The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-12-03
URGES DEFEAT
OF ASSAULT ON
PRIMARY LAW
Times Publisher EXhOrts Farm
ers 70 Stand Fast Against
Reaction
TELLS OF 40 YEARS
AT NEWSPAPER MAKING
Daily Press of Today Too Often
Serves as the Barmaid of
the Brewers

LANSING, Dec. a. torly years IN
the Michigan Inkiness" was the sub
ject OF James Schermerhorn's review
OF the state press at the closing SEES.
sion OF the Michigan State Associa-
ton of Farmers clubs in the state
senate. chamber last night The
speakers survey of newspapermak-
ing extended from his apprenticeship
in his fathers country weekly when
the rural subscribers dumped the sub
scription wood over the back fence
into the snow TO the present time
when reactionary newspapers are try
ing 10 dump the primaries out into
the cold.
Primary reform, popular election OF
senators. the initiative, referendum
and recall, publicity OF campaign con-
tributions. etc, were among the
causes OF which The Times was the
pioneer advocate and which had early
attracted to the paper the loyal sup
port OF the Michigan farmers, Mr..
Schermerhorn said, and he urged
them TO follow the admonition. hold
fast that which is good, and oppose
the present machine conspiracy TO
undo the corrective work OF years. A
convention system OF primary nom
nations was as logical as a taphouse
system or temperance, or a thieves
nest system OF honesty. The pri-
maries, even with the defects that
had developed in experience, had
given Michigan a great gain in guber-
Material quality over the days OF po-
litical debauchery through barrel
campaigns and booze and boss dicta-
ton.
In the late campaign, for example.
1t was beyond controversy that the
three ablest and cleanest men the
leading parties could produce, were
before the electorate and this was a
great vindication OF the primary
system.
Mr.. Schermerhorn thanked the or
ganization for it's commentator of
the policy OF The Times, and con-
graduated II upon its outspoken stand
on the liquor question. While four
fifths OF the national area is dry, the
consumption Of liquor has increased
because the daily press--ideally the
handmaiden OF eivilization-has be-
come In too many instances the bar
maid OF the brewers and distillers,
doing in front OF the bar what the
gent in the white apron is doing
behind the bar; also projecting liquor
craftsmanship into states and counties
land into the very firesides OF the
people) that have outlawed the sa-
loon. Newspaper advertising and po-
litical control constitute the remain
ing line of defense behind which John
Barleycorn is making his last stand.
President J. l.. Snyder, OF the Mich
igan Agricultural college, preceded
Mr.. Schermerhorn with brief speech
on the functions OF the college.
An unusually large number of reso-
lutions were adopted at the closing
session, chief among which was one in
structing the legislative committee 10
devise several changes in the present
primary laws and TO endeavor TO have
them submitted at the next session Of
the legislature.
The farmers went on record for
statewide prohibition and protested
against the sale of cigarettes In the
state.
The association favors state aid for
thS biduu Hhplub anu DelTOlL IdlrS,
providing the money is used for pre-
miums and not for horse races. The
sale OF liquor and the presentation OF
shows OF questionable character must
also be barred.
The farmers also favcr taxation OF
water power plants; an income tax
for high-salaried men; woman suf-
frage; the Torrens system OF land
transfers; the elimination OF all pri.
vate banks; a 30-day announcement
OF approaching marriages and the pro-
hibition of such unions unless both
parties are able TO show a clean bill
OF health from a reputable physician :
the limitation Of cases 20 be appealed
from justice courts and the establish
ment OF "dry" zone around state and
educational Institutions
The committee on national affairs
presented resolutions indorsing the
foreign policy OF President Wilson. Ii
also advocated the adoption OF ma
tional system OF farm credits
r. ] Rodd OF Mason, was elected
president; Clarence j. Reed, OF Jack
son, vice-president, and Mrs. j. s.
Brown, OF Howell, secretary-treasurer
The association will meet here next