Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-06-24

SURVIVING SOLONS.
Reunion at Lansing of the Surviv.
ing Michigan Legislators of
Fifty Years.
A Meeting Replete with Historic
Incident and Personal
Remlniscence.
Interesting Addresses and Valuable Con
tributions to State Legislative
History.

The attendance at the legislative reunio
held at Lansing June 10-11 exceeded a
expectations, nearly six hundred member
or the Legislature being present, beside
many otherwise distinguished men, in
cluding Senators Conger and Palme
Governors Alger, Begole, Jerome, an
Felch. The last named, who is Presiden
OF the Legislative Association and was
member of the first Legislature ever hel
IN the State, called the meeting TO order il
Representatives Hall. Governor Alge
made an address of welcome. 1t SCENE,
superfiuous to him TO extend a welcome
| They were all ut home again. IL one woult
ask why Michigan was great, let the ques
TONER come hero and read the character Of
the men who have guided the State and b,
| will be answered. To- day everybody be
longed to the same party-that is, the re.
union party. President Felch, in respnst
to the welcome, made a deeply inter.
esting address ON the Legislative his
tory of Michigan, which held the closest
attention of the audience. He said
aMore than fifty years have passed since
the State was organized, and you will moi
wonder that one who participated in its
events and whose bosom glowed with the
ardor then kindled in every heart looks
back with proud and beating heart to this
birthday OF our commonwealth. have
watched the progress of our republic, and
L feel in my heart that no State in the
union has made truer or greater progress or
has more reason TO be proud of its record. +"
The peculiarities of early legislation were
dwelt upon at length, and the gradual
change from the crude territorial laws to
broader and more popular legislation de-
tailed. The early Legislators laid the foun-
dation stones with the vision of the future
bright before them. The legislation which
has resulted in the States magnificent
educational system was carefully sketched,
as well as the Judicial, internal improve
ment, geological survey, and banking sys-
TENS. "The first fifty years have passed."
he said in conclusion. ats history is
written in letters Of gold. 1t is not for us
who have seen all from the beginning to
remain until the great future shall be dis
closed. but we can read the bright signs of
promise that rest upon it, and join in the
song of thanksgiving"
The members of Legislatures of the sos
and prior years were seated at the front
upon the right ct the Speaker. Their
numbers were few. Upon tie left were
SUS6Htad { ttofIsppfa1abers Of Legislatures of the
Gov. Jerome and Senator Conger. AS the
roll call proceeded each member present
arose and answered to his name. Clerk
Crossman read the outline of public service
of each. The record of Senator Conger
was longer than that of any other in the
list, including terms in the House and
Senate, in constitutional conventions and
the National House of Representatives and
Senate. A list almost as long was that OF
ex- Gov. Felch and ex- Senator Ferry.
1t was seen after q while that to recapitu-
late the list of services of each member
would take an interminable time, leaving
scarcely opportunity for any other business.
The names alone were called after that.
Clerk Crossman, however, pointed out the
record of the senior member present,
Townsend Z. Gidley, of Grand Haven,
aged 80, wherenpon the house compll-
mented the old gentleman with round OF
applause.
Rapids, delivered a long address on "Toledo
and the Mexican War from a Michigan
Standpoint"
At the close of his address Col. Mercy
nolds spoke of the resolution IN favor of
the Mexican War passed by the Legislature
of 1847 with but three negative votes, say
ing it showed the preponderance of feeling
of the people on the war question.
H. B. Lathrop, of Ionia, said he was one
of the three that voted against that reso-
luton, but that lis vote was not because
he opposed war measures, but because of
Objectionable phrases in the wording of
the resolution itself.
II. w. Landon, of Niles, said he was
present at the passage of the resolution in
question, and was now glad to learn that
there really was no opposition to it.
The remark was applauded, the audience
being apparently in the mood to stir up de-
bate among the veterans of 1847.
Hon. William p. Wells delivered an elo-
quent address on "The Legislative Power
in Free Commonwealth. The matter as
we'll as the manner Of Mr.. Wells address
was such as 10 win the closest attention of
the audience at the close of wearisome
session, and not only to win its attention
Lut to evoke the most frequent and the
heartiest applause. It was q signal triumph
of the power of intellect and the graces of
oratory.
The address of Hon. Byron G.. Stout, of
Pontiac, upon Agriculture and Stock Breed
ing, wos thoughtful and scholarly. Mr..
Stout showed how the march of modern
civilization had brought our farmers face to
face with the competition of other lands to
such mn extent that it might not be hazard
Gus TO predict that the time was coming
when foreign wheat might be sold in the
Atlant ports for less than American wheat
could be delivered there. deduction
drawn from this was the desirability of en-
couraging stock growing, and the illimita-
BILE field offered for this industry in the
United States.
The address of Hon. Orlando M. Barnes
upon tire State Capitol was an interesting
recital of the Legislative battle which re-
suited in the choice OF Lansing. The de-
velopment from the forest to the present
beautiful city and magnificent State House
was eloquently skctched. The address
closed with q scholarly review of the IS
dom of the choice and study of the in
huences of modern travel upon legislation
and the dispatch of business at the State
Capitol.
Probably the address most atentively
listened 10 was that of Hon. ID. l.. Cross
man, for many years Clerk Of the House OF
Representatives.. This address recounted
incidents of legislative "reminiscences. He
told the history OF the Senatorial contests
of 1871, 1875, 1877, 1881, 1888; the culmina-
tion of the defeat of Chandler in 1875 was
told, and the fluctuaiing, closely contested
match in which the fortunes of John j.
Bagley went down in 1870 to 1880. The
long struggle Of 1883 in which. after eighty