The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-08-06
LAY PLANS To
RID PARTY OF
MACHINE RULE
Judge Yaple's Denunciation of
yote-Swappers' League Is
Heartily Cheered
PROTEST AGAINST POWER
OF WOOD-SHIELDS GANG
Progressive Democrats Plan to
Free Party From Domination
Of Patronage Hunters

LANSING, Mich, Aug. Gam
didates for the state central commit
tee OF the Democratic party who had
been endorsed by the progressive
Democrats met In the Hotel Downey
here, Tuesday, on the call Of Sidney
T.. Miller, OF Detroit, vice-president
and chairman OF the Progressive
Democratic league, the statewide or
ganixation recently formed by Wilson
and antimachine Democrats to take
control OF the organization away from
the Woods Shields combination.
Forty candidates and leaders repre-
senting all the Ii congressional dis
tricts Of the state were present.
Among others were the following:
Judge George L. Yaple, OF Mendon;
Edward Frensdorf, of HudsSl; Hora-
ito ]. Abbott. Of Ann Arbor; VII
liam +. Mcknight, Of Grand Rapids;
John Burke and ex-Mayor Foiz, OF
Kalamazoo; Dan l.. Ensign, OF Kings
ley; Howard Kavanagh. OF Battle
Greek, candidate tor congress IN the
Third district; Charles Heddom, OK
Dowagiac; Sheriff George w. Wat
kins. of st. Joseph county; James
Deyereaux and Mayor A. w. Tausend.
Of Saginaw; w. ]. Bell. of Bay City;
John ]. Sourwine, Of Escanaba, ana
other well-known leaders.
In his address Judge Yaple plainly
: stated that 1t was the purpose of the
progressive Democrats Of Michigan to
take over control OF the party organi-
zation as represented In the state GEN.
trail committee about to be elected and
to make that body responsive to and
representative Of the desires and prin-
ciples of the rank and Ale Of the
party. He condemned, In strong Ian
guage, the present party organization
under the domination Of Messrs.
Woods and Shields, asserting that.
under their domination, the present
state organization had been guilty OF
unfair, bipartisan and machine poll
tics, the result OF which was that
President Wilson polled but one vote
in four In the state, the worst show
Ing of any In the Union.
He charged that the party organi-
xation had been prostituted to the de-
sires OF q MISUNDERSTANDING, vote
swapping machine, under the control
Of which the party, while thriving in
other states, was becoming less and
less Of factor In Michigan.
Judge Yaple's vigorous denuncia-
ton OF present machine politics was
interrupted by loud outbursts Of ap-
plause.
A resolution was passed condemn
ing the secretary of state for his ar.
bitrary action In refusing to recognize
the provisions OF the primary law as
passed by the last legislature provid.
Ing for the election OF members OF
the state central committee by popu-
lar vote. Resolutions were also pass
ed condemning the failure Of State
Chairman Shields to take the neces-
sary legal steps to force the question
OF primary law to hearing In the
supreme court before Its adjourn
ment.
Candidates for committeeman en-
dorsed by the progressive Democrats
retained Attorneys william F. Nc
Knight, Of Grand Rapids; Judge Cy-
renus ID. Black. OF Lansing. and Fred
l.. Eaton, of Saginaw, to take such
legal steps as might be necessary in
order to permit the voters. as intend
ed by the legislature. to vote direct
for member OF the state central COM
mittee.
In compliance with this resolution
q mandamus petition was drawn up
and will be filed In the supreme court
ut once.
A committee consisting OF Dan L
Ensign, George W. watkins and How
ard w. Cayanagh was appointed,
which went at once to the capitol for
the purpose of extending a personal
invitation to Gov. Ferris to attend and
address the meeting so that he could
be given an opportunity OF denounc-
Mg the unauthorized use of his name
and prestige OF his ONCE In support
Of the candidates for state central