New-York tribune., 1918-09-26
No Binding Platform for
Him, He Tells Mich.
gan Democrats
Hasn't Spent a Cent
AndWon't, Even to Win
State Convention Adopt,
Plank Favoring Suffrage
Amendment

DETROIT, Sept. 25.- Making MS fire.
purely political utterance since beco,,
ing candidate for the United stato,
Senate, Henry Ford enlivened the nro.
ceedines Of the Democratic state cor
ventior here to-day with a letter j.
which he informed the party leaders
that although nominally their cana;.
date he did not intend to be bound Nv
any party considerations. Democrats
or Republican.
Il mold myself free to support sueo
measures, whatever their origin. q,
commend themselves to my judgmen.
for the best interests Of all the neo.
ple," MIR. Ford wrote.
He added that he did not spend
dollar to win the nomination at the
August primaries and did not intend to
spend cent 10 win The election. Nr
Ford did not attend the convention. Ia.
The letter was an unexpected feature
Of the convention. called to adout
platform for the campaign and nom;.
nate candidates for various state Offices
below Lieutenant Governor. The can
didates chosen without a contest are:
For Secretary OF Stase, G. A. Masse
link, Big Rapids; for Attorney General
James II. Baker, Adrian; for State
Treasurer, Richard Powell. Iron Noun
tain; for Auditor General, c. Keith
Jakeway. Rockford
Despite Mr. Ford's statement that he
had accepted the Senatorial nomination
without specific obligations OF any
Kind, the convention adopted resolu-
tons pledging complete support to his
candidacy. Undivided allegiance 70 the
Democratic national Administration
'nd the woman suffrage amendment
which VIII come before the voters at
the November election. also was
pledged
Mr.. Ford's letter emphasized that
until requested by President Wilson
20 make the race he had no intention
o seeking political Office. Continuing
the letter reads:
And now, having been nominated OF
the Democratic ticket. ii IS only fair
chat the people who vote for me should
understand explicitly that | am not
party man and do not accept this nom
ination with any specific obligation OF
pledge. except to support President
Wilson's war measures while he con-
.inues his present and past wise course
III the conduct OF the war. and that !
Go not bind myself to vote for any
cratic or Republican. but that | hold
I11X-celf n
whatever their origin. as commend
themselves TO my Judgment for the
best interests OF ell the people"
After the war issues. Mr.. Ford wrote,
must be met and dealt with in the
broadest and most liberal spirit
Stating that he had not spent direct
" or indirectly any money to win the
nomination and did not intend to spend
any to win the election. Mr. Ford said:
"A purchased place would be tant-
ed. worthless bauble. 1t must be the
free choice of free people.
Subordination of partisanship to the
great purpose of winning the war was
sounded as the keynote OF the coming
campaign by Congressman Frank T.
Doremus, CT Detroit. in his address as
temporary chairman of the convention
whether those wso are conducting
an onenSlNe TO cap -urc the polltlca'
base Of supplies will have it SO or not
he said. the people themselves have
adjourned politics.
Severe denunciation was voiced b.
the speaker of "those who seek to ride
to power by barrassing and harass-
ing the commander in chief Of the
army and navy He referred TO them
as "auXiliary enemy snipers firing IN
the rear of the Administration"
"They should be given short Shirt
by the American people he continued
TO them we say in the Language Of
Lloyd George. answering similar al
tacks against Great Britain: In ths
hour of peril, for Gods sake, stop
sniping'"
Congressman Doremus commenced
10 the voters this year the words o.
! two former wartime Presidents urg.
ing that there be no break in the rank
/ lest a refusal to sustain the Presldee-
be regarded in the eyes OF the nations
antagonists as a refusal TO sustain me
war
"It is my conviction" he said in con,
clusion. that the American people ID
November will not give heart 10 gu
antagonists nor furnish them Win
CLEAN o. hope