The diamond drill., 1914-04-18


Senator W. Frank James OF Hancock
Saturday made formal announcement
Of his candidacy for Conrgess from
the twelfth district ia the republican
primaries. The announcement comes
as no surprise TO the Senator's thous-
ands of friends ia this district as il
has been accepted for several months
that he Is the logical candidate ii the
republican party hopes TO send a menu
ber of its party TO Washington from
this district.
Scarcely day has passed during the
past year that letters have not reached
Senator James urging him TO get in
the race for congress. Two years ago
he was requested TO enter the primary
against representative III. Olin Young,
OF Ishpeming. defeated in the fall cleo
tion Of 1912 when the upper peninsula
was carried by Theodore Roosevelt
the colonel carrying into Office the pro.
gressive party candidate.
1t is doubtful if candidate ever en-
tered campaign with stronger assur-
ance of support than does Senator
James. Practically every paper In the
Iron country has endorsed him editor
tally, and spoken highly of Senator
James as congressional timber In their
news columns he is accepted as q
progressive but not radical republi-
can and leaders of the progressive and
conservative wings look to the Han
COCK man as the one person who can
do more toward uniting the two fac
tions Of the republican party in the
twelfth district than any other man.
SUCCESSFUL IN POLITICS
Senator James first dip into the po-
litical arena was in 1900 two years
after returning from Cuba where he
served as private in the Cuban War
as member OF the old Go. f. Thirty-
fourth Michigan. now Co O., Light
Infantry, when he was elected county
treasurer, holding the office for two
terms In 1907, James was elected
city alderman In Hancock, and two
years later was elected mayor of the
City, serving as chief executive for
two years. His second term he had no
opposition, the democrats endorsing
him by letting nomination on their
ticket blank 1t was during Senator
James last years as mayor that he was
elected to the state enate. winning
the nomination and election by big
maiorities
The Detroit News speaking of the
progressives and republicans working
in harmony, comments on Senator
James thusly:
"As acknowledged leader OF the pro-
gressives-republican democrat and
third party meu--in the senate, Sen.
ator James has had much 10 do in pas
sing bills 20 carry out every plank in
the progressive platform adopted by
the republicans in the spring conven-
tion, and most Of the reforms advocat-
cd in, the Democratic and progressive
platforms as well.
James was among the senator's who
insisted upon the fullest recognition
OF the six bull moose senators. Those
men were given equal division with
first-term republicans, in the matter
of senate patronage. Their bills were
given the utmost consideration. In
not single instance did republican
introduce bill covering the same sub
ject matter as a progressive bill intro
duced earlier with a purpose of taking
credit for the enactment.
In the legislature OF 1911. and the
special session of 1912. James piled up
a distinctly progressive record. He
was instrumental in the senate in hav-
ing passed two cent fare bin for the
upper peninsula, he successfully advo.
Gated in the senate the election OF
mining inspec ors by the people, and
he forced the Sighting in favor of the
initiative. referendum, and the recall,
and the presidential primary. He was
one of the introducers of the working.
mans compensation.
James was the center of the trogres-
sive fight in the republican state con
vention in February. 1913. serving as
permanent chairman of the convention
after the Drogressivcs had gained con-
troll
The following is list OF some Of the
most important bills introduced in the