A Convention Of The Good Old Kind

If ever there has been in Michigan a convention absolutely in the hands of the rank and file of the party, that convention was the democratic state convention of yesterday. If there was any disposition on the part of the leaders to dominate the convention, it must have been made apparently early that the delegates themselves were in control. They had determined that the people should have the man they wanted to head the ticket and they got him. But for the uncertainty as to whether Judge Durand would accept the nomination if tendered him, he would have been nominated on the first ballot with hands down. His letter of declination, however, held many back and indicated that he was not only in no sense a seeker after the office but that he possibly might not accept the nomination should it be tendered him unsought. The delegates believed, not withstanding, that they had a right to draft him into service and that he was too good a democrat to refuse a spontaneous call of his party and of the people who demanded a reform in the administration of the state's affairs. His acceptance of the honor thus thrust upon him shows that the delegates made no mistake in their man. His nomination under all the circumstances, is a high tribute to Mr. Durand.

The sentiment in the convention which forced the nomination of Judge Durand was the belief that he would not only control the full vote of his own party, but that he is stronger by thousands of votes with that element of the republican party which is up in open rebellion against the bossism and boodleism of that party than any other candidate who was before the convention. Mr. Durand is recognized as a man of the full stature of gubernatorial timber and the peer of any man who has ever occupied the executive chair. He has large ability, he is educated, disciplined and trained, honest and of unquestioned integrity in all relations, a man of excellent judgment and strong will power, a man who, if elected governor, will be governor. He is an able lawyer and possesses the indicial temperament in high degree, is tactful and diplomatic, and with all a very lovable man. His nomination appeals to the best citizenship of the state, and all citizens who desire the redemption of the state from its present degenerate political condition, and the placing in control of state affairs of an administration which will administer the state government in the interest of the whole people rather than in the interest of corrupt bosses and great corporations, have in George H. Durand a candidate whom they may honor themselves by voting for. With him in the executive office there will be an end of "government by telephone" and a reinstatement of "government by the people and for the people." If such a man does not appeal to our best citizenship in a way to cause the voters to break away from the present scandalous regime, then it will have to be acknowledged that the majority desires bad government to good government, and a jellyfish for governor to a man of the best order of ability and tof unquestioned independence of character.

All allusion to national matters is omitted from the democratic state platform. This is a bit of political wisdom greatly to be commended. The attention of the voters can now be concentrated, in the conduct of the state campaign, upon state issues. This ought to insure a correction of the evils under which the state is now suffering. To focus public attention upon these conditions so obnoxious to all honest citizens should be all that is necessary to secure their correction.

The platform adopted by the state democracy was foreshadowed in the admirable speech of Chairman Lucking and it is a strong one. It demands the re-establishment of local self government, equal taxation and primary election reform. These are the three great points of this admirable document

If the primaries could always be conducted in the representative manner that the democratic state convention was conducted and the will of the people as well carried into effect as was done in the Detroit gathering of the clans, then there would be little need of primary reform.

A number of prominent Ann Arbor republicans have already asserted to the Argus that they will vote for George H. Durand for governor and they predict that he will command a large republican following in this neck of woods.