The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-09-26
How About 1t, Mr.. Upstate
Publisher; Are You a Part
Of B0ozes Lying Campaign?
THE PRESIDENT SAYS

THE PRESIDENT SAYS
Gm against q statewide prohibition unit
believe IN a smaller local option unit
beflDve IN home rule
shah vote for homo rule
The foregoing is presented TO you as
3 sample of the trichly -worded. trickily
displayed, dishonest advertising that is
being placed In the newspapers of the
state by the Michigan Home Rule
jsague-the organization which The
Times has said should call itself the
Home RUIN" league.
II Is submitted in proof of two things
That this newspaper was right in its
Characterization of the advertising Of
the league and its refusal to accept it,
despite the protests of its manager;
That the booze interests in Michigan
are fearful of November, to the point of
desperation.
The president Of the United States
~says' none of the things the league has
printed in bold type in its advertising.
The president of the Home Rule
hague says them, as the reader ascer-
tains after he has read far down, in the
smaller type.
The trick in the I'D. makes Il a lie to
de people Of Michigan and Islander
upcn the president of the United States.
Is b common knowledge on the part
q every newspaper publisher in Michi-
9an who keeps himself in touch with
what is going on In his state, that pro-
vidon for statewide prohibition was
not included by the last constitutional
convention, because it was the concen-
sus Of opinion that the state was not
ready for the sweeping unit and state
Wide prohibition plank would have de-
4eated the many other progressive
things embodied in the new constitution.
wellington R. Burt, Of Saginaw, was
one Of those who saw that it would be
fatal to what had been gained in the
NV draft Of fundamental law, if a pro-
Mbttion clause were put into it,
The league sent to the newspapers
thst have consented to print its decep-
live. misleading and vicious advertise
ments, extracts from a speech made by
Mr.. Burt that are easily possible Of in
terpretation to mean that the prominent
Saganawian is opposed to dry state.
The Times has published the letter
Of Mr.. Burt to an editor who sold his
columns, explaining his utterances,
along the lines already set forth, In
which letter Mr. Burt declares, quite TO
the contrary of the booze ad., that he is
heart and soul in the fight for dry
Michigan, and on the affirmative side.
The Port Huron Times-Hersld accepts
the advertising Of the Home Rule
league, but in an editorial, in the same
issue in which one Of the leagues ads.
appears, sounds this warning:
n the Michigan Home Rule League. which IL
doing considerable publicity work in the news
papers Of this state In favor Of smaller local
option unit and against state wide prohibition
really expects 10 get results II should make
radical change IN It's advertising In few words.
u should be honest II should not attempt 20
deceive the public. And unless u does change
u WIN NOT only be barred from the decent news
papers Of the state. but II will help defeat the
very purpose for which II Is intended. .
In todays Issue OF this newspaper another OF
the Homo RIDE League Advertisements appears.
We have examined the copy. II IL headed PRO
hiottton History In Michigan" On the surface IL
appears 10 be q statement made by one
who II NJ present an Ann Arbor professor. II
negiects TO state that Professor Thompson has
been dead several years. n misleading, just
- other Advertisements sent out by the Home
Rule League appear 20 have been designed to
deceive the public.
The Home Rule League is urging the passage
Of q smaller optiou unit amendment, % which
BY the way we opposed. But we viii no
close our columns 20 them for this reason.
On the cther hand their advertising must no
be misleading or Il will be barred from thi
newspaper.
The Port Huron newspaper eventual!
win have to eliminate the booze adver
TING bocauss the advertising campaign