The Detroit times., 1914-01-15
MCLEOD SAYS
HE'S IN FAVOR
rn OF ROSS PLAN
CONTINUED from Page Onel.


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will disapproye OF uhe attitude OF The
candidates who decline 10 participate
I'm the conference. 1 do not consider
that this is IN any measure setting
aside the primary. Far fgom II. To
talk things over should result in good,
not harm. The best interests OF The
state are Involved in the outcome OF
this conference and an Intelligent eX-
change OF views upon the unusual site
uation would be beneficial TO the PEG.
pie OF the state.
This conference Will be simply
nothing more or less than gettO-
gether meeting So far as the Pro
gressiyes and Republicans are con
cerned, certain candidates have worn
the phrase threadbare in their desire
TO get the Republicans and Progress
siyes together and unite upon candi.
dates for state officers. The confer.
ence suggested By Mr.. Ross, is in.
tended 10 have the same effect II
Is simply a get-together proposition,
and the failure OF any OF the candi-
dates To attend will, In my opinion,
weaken them very materially before
the public.
Il approve heartily OF the confer
ence and think Lieut.-Gov. John c..
Ross was the right man 10 call u.
During his two terms as lieutenant
governor. he has shown himself TO be
a broad minded. patriotic citizen. In
his work IN the capital he has been
eminently fair and believe that his
only desire IN this matter Is 20 bring
the Republican party back TO its or
iginal moOrinEs."
Alex J. Groesbeck however. joins
Frederick G. Mart,ndale in refusing
TO have anything % do with the con-
ference suggested by Lieut. GOV.
Ross, OF the various candidates Tor the
Republican nomination for governor,
to determine which OF them shall re-
ceiye the SUPPORT OF all the others,
who shall thereupon eliminate them
selves from the primary campaign.
While would not Tor one mo-
ment sanction any act which could be
construed as setting at naught the
primary law. or which might give
rise to a charge that the Republican
party is dominated by a few indiYid-
uals. instead of u majority OF its mem
bers, do Believe that IL is the duty
OF those whom the party has honored
by official position, those who desire
the success Of its principles, and
those upon whom il has placed the
responsibility of the party organiza-
ton, TO eliminate, as far as possible,
all factional quarrels from the pri-
mary TO be held next August, says
Mr. Ross.
Jpf Mr. rnn1iaA % lot.
ter to Mr.. Ross, that his scheme Ger
tainIy would set the primary law at
naught
II believe that campaign can be
conducted for the nomination Tor gov
ernor without abuse, vilihcatlon or
mud-slinging, and in clean and man.
ly way" he wrote Such a campaign
breeds mutual respect and liking
among rival candidates. brings the
various sections OF the state into
closer relationship, stimulates inter
est among the voters, and thereby
strengthens the party for the ensuing
election. Any agreement 10 eliminate
candidates for party nominations
tends to discourage the members OF
the party from voting in primary elec.
tons and this in turn Injuries the
party vote at the election.
you should remember also that II
is the settled policy OF the Republican
party that candidates for governor
shall be nominated by the voters.
believe that this policy and the laws
which our party, pursuant 20 f. has
put upon the statute books OF the
state should be in good faith carried
out, and good faith means that the
field should be open 10 any Repub.
lican who wishes 10 submit his can
didacy to the voters. Every voter
under the law as 1t now exists Is en-
titled to express his choice for the
party nominee. and any attempt 20
take that right away, no matter what
the motive, should not be considered
for one moment. must decline 10
participate in the proposed confer
ence, which, II seems 20 me. would
result In rsore harm than good.
Others invited to the conference are
Amos s. Musselman, Arthur II. Van.
denberg. John ]. Carton, Prof. T.. \.
Lyman and Louis c. Cramton.