor Urges Home
Rule on Liquor Question,


upon which &c STANDS IN his campaign
for the Republican nomination for gov
srnor o. Michigan has been made by
Arlos s. Husselman. OF this city
He believes the people of Michigan
viii welcome al rhis time the appl!ca.
tion OF sound business methods ami
principles ia its affairs. His candidacy
he says. has been urged because 1i
his business training. and II elected
he would apply this knowledge 70 the
affairs OF the commonw ealth
M. Mussclman has this TO say
about the liquor question:
Il have carefully investigated the
results OF The local option law IN sew
cTal counties where in force. and am
satisfied that, except in rare cases the
people OF those counties sill not te-
turn To the license system. Business
men, who largely opposed the Jaw
when first enacted, are now It's stancn-
est supporters. The question has be-
come. perforce, one OF economies, aS
well as OF morals | am not an eG-
trsmist and concede TO everyone tie
right TO his own convictions. Friends
Of all temperance movements may hon
estly differ as TO how best &c handle
this problem in large cities, and this
beins true, all bitterness should be
eliminated from the discussion. II IS
my opinion that the temperance sent
inent OF the day is not ephemeral IN
character, but that the struggle for
better conditions Will intensity as time
goes on.
The enforcement of any law de-
Fhxr ~ 10
sentiment favorable 10 that law.
think the principle Of home rule
should be applied TO the liquor ques-
ton. ! stand firmly for the principle
OF home rule, and for government by
majorities One OF the purposes 81
my administration would be 70 secure
the strictest possible enforcement OF
the local option law wherever adopt
ed: and where the sale OF liquors IS
permitted, the strictcst possible en-
fcrcement of the license law. ! would
favor each county exercising home
rule and settling the matter for itseii
until the work OF education shall have
created a sentiment IN TIE state
which would be irresistible.
II have received many letters ask.
ing my position on the question az
local option. | am also asked wheth-
er, if | should be elected governor.
and the legislature should pass a
resolution 10 submit the question OF
statewide prohibition 10 the people,
| would sign such a resolution Ger
tainly | would The people will select
members OF the legislature 10 repre-
sent them, by direct vote this fan.
and If a sufficient number favorable
10 such a resolution is sent TO Lans-
ing the question should be submitted
to the people. However, | do not adj
vocate statewide prohibition at the
present time.
"One of the great questions Of the
day, q question that is receiving the
profound attention OF the people OF
Michigan at the present time. Is the
relation OF the liquor traffic 10 the
state. II Is claimed this traffic is not
a producer Of wealth. OF general pros
perity. nor a promoter OF constructive
enterprise. It is unlike any other
business, requiring special legal re
strictions, and therefore is in a class
by itself Yet in forming conclusions,
we must take conditions as We find
them, and not base our convictions
upon what we wish these conditions
were. have several very good
friends engaged IN the liquor business
and am convinced they are just as sin
cere in their views as | am in mine
Someone has said a law which
strains the powers of the authorities
10 enforce, is an unwise law II Is
the truth of this. which causes many
temperance people 10 hesitate in their
allegiance TO the more aggressive
course, advocated by those of more
drastic views
I'm my letter of Saturday, Feb -
I said. To my mind the temperance
movement of TO-DAY is 4 lasting aud
final expression Of the aroused moral
ana business sense Of the electorate.
requiring of all men sObrietT in living
and foi,hfulneSs To trust The words
moral and business were used adj
wise sly Or late years, the most no
tcnt factor behind this movement has
been the hard matter-offact question
of Industrial efficiency. When the in.
frence OF the almighty dollar was
added TO The moral impetus things
began to move and the predicted
transitory character OF the movement
has not matcrialized, but on the con-
trary, the momentum OF the reform IS
gaining constantly.
The railroads were tho first indus
trial division 20 recognize the business
value OF sohriety in their employees
The railroads are contributing hun.
drscs OF thousands of dollars annual.
y TO support y VI. c. 4 5 and these
expenditures are prompted and con-
tinucd because they are good business
investments. Intelligent employers
Of labor are familiar With what i5
claimed 10 he scientifically estab.
;ished fact. that Just 10 the extent
their employees take alcohol into their
systems 10 just that extent Is thoig
efficiency reduced. It is not unusual
20 find employers insisting upOG en-
rloyes abstaininC from drink for with
the increased efficiency of labo, thus
secured. such employers soon dis
lance competitors who DO nor rcc0s.
rize this now weil-estatiisi "a fact.
I am told that in Flint s1ue Of the
great automobile manufacturers nave
put ND signs which read No drlnker
need apply Now Why co they do
this? Simply because they know tD5t
workman. uee from thc effects oi
alcohol. Is more efficient imam me one
who IS not THUS whan wee. Sttemut
10 analyzc conditions az HEY actually
exist. We ind that tie interests az
business have as uu.Gh t0-do rs NOR
ais win the present day Increase OF
temperance seDtiment
Mr. Nasseiman declares private /.
han. L. ~.