The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-12-12
THINKS PRIMARY WOULD
SOUND PRESIDENT TAFT'S
DOOM IN MICHIGAN
Roberts Says Republicans viii
Vote Democratic Ticket If
Denied This Privilege.
JOINS PROGRESSIVE CAMP.
Man Who Directed Townsend's
Campaign For Senator Will
Organize State Thoroughly.

HILLSDALE, Mich, Dec. r.
Frank p. Robards, of this city, who
resigned from the service as postof-
fee Inspector TO engage as one OF the
campaign managers for Charles Il.
Townsend in his successful contest for
United States senator, has allied him
self with the progressive movement.
He has Just returned from Chicago
where he conferred with Clifford Pin
chot, James r. Garfield, Medill NC
Cormick, Walter Rogers in charge OF
the western headquarters. and other
progressive leaders, and accepted
their invitation TO act as organizer Tor
the state of Michigan. He announced
today that representatives OF the pro-
gressive movement will visit every
portion of the state for the purpose OF
framing up local organizations.
Mr.. Robards takes exception TO the
interview in Washington Of w. Frank
Knox, chairman OF the Republican
state central committee, in which he
stated that he did not know OF prom
inent Republican In this state who
was not for Taft and that the only
sI...s...sa. an vae state was for the
president.
This statement is the one pursued
in the past by the old political ma
chine, now termed reactionaries and
standpatters," he said. 1T has always
been their policy to claim everything
in sight, regardless OF real conditions.
The last senatorial campaign Is not
ancient history and is fresh In the
minds OF the voters in this state. Sen
ator Burrows and his campaign man
ayers claimed that he would carry the
state by 5000 majori6ty. They also
made the statement that there was
not prominent Republican In the
state for Townsend. Be this so or
not, Mr.. Townsend received the larg-
est vote that was given any Republi-
can from any state in the union.
Il have visited many cities in
Southern Michigan during the past
few weeks and have interviewed the
prominent business and professional
men, especially in the smaller cities
and villages, and have also met the
prominent farmers in different locali-
ties throughout the state, relative to
the sentiment for presidential pos
-sfbilities. BY a careful analysis OF the
situation, I md that az least two
thirds of the business men are anti
Taft and four.fifths of the farmers
are OF the same mind.
'.The people at the present time
recognize the fact that the policies
inaugurated by Abraham Lincoln and
Theodore Roosevelt are firmly advo-
Gated by Robert NJ. LaFollette. and
are the policies which make for gov
ernment for the people and not for the
benefit OF any special interests l am
firmly of the belief and willing to go
on record TO that effect, that should
a presidential primary decide the
choosing of delegates 10 the national
convention that the delegates select
ed would be anti-Taft. | am further or
the opinion that II this primary takes
place, President Taft will not carry
ten counties in the southern PENN
sula. Further that II the party bosses
insist upon the old convention system
as the method Of selecting the dele
gates. thereby thwarting the wishes
of the large majority of the people,
that $4,000 Republicans in this state
will vote the Democratic ticket. This
is owing to the fact that at the pres
ent time the people demand a square
deal.
Governor Osborn was eleced be-
cause the people believed that he
would carry out the progressive poll
cies which he advocated during his
campaign Gov. Osborn has declared
in favor OF the primary and w. Frank
Knox. the state chairman, has done
likewise, and yet neither has taken
any steps to bring about such a law.
The voters feel that 1t Is not sufficient
for them to merely make such
decIaration hut that they are in duty
bound to get busy and bring about