The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-08-16
AUTOCRATS PICKED
FORD, SAYS HELME
Enters Race SO Masses Will Have
Chance to Express Themselves


Chance to Express Themselves
Lansing, Mich, Aug. 5.-James w.
Helme, of Adrian, former state dairy
and food commissioner and candidate
for the Democratic nomination for
United States senator in opposition to
Henry Ford, in a signed statement is
sued Monday vigorously protests
against the action of the Democratic
state central committee in putting
Henry Ford's name on the ballot and
accuses his party leaders of failing to
observe the spirit of the primary law
Helme's statement follows:
SIN 1904, Governor Ferris led the
Democratic party in Michigan in a
great drive for primary reform. While
it was temporarily defeated the seed
was sown that few years later gave
Michigan a direct primary law.
"It is sad to relate that since that
time the Democratic masses have
never selected their nominees for state
Offices or United States senator.
Calls Leaders Autocracy
"Every two years the state commit
tee meets and picks the candidates for
the Democratic masses to vote for.
Two years ago the limit was reached
when the committee ran dummy can
didates at the primary and afterwards
had them resign and filled the vacan-
cies with men of their real choice. Has
the Democratic party been Democratic
only in name, in Michigan?
Gan autocracy of few men meet
in private, in some hotel room, and
control it's affairs and nominate its
candidates and as result Michigan is
the strongest Republican state in the
union Making farce of the primary
has Disguised real Democrats and
and brought upon us retailatory legis-
lation from Republican legislature.
This year the autocracy has selected
a candidate for United States senator
for both parties, who not only has
never been identified with the Demo-
cratic organization and has never con-
,tributed time or money to help it, but
who is actually a candidate for the
same office on the Republican ticket
and refuses to state which nomination
he will accept or which party he will
affiliate with.
Ford Rides Two Parties
81 have seen an expert ride two
horses at a circus, but he would not
have attempted to ride the donkey
and the elephant at the same time.
81 have consented to allow my name
to go on the primary ballot to find out
il the masses of the Democratic party
wish these methods. Maybe they want
Henry Ford. If so, no harm can be
done his candidacy by a friendly con-
test. If they do not, it would be polit-
ical suicide to force his candidacy up
on the party. When the constitution
was amended to allow the people d.
rectly to select United States sena-
tor, it meant what it said. Let us ac-
cept the spirit of the amendment.
ITO allow a candidate to be Sc
lected by body not responsible to
the waters of Michigan is autocracy,
pure and simple. Let us make demo-
cracy safe for Michigan"
Runs on War Platform
Helms platform indicates that he
is strongly behind President Wilson's
war policies, as he says 81 shall sup
port the presidents war measures to
the end that knockout blow shall
force world peace.
"No peace only on the terms stat
ed by the President.
"More taxes and less bonds.
"Take for war purposes all incomes
over 100000 per year and 80 per cent
of all war profits.
Government ownership of railroads
and telegraph companies after the war.
"The food question is and will be our
greatest problem. At present the far
mer is getting on an average 40 per
cent of the consumers dollar. The far
mer in many instances is not getting
cost for his products and the consumer
is paying too much. Sixty per cent is
too great a margin for distribution.
Fewer MilliOnaires in Senate
"Give the farmer 20 per cent more
for his products. Let the consumer
pay 20 per cent less and leave 20 per
cent for distribution. This will be am
pie if thegovernment will put the great
food monopolists and profiteers out of
business, abolish all food speculation
and give government distribution at
cost.
"The government should operate all
coal mines and distribute coal at cost.
Naturally, l think we should have
fewer millionaires in the United States
senate"