The Detroit times., 1914-10-03
WOOD-SHIELDS
CONTROL UPON
FERRIS HEAD
Progressives Say They Deferred
to Governor and Response
bility Is His
UPSTATE NOMINEES
LEFT OUT In THE COLD
Liquor Endorsement Of Ferris
Will Hurt Candidates in Dry
Counties

The Progressive Democratic league
decided not to make a fight In the
party state convention, Wednesday,
according to the leagues leaders, out
OF Difference to the wish OF Gov. Fer
his that contest be avoided
They say the governor was told that
II he wanted to take the chances Of
defeat BY sustaining the present or
ganization In the face of q protest
with the signatures OF over one-third
OF the delegates attached thereto, the
responsibility was upon him.
SAID one or the men who are at the
head Of the league
The state appoirtees were all here
TO aid IN putting across the governors
program and TO insult anyone who
happened 10 differ with them as to the
advisabtlity OF continuing the present
state organization.
Scores OF leading Democrats from
all over the state visited our head
quarters. Dozens OF men who have
been nominated on the Democratic
ticket for county and legislative posi-.
tons begged OF us to start the fight
to overthrow Shields. We referred
them all to the governor, but they
could not get any satisfaction, and
were obliged to accept the governors
plans.
These nominees say It may be
clever politics for Ferris to retain and
sustain the present organization,
which has been able to secure the in
dorsement OF the State Liquor Deal
ers' association for him, but they cite
thecfact that such Endorsement does
not cover all the state, county and leg
islative nominees, and az some Of
them are running In districts where
the saloon has been voted out OF exis-
tence, the alliance OF the. Democratic
state organization with the liquor in
terests will do them great harm.
"The fight to make Michigan De-
mocracy clean and respectable, and to
divorce It from the Vote Swappers'
league. has only begun.
"The reactionaries In both parties
have fought every move toward a pri-
mary, and have successfully throttled
the law governing selection sof mem
bers Of state central committees, 9TH
erwise this reactionary bunch would
have been eliminated.
.Of the 20 members of the last
Democratic state central committee,
only SIX or the Old members were re-
elected, which sure Is enough encour-
|agement. Two years ago this com
|mittee stood Is against Wilson to one
for him. At the same time II stood
one Tor r9Fris for the nominatiou for
governor TO 70 against
1T was really great Joke to listen
to the speeches made at that conven-
ton. lauding President Wilson, by
men who said the harshest things
againat him and did all In their power
to defeat his nomination.
1T must be. remembered that
Shields and Wood, who took occasion
to extoll Secretary Bryan In their
speeches, were among the 20 dele
gates at the Baltimore convention
who voted against Bryan for chair
man Of that convention and against
Bryan on every Issue raised.
wilson's administration is what we
original Wilson men knew 1t would
be, q great success by q wonderful
statesman, but Il IL strong enough
and popular enough TO carry the load
OF q machine liquor alliance and the
selfish schemes OF the old reactionary
bosses?
"For party to build permanently
we contend Il must buiid uprfghtly.
all along the line. from bottom to top