The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-05-06
SAYS SMITH HOLDS
DISTANCE RECORD

Bay City?
where you ever raised your voice IN
| protest against the outrageous viola
I ton OF the law by the trusts. such foI
instance as tampering with the scale.
an the custom office by the sugar trus'
for the purpose OF defrauding the gov
eminent.
l charge you with straddIing and
trimming upon all the questions upon
which the people are alert. and only
their representatives sleeping. ana IN
this connection 1 believe you are en-
titled TO the long distance record fof
walking the fence.
1 want To say that personally l bear
you no ill-will whatever, and take
this opportunity TO state that 1 do not
believe that YOU can be charged with
being anything but courteous and
obliging gentleman. 1 do not attack
your character nor deny the charm OF
nave; but do say that the time has
come when We need TO be represented
by men who are not afraid TO night Tor
the people and who are not afraid 20
say TO the plundered and self-seekers
and their representatives within the
Republican party that they must get
out You were quoted OF saying at the
Flint banquet that you had no "criti-
was or Is or Is TO be- IL IL ineonceiv-
able TO me that any man who places
principle above place. could give utter
ance to any such sentiment To deny
that there are corrupt and dishonest
bosses within the Republican party. Is
TO insult the intelligence OF every Well
Informed person; and while We are bet
ter OFF than the Democrat party In this
respect. yet AZ I could l would throw
them all out OF the Republican party,
with their venal followers as well, and
I'm their place we would get hve-fold
of the thinking intelligent voters that
do not wear the collar nor bear the
brand OF any party
In the great majority of cases where
your name il found In the roll call OF
the senate. you are on the side or Ald-
rich. Penrose. Guggenheim, Galliger,
Smoot. Brandagee, Crane and the other
senator's who are always defending the
special interests: while but rarely are
you found with the names or Dolllyer,
Cummins. LaFollette. Clapp. Beveridge.
Borah and BriCow. would ask you
where you stand upon the Initiative.
referendum and recall. but your vote
upon the admission OF Arizona answers
that in the negative.
would asK you II you favored a
graduated income tax. but your sup
port OF the corporation tax answers
question in the negative to any one
who realizes that that measure was
supported by the reactionaries so as to
prevent the worse dreaded income tax.
Upon conservation your vote against
the Roosevelt measure for saving the
water power rights In government land
shows you are against IL.
However. there are so many instances
where you have been with the reac-
tionaries that I believe a Joint debate
would alone permit OF the presentation
or the issue between us TO the voters
I'm "a proper manner: and l shall be
pleased at such times and places as
may be agreeable TO meet you in Joint
debate. However you may prefer to
answer this as you did the Evening
Press of Grand Rapids. through the
channels OF the Congressional Record.
and thereby you can use your franking
privilege and mail your views to the
voter at the expense of the government.
but this Will compl me 10 be more spe-
clhc In my written criticisms. and may
create In the minds OF the voters sus-
picton, that even with your acknogl-
edged ability upon the platform. you
fear the weakness OF your record.
In this contest, neither your personal
interests nor mine should be consulted
for II is entirely a question as TO
whether or not we are with the bosses
or with the people in the fight that is
now on. j beg TO remain.
Very sincerely yours.
THEODORE NJ JOSLIN.