The Detroit times., 1913-05-22
ELECTION OF
FERRIS WAS A
NEAR-MIRACLE
Edward Frensd0rf Uses Cover.
n0r's Remark to Take An
other Shot at Bosses
DOUBTS RETURN OF
PROGRESSIVES TO G. OP.
Should Line up, Sooner, With
Democrats, If Party Con.
tinues to Make Good

Edward Frensdorf. Of Hudson. cam
paign manager for WOODROW Wilson
III Michigan, was Detroit visitor,
Wednesday. Mr.. Frensdorf was asked
to comment on the recent expression
OF Gov. Ferris, that the voters would
again align themselves with the two
old parties, and he said:
Il see the situation differently than
docs the governor. probably viewing
II from another angle. and, also, COM
Ing In contact with a different class
OF people. OF every kind OF political
faith.
Il am quite sure the people Of our
state are very much pleased with
what our governor has secured In the
way OF progressive legislation. l am
sure he has met their expectations
and earnestly endeavored to fulfill
every pledge made before election. |
have failed to hear any criticism OF
the governor for his urging the legis-
lature TO enact into law that which he
advocated on the stump. The pro.
gressives Of all parties Joined In elect
Ing him. and | can see no reason for
any of them to regret having done 30.
THE governor seems to treat his
election as miracle. 1t was. II he
understood the true situation. He
would be amazed at the ticket receiv.
ing as many votes as 1t did. when 1t
is considered the kind Of preconven.
ton black-hand game candidate VII
son was up against. The socalled "or.
ganization," claiming to be the Demo
crat party OF the state, had unlimited
funds with which to defeat Wilson,
and they used 1t to poison the minds
OF the people against Wilson. and
they were successful.
They proceeded thus: To the Ro-
manists they said Wilson was a bigot
and hater Of the Catholic: to the
Jews they said he had written or
promised to deport all OF them. The
brewery and saloon interests were
told Wilson favored national prohibi-
ton. The working man was told ne
was an aristocrat and against every
form Of organized labor. and they be-
lIeved IT, The old soldier was told
Wilson was Southerner, and would
favor the withdrawal OF all pensions
unless 1t might be those of ex-confed-
crates
They made 80 many believe their
mated II was impossible to change
their opinions Of the man and thou
sands Of them refused to vote for him
In AZ OF the 48 states Wilson either
carried the state or was second Why
did he run third in Michigan? Was
Wilson weak candidate in other
states? Why did Wilson receive the
smallest percentage of the vote that
any Democratic state or presidential
ticket ever received since Michigan
was admitted into the union In 1897
differ with the governor In his
opinion that the Progressive party Is
thing of the past. This all depends
on what the other two parties do.
Should the same gang of reactionaries
that throttled the will OF the Republi-
cans Of the state at their convention
In Bay City be recognized as the lead
ers. the bolt will Justly occur again.
IL the reactionary element of the Dem
ocrat party that knitted and deprived
that party OF doing what 80 per cent
Of the party wanted, insist upon prac-
ticing such dishonorable methods, the
only medium through which the rank
and Ale OF the party can show their
ID tuIOu6u party
If Cummings. LaFollette, and such
men are conceded leadership OF the
Republican party, and such tricksters
as Dalzell. Fordney and the Straddlers
are put down and out. the excuse for
a third party will not exist.
If the Wilson administration gets
the support II deserves, giving 1t a
chance to demonstrate It's desire to be
for the people, most Of the progress
sive vote of 1912 will come to the
Democrats. Why wouldn't they?
II am told every day by some
staunch Republican that Mr.. Wilson
Is making good and they want to see
him have a chance to put his ideas
and policies into operation. am
sure no president ever made himself
as popular Is 80 short a time. I am
confident that the prejudice and oppo-
sition created against Wilson will
have been dispelled before another
state election, and that the party can