The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-03-13
DEMOCRACY ARRAIGNED !!
A Party not to be Trusted.
EXTRAvAGANCE, INCOMPETENCE AND
DISHONESTY HAVE MARKED IT'S
COURSE. THIS is THE OPINION OF
SENATOR WILCOX EXPRESSED
TO n TRIBUNE CoRRE-


"What is your candid opinion of the re-
cent action of the Democrats in unseating
the two Republican senators in the senator"
was asked yesterday of Senator Marcus Will
cox. the Democratic p. of L. who was so
numerically snubbed by the Democrats on
the day the feat was accomplished.
Senator Wilcox was evidently far enough
away from his Democratic surroundings at
Lansing to speak his mind freely, and, after
scarcely a moment of hesitation, he pro-
ceeded to do SO.
Il think the action most despicable, con-
temptible, and, furthermore, foolish" was
his emphatic reply. ut will lose more votes
for the Democratic party than can ever be
regained, no matter how well they may con-
duct business In the future, and it will even
be felt In the spring elections. 1t is con-
demned by all honorable men, irrespective
of party or sentiment. No man, whether
Republican or Democrat, who has any prin-
ciple or conscience, would uphold such
such-well, l can't find q fit expression for
my feelings.
I'm regard to myself, / don't understand
it. ! was nominated a Democrat, but put in
by the combined votes of the Democrats and
P's of l. l entered the field under protest,
not desiring the place because my health
| would not permit any active campaigning.
But the cry was: Take the place If you do
nothing but 20 to Lansing to hold the seat
from the Republicans, as we want an adj
ministration of retrenchment and reform,
and must have it, Now, look how much
retrenchment and reform we nave had. In
the first place, there are more useless en-
plOyes and clerks about the capitol than ever
before, drawing salaries ranging from SO
per day to 81, 500 a year-and still they call
tia reform administration. Then
the mileage steal and pass system. The
first was unlocked for by the people, who
thought that the Democrats would some
what change the established precedent of
former legislatures, and not be constantly
dipping into the treasury and placing the
money into their individual pockets. But,
instead of this, they chung to the old way.
Who were the loudest advocates of the steal?
Why, the Democrats, of course. Then came
the
ACCEPTANCE OF PASSES.
The farmers and Democrats had long
talked against 1t and waited for a chance to
abolish the custom of accepting free trans
portation upon railroads. Most of them
agreed not to accept any free passes. Twas
among the number, and returned my passes
as soon as received. Now l find that nearly
all of the members, principally Democrats,
have a pocket full OF passes. Why, / tell
you the people of Michigan will not stand
so much shenanigan. The Democrats claim
that 1t was the custom of former legislatures
to do thisa and that, and why not do so now?
1t the people did not want something diff
ferent, they would have left the Republic
cans in power, as in the last quarter of a
century. But they wanted a change, sup |
posedly for the better.
ssNaxr -. .,..~I - A. 4.
toward me while they were stealing the |
seats Of the two Republican senator's" went |
on MIR. Wilcox, 81 was a member of the
Horton committee, and a few days before the |
report was made l asked Senator Park when
1t was to he submitted. He answered that |
all the evidence was not in and he could not
tell. The day the report was made, when
the recess was taken to prepare 1t, 4 had no
idea what 1t was taken for and went over to
the house and looked about a little. When /
thought IL time to call to order again, / went
back N had just got into my seat when my |
name was called to vote upon something-I |
did not know what. / asked the president
what the question before the senate was,
but he entirely ignored me. Just then the
senator on my right said, vote no. 1 did
so. Then he told me what the question
was. Well,
TWAS DUMBroUNDED.
Why the Democrats should ignore me, i |
could not understand. / had voted with
them all along, and attended all their eau
cuses, yet whea 1t came to this vote they
would not recognize me, and continually
snubbed and ignored me that day and the
next. Well, any mar with common sense
could not help resenting such action as that.
still, i think IL was a good lesson. /
think IL will open the peoples eyes and show
them which party should not be in power.
1t will make many Republicans. i know
one person who (meaning himself), IL strong
during the next campaign, will take
the platform decidedly against the Demo
Gratis. for we have had enough false repre-