The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-06-22
TALK OF PROGRESSIVE
PARTY CAUSES BIG STIR
IN LOCAL G. OP CIRCLES
Carrying Out Roosevelt Plan
Would Mean Three Tickets
in Municipal Fights
DEMOCRATS ARE SMILING
Think They Can Grab Offices
With Republican Ranks
Split

Local Republican politicians ex-
pressed deep concern. Friday. over
the prospects Of another party fig-
uring in the November election. as q
consequence OF developments in the
Chicago convention. which are like
liy to give birth to a new organisa-
ton of progressive Republicans.
headed by Col. Roosevelt. Their at
tention and anxiety were divided be-
tween the latest news from the scene
OF battle and the significance Of that
news in the probable readjustment
Of political alignment in Detroit and
Michigan. Many OF the Republican
officeholders and workers did not
know. Friday, whether they would
classify themselves after the next
few days as Republicans or Progress
sive Republicans: whether they were
to remain under their present banner
SO far as local Affiliations and condi-
lions are concerned, or to desert II
for a standard. A few OF the Re-
publican jobholders were scared, to
put II mildly.
THE situation that would grow
out OF the creation Of a new party,
so far as Michigan, and Detroit are
concerned, would be most complex
and demoralizing.," said a prominent
Republican to The Times, Friday.
Republicans In Detroit may diff
| fer on their choice for the presi-
dency. but they should stick together
to insure Republican victory in the
city this fall: Now, II there were
two Republican tickets In the field,
what would be the result? The
ranks Of the Republicans would be
badly split. and the Democratic can
didates for mayor and other city
Offices would have rather easy pick
ing. But II Roosevelt is going to
head third party fail to see how
we can avoid having candidates un-
der his party label all the way
down the line"
IL hope the Republicans do put two
tickets In the field, for It will be q
cinch to defeat Them" said one Demo
cratic warhorse. Imagine Mayor
Thompson running against Oscar B.
Marx, the candidate of the local Pro
gressiye Republicans, and-Proctor
X. Owens, for instance. on the regular
Republican ticket. He would stand q
better chance OF defeating q combina'
ton OF Republicans than he would OF
defeating any single candidate"
The Democrats protested to be
jubilant over the prospects OF the Re
publican party being split In two. but
they did not seem to consider thai
many Democrats would vote for Col
Roosevelt In preference to their own
candidate for president. II the latter
proves to be a conservative, and, that
II good, strong Progressive Repub.
lican ticket were In the field some OF
them would be very likely to vote
this ticket straight.
Those who have been concerned
with the local situation fhaye already
been inquiring into the election laws
governing the modus eperandi OF the
organization Of new political party
and what course will be necessary To
put a state and local ticket in the
field.
The primary election law requires
that a candidate, to have his name
printed on the primary ballot, must
submit q petition bearing the sigma
lures OF two per cent of the vote cast
by his party In the last election for
the candidate for secretary OF state,
or deposit one-half OF one per cent of
the first years salary paid the Office