The Detroit times., 1912-08-05
MICHIGAN
POLITICS

POLITICS
James IL. Baker. OF Adrian, who re-
ceiyed n letter from Gov. Woodrow
Wilson, thanking him for the interest
ne had taken In the Wilson campaign
for the presidential nomination, has
gone TO Sea Girt for a conference
with Gov. Wilson. lie will be accom-
panied on the trip by Mrs. Baker, who
VIII go TO Mt. Morris, n. Y.
The tonnage tax has been engaging
the close attention OF the upper PENN
sular newspapers in connection with
the gubernatorial campaign and both
the Republican candidates. Fred C..
Martindale and Amos S Musselman
have been quoted as being opposed
TO such tax. But the press OF the
mining country has been unable TO
draw out OF Woodbridge N. Ferris as
yet any declaration either for or
against the tonnage tax Referring to
the attitude on this question OF the
Democratic candidate for governor,
the Calumet News prints an editorial
entitled Ferris promises justice. :"
which says:
Prof Ferris writes that he Is com
ing to the copper country during the
primary campaign and will then post
himself on the tonnage tax. He ad-
mits that he has made no declaration
either for or against II because, he
says, he does not know much about
II. He gives assurance, however, that
the upper peninsula could expect JUS
tice from him were he elected gov
ernor OF Michigan
Thinking brief cruise on the Great
Lakes will greatly benefit Mrs. Fer
for some months, Woodbridge N Fer
ris, Democratic nominee for governor
OF Michigan, will leave on the trip
next week
There are two national progressive
candidates in the field for congress In
the second district although the name
of but one, II. F. Probert, OF Jack
son, seems to have gotten into the
press reports. The second Is Shelby
A. Moran, OF Ann Arbor, a graduate OF
the university, a former newspaper
writer and now teacher. Mr.. Moran's
petition was sent to Lansing by mes
senger Saturday afternoon and the
messenger says he filed II at 1856 p.
m. on that day.
Discussing Roosevelt and the Ma
| tional Progressive party In an inter
view Woodbridge N. Ferris. Of Big
Rapids, the Democratic candidate for
governor has been quoted as saying;
II was misquoted by state papers,
at the close OF the Chicago convention
when 1t was stated that | had said
that Roosevelt was the biggest man
in Republican politics. / made no
such statement then, but | will do
so now. Personally have no use for
Roosevelt, although at times am
! forced to admire him. Roosevelt is
| for Roosevelt and no one else. This
attitude he has voiced In nearly every
move Of the third party. He would
have never organized the Progressive
party had any one but Roosevelt beer
chosen to lead II. By carrying Re
publican radicalism to the extreme ht
/ expects to win large portion OF the
/ laboring class vote and he has stolen
/ bodily a big share of the Democratic
| and Socialist parties thunder" Mr.
| Ferris is of the opinion that the new
| third party will WELD tremendous
4 influence in Michigan az well as In
national politics, and asserts II foli'
TO talk lightly OF the third party.
Sentiment cuts some figure In pol
! itics now and then. Representative
B. F. Graves, of Adrian, In telling
the Hudson Gazette why he declined
TO Join forces with the National
! Progressive party didn't hesitate 10
relate that he walked six miles to
! vote for Abraham Lincoln In 1860
and that in 1864, after he had en-
listed, he voted again for Lincoln
this time with a gun on his shoulder.
But 1t was not entirely and ex-
clusiyely question OF sentiment
with the Lenawee legislator, for he
declared that he was really genuine
Progressive running ON the Republi-
can ticket. He said he voted for
every progressive measure that came
up In the legislature and felt that
the cause of the Progressives could
best be worked out within the party
itself.
Rep Graves is a candidate for re-
nomination In the second Lenawee
district.
While Professor Woodbridge "
Ferris, Democratic candidate for
governor, has not indicated the plat
! form on which he will run, he has
made statements which seem to pre-
sage that it will be one OF radical
progfessiveness. He favors the
/ initiative, referendum and recall, di-
rect election of senator's. abolition OF
the convention system. nomination
| of all officers from coroner to presi-
dent by general primaries, land
woman's suffrage.
II his platform,is in line with these
ideas. IL will be evident that Mr.. Far
ris does not propose TO temporize be-
tween progressivism and conserva-
tism, but intends TO go the limit in
the enactment OF the suggestions
which are conceived TO be necessary
to extend the control OF the govern
mental affairs by the people. Ger
tainly, he will not be making a play
for the conservative vote on such a
platform But Mr.. Ferris may feel