Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-02-28

of these State tax sales. The editor
of the Herald knows that the policy
has been continued by the Republican
party for similar reason and pur.
pose. But it is a serious question il
it has not been continued long enough
for the good Of the public and the
party. There are now but few coun.
ties in Michigan which cannot sus-
tain a local paper without any aid
from State patronage, and for the last
ten or fifteen years the tendency OF
holding out this State lax sale prize
has been to increase and multiply so
called Republican papers in nearly
all the older counties, which instead
of aiding and strengthening the party,
have, by creating feuds, jealousies,
cliques and rings, done it more posi-
tive injury than good. We can point
to numerous instances where this has
occurred, where, if there had been no
tax sale gratuity to distribute, or if
it had been given to the paper having
the greatest circulation and useful
ness there would have been one good,
strong, and reliable and honest Re-
publican paper, infusing force, strength
harmony and courage, where there
are now two, three or four; filling
the party with local and personal
jealousy, and all half starving and
weak, Il source of humiliation and
disintegration. That this is the case
there is an abundance Of testimony
on the table of every editor, and in
the possession of nearly every State
and local politician.
But there is another point in this
huge question of State patronage
which is worthy of the investigation
of the public, which is, that to confde
the disposition of this immense pat
ronage in the hands Of one man is
dangerous to the State and to the
party. That this power has been uti-
lied for the benefit Of a few shrewd
and INSCRIPTIONS politicians there
can be no doubt Any person who
has had a close eye upon the personal
"booms" of the last few years can
easily discover the hand of patronage
shown by this power. With a few
honorable exceptions, it has been the
habit of the tax sale papers to all
"boom" in one direction and for one
man, and the mighty Influence of
the press" has been brought to bear
upon the people in the interest of the
man or men the disposer Of the tax
sales most loved. This, of course,
was not done directly, but by methods
which shrewd and corrupt politicians
seem to know how to use. They were
largely used in 1880 to force the NOM
nation Of a favorite candidate for
governor, and in 1882 in the cam
paign to elect Mr.. Ferry to the senate.
As early rs the 9th Of last Septem-
Der the attention Of the voters Of
Michigan was called to this fact, by
the publication as part of the letter
of Hon. VIM. n. Brown Of the results
of the Midland senatorial convention,
when Mr.. Ferry's henchman Gavitt,
with two or three local "bosses" had
nullifed the choice Of the people, and
sought to steal vote for Mr.. Ferry
in a locality when the people were
almost unanimously opposed to his
reelection.
Mr.. Brown said:
1--WE have in the State a great Office
that yields more power, so far as the
public press is concerned, than all the
other offices together, as large sums of
money are paid out to the press for
advertising the tax lands every year.
The money comes direct from the peo-
pie, and if any place should be free
from abuse it is this Office which stands
in such close and important relations
with the people. Yet the power of
this great office seems to have been
incorporated and made part of this
system, even to threatening the press
with the money which is taken in part
from the shelters that protect our
family. Nothing exempts us from
the payment of our taxes. Yet this
very power is used to override and
rob the people of the right of a free
press, that one man may be elected to
the senate of the United States from
Michigan. But where he secured
patent for the perpetuity of his seat
has not yet been made public. Let
me submit for the instruction of your
readers the following as a specimen
letter."
MUSHROOM, Mich, July 20, 1882.
j. S. Holden, Esq, Farwell, Mich.
DEAR SIR-It has been intimated
to me from q source that is perfectly
reliable, that you stand no chance of
obtaining the printing of tax lists this
year as long as you advocate the
election of Mr.. Hubbell to the United
States senate. / do not know to what
extent you have committed yourself,
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