The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-09-21
United States Senator will Pre-
side as Temporary Chair
man of the Republican
State Convention
ALL FACTIONS ARE UNITED
Convention Will be Harmonious Gath
erina of All Factions-Direct Nom
ination Reforms to be
Advocated.

Detroit. Mich Sept. 21.-Senator
William Alden Smith will be tempor-
airy chairman of the Republican state
convention i'm Detroit. oct. 6, and will
deliver the keynote speech"
Chase S. Osborn Senator-elect
Townsend, u. ii. Kelley, Amos $. Mus
se!man and others are expected to be
present Mr.. Osborn and Mr.. Town
send will mako addresses.
IT is expected that the speeches of
these gentlemen will be in line with
the platform which the convention Is
expected to adopt a progressive Taft
platform" The Endorsement of the
president will be strong feature. as
IL IL OF all other recent platforms.
William Alden Smith and MIR.
Townsend will speak in Michigan dur
ing the campaign. Both have invita-
tions outside and MIR. Smith will at
least go TO Indiana at the request OF
Senator Beveridge.
1t Is hoped that the convention will
be a love-feast of all factions. Due
recognition will be accorded to all
Republicans.
The chief subject of discussion
among convention appointments Is the
selection Of a new chairman to sue
ceed Gerrtt J. Diekema of Holland,
and q new secretary to succeed ID. IL.
Award of Clare Mr.. Dckema retired
after serving as chairman 10 years
and Mr. Award Is now associated
with the national Republican commit
tee. The only name seriously discuss
ed In the state at large for chairman
IS w. Frank Knox of Sault Ste. Ma
rie, Nicholas j. Whelan has been ask
ed to serve temporarily as chairman
hut Il Is not known that this VIII be
permanent.
Congressman Diekema, who mas
opened the state central committee
headquarters at 322-325 Ford building
is i'm an optimistic mood about the
OUTLOOK in tho state.
II think we shall have a lively year.
but one OF harmony and cooperation
among Republicans said Mr.. Dioke-
ma. '~Tho campaign which VIII ne
undertaken will probably be thorough
reaching every county I'm the state as
II I'm a presidential year. The exact
details of course must be left TO the
chairman and the new committee.
Congressman DielSema while here
received many congratulations from
friends over his denomination FOR con-
pressman over Deacon Ellis, the uh-
defeated mayor of Grand Rapids, VINO
ran in an insurgent platform MT
Diel<ema is himself ca" 'idate Tor
sneaker of the national hot'H.
Defects of System.
Senator William Alden Smith Will
urge upon the state Republican con
yention the necessity of Including III
the platform n plank calling Tor the
re-drafting of the state primary law
The Grand Rapids Herald. the pa
pcr owned by Senator Smith, on sun
dav contained a lengthy article on 'h'
present law, an analysis of its proVi-
sions and an arraignment of its faults
of primary reform, but 1t Is poih,eo
out that the present act was hurrieo'S
thrown together in the closing days
OF the last session OF the legisia,ur'
and that as result there are many
conflicting provisions, much ah'pi
guitv and many things lacking.
The Herald summarizes the prih
,,nol defects of the bill as follows:
Ambiguity in writing, due large
lv 10 the manner in which the Dill
was prepared.
rrro,lment by which many peo-
people are debarred from voting.
Failure to get the people to the
polls.
Following Labor day, IL mahes
three holidays in a row.
The great expense not oniy 10
candidates but to the state as
well.
In poirting out the remedy IN
Herald pays particular atten''on ,
the question of expense. Inc ar''0'
goes exhaustively into the cost III
onlv Of state campaigns but OF loc'
lights and some of the figures pre-
duced are astounding. From the Ia
bles compiled it is estimated Una, 'ho'
than s2,o00.0oo was expended dur'n
the campaign just closed by the s'a'
candidates, the legislative and couh'
candidates.
$4,000 for Letters.
In the state campaigns, 1t cost mo-
than $4,000 to send one letter to ea'
enrolled voter. AS several of the can