The Detroit times., 1914-07-31
PARTY FACTIONS
TO WAGE FIGHT
FOR CONTROL
Progressive Democratic League
and Machine Crowd Due For
Big Battle
STATE COMMITTEE
BONE OF CONTENTION
Squabble Will BE Hottest Here
League is Perfecting
Organization

So far from being on its last legs,
as has been said by its enemies, the
Progressive Democratic league Is
now just getting in position TO DO
effective work, according TO the men
actively engaged in pushing its pro-
gram. They propose 10 make de-
termined hght FOR control OF the
party's state central committee. Their
hope was 10 have done so through the
popular election OF the committee IN
the coming primary, as provided In
law passed by the last legislature.
Atty.-Gen. Grant Fellows declared TINS
law unavoidable and as result or
his decision, the secretary OF state
refused to accept the petitions OF
candidates which IL was necessary for
them 10 ile to enter the primaries.
The progressive Democrats then
prepared mandamus petition 10
compel the secretary OF state to OBJ
serve the LAW when their attorney
went TO present the petition. to the
state supreme court SATURDAY he
found tn, court already mad adj
journed till oct q long after the
primaries will be over. II is claimed
by those who sought TO observe the
new law governing the election Of
state central committeeman that II
still IS in effect until overruled Their
opponents answer that an unconsti
tutional law when II once has been
declared so. never was valid fne
whole situation is very much
muddled Many candidates represent
ing the organization Democrats and
organization Republicans did not file
petitions, depending upon the su.
preme court 10 declare the law I'M
constitutional
II Is probable that the election OF
state central committees in all par
ties will take pldcc in the cOnven-
tions which viii be held Sept 30.
The work OF organization OF 4he
Progressive Democratic league
throughout the state is Well nigh per
iected, declared Edward Frensdorf
OF Hudson, 10 The Times. Thursday
The details of the work will be car.
ried out by the leagues secretary
Roscoe Houston, whose Offices are in
room No SOP Penobscut building
Some member OF the executive COM
mittee OF the league viii keep in
daily touch with it, affairs lt has
placed strong men in the race for
membership on the state central com.
mittee in every district IN the state
II Is conceded that the new state or
ganizarion Viii be more representa-
tive than any In the past Active,
energetic respectable party control
will doubtless bring thousands OF vot-
ers TO the Democratic party who
would not aflliate with question
able and unrepresentatiye organiza.
ton
The best Democrats in Michigan
are back of this movement, and its
success Is assured
The primary fight between the pro
gressive and organization Democrats
in Detroit will be upon the selection
not only OF state central committee
men in the First and Thirteenth con
gressional districts, but also in the
selection Of the city members OF the
county committee. the members OF
the city committee, and the III pre-.
cinct committeeman. For control OF
these places which will mean control
OF the party machinery and the abil.
ity 10 compel recognition from the
national Democratic party, there will
be fight TO the finish between the
two wings OF the party.