The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1914-03-21
CoPPERHEADs OF 1914

from the Straits settlement 10 tne
editor of Saturday Night says that he
will not return 10 Michigan until
some time in July. This Is tanta-
mount to formal notice that ne will
not be candidate for the republican
nomination for governor in the August
primaries. There will bo no compli-
cations for the republicans from that
source. Republicans in general have
thrashed out their differences - the
point of agreeing on a candid party
conference. Chairman Groesbeck will
convene the republican state commit
tee for the purpose OF calling together
the delegates 10 the last republican
convention, and such other republicans
as may wish TO participate in the de-
alterations Senator Kinnane's an
nouncement from Dowagiac of his re-
turn 10 the republican party is only
one of many evidences of the disinteg
ration OF the bull-moosers as a third
party Such are the signs of republi
can reunion and cohesion for con-
centrated attack on the stronghold Of
the enemy-the governorship Now
what of the situation in the democrat
ic camp
In gratitude for sane service, in
admiration for moral courage, IN APP
probation OF common sense in high
placep the reople of Michigan have
turned TO the democrat now holding
that office with feeling of security
and confidence seldom exhibited to-
ward public men in this state. Rock
ribbed republicanism beyond the
Straits of Mackinac proclaims him a
deliverer from anarchy and the red
flag, and encourages non partisan
movement for his reelection. Only
handful of red flag sympathizers
masked behind the cauge of labor
unionism, have heretofore offered him
serious opposition.
But treachery must be served. And
treachery can always find a way and
mopthpiece. The way is the Progress
sive Democratic League. The mouth
piece is John NJ Clifford of Detroit,
The Progressive Democratic League is
secret organization which meets be-
hind closed doors to promote the prin-
ciples of president whose first prin.
ciple is 'pitiless publicity. II came
into being as n congregation of disap.
pointed job hunters It has as yet Civ
on the people of Michigan no other
comprehensive reason for its exist
ence. Several of ITS members first
lest faith in Governor Ferris when he
refused 10 ask bull-moose members
of the last legislature to violate their
pledges to Theodore NJ. Joslin for
United States senator ana vote for
Alfred Lucking In return for demo
cratic votes for the bull-moose candi
date for speaker They have since
been deeply offended by the governor
recognition Of the state democratic
organization. In pursuit Of its pap
sucking purposes the Progressive
Democratic League now announces its
intention Of operating as a tire-in the
rear to the democratic administration.
IL is eminently fitting that John NJ.
Clifford should he its spokesman. He
has been an unsuccessful Office seeker
for some years, his more recent perfor-
maDces being his defeat for county
treasurer OF Wayne in 1912 and his
defeat for appointment as collector of
internal revenue in 1914 Mr. Clifford
and his colleagues will enter candi.
dates forevery democratic nomination
in the primaries, save one, in the hope
of securing control of the party or.
ganization. But they plan a more ex-
quisite political death for the demo
cratic governor Knowing that they
cannot deprive him of second nomi-
nation with the aid of democrat votes,
they will contrive in true copperhead
fashion, TO attack him from behind.
Here Is their program as given in
The Detroit Journal OF March II by
Mr.. Clifford himself.
We won't touch the governorshIp
this year, but | don't think Ferris
will be reelected. If there are three
candidates for governor Ferris, re-
publican, and bull-mooser- and
Whitney Watkins is the bull moose
candidate, Watkins will get the sup.
port of progressive democrats. With
$4,000 votes swinging TO him. he will
be the next governor, too
Are there so many traitors In the
ranks OF Michigan democracy3-De-
troit Saturday Night