The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-06-10
why Rich Is Strong,
An Old Republican Farmers Reasons For
Supporting Rich.

Editor Tribune:-I have been careful
observer OF the progress Of the canvass for
places OH the republican state ticket at the
coming election. i have been particularly
interested In all that Is being said about
candidate for governor. l am farmer
some would say an ''old farmer"-and a
grand army man. cast my first vote for
Abraham Lincoln in $50, and have always
voted the republican ticket straight, and
shall do so next November no matter
whether John L. Rich or Hazen 5. Prngree
heads it Tor governor. That's the>kind of
republican | am. | hope to see John Il.
Rich nominated, not because think the
republican party owes 1t to him. but because
believe at this time he will be stronger
candidate than any other man mentioned.
Our cities and larger villages are quite gen
orally democrat The republican majorities
come mostly from the country. Yet, In the
past, business and professional men have
generally monOpolized most of the state
ticket Among all the prospective candidates
for places on the state ticket, John L. Rich
is the only farmer, at least so far as l can
learn. He was the only farmer candidate
two years ago. He was defeated by Mr..
Turner, who, believe, would have made an
excellent governor. Well, the democrats
carried the state. We have had n ''squaw-
buck" Legislature, the Miner law and the
most shameless gerrymander within the
memory of man. After the election it was
generally conceded that had John T. Rich
headed the ticket, we should have had a re-
publican administration and legislature i'm
spite of any disatfectiOns among patrons of
industry and alliance. Now the question is,
can the party afford to take the chances, and
Intentionally or otherwise, ignore the only
candidate who comes from the farm? /
think not.
AS to the two mem, l am an ardent admirer
of both. Mr.. Rich is brother farmer; Mr..
Pingree my cOmrade i'm the G. A. r. Be-
You'd any feeling of personal friendship /
care for republican success in this election,
and believe know whereof speak, when
say John T.. Rich at the head of the ticket
will be tower of strength and bring out
the full vote in the country, where we get our
majOrities. 1t is said Mr.. Pingree Is partic-
ularly strong all over Michigan. l appre-
bend 1t will be different thing for Mr.. Pin
gree to carry Detroit at municipal election
or to carry 1t in national election. think
Wayne county has not been republican since
1872. We have republican votes enough to
carry Michigan, and it is wiser to nominate
a man who can bring that vote than to base
our hopes of success on getting democrat
votes In Wayne county. Probably we shall
fail to get them. In last Saturdays Tribune
"a Young Republican Farmer bewais the
effect the nomination of a farmer at this
time will have ON the the chances of young re-
publican farmers in the future. He INDUCES
in statistics, and discovers that i'm the past
twenty-fOur years the farmers have had the
governor one-fOurth the time, counting four
years to Governor Luce and two to Govern
or Winans. He can claim Governor Winans
If he wants to. l can't. have been look
ing up the records, too Since the republic
cans have controlled Michigan the farmers
have had two governOrs-Bingham and
Luce-each four years. The lawyers have
had three governOrs-Wisner, Blair and
Croswell-ten years in all. The business
men have had five gOvernOrs-Crapo, Bald
win, Bagley, Jerome and Alger-sixteen
years in all. In this time Detroit has had
the governor ten years. In all this time, the
farmers will average only one place on the
state ticket in each campaign.
Now my young republican farmer" you
need have no fears that the account against
the farmer" for places on the republican
ticket, will be large enough to imperil your
chances whenever you aspire to a place.
Don't be top modest. In the past the farmer
never has, and in the future never will have
more than his share of political hOnOrs, nor
will he ask it.
i want to say this more: In GratiOt
county. where live, haven't seen repub-
lcan who doubts for a minute that John
L. Rich is the man to lead us to victory in
this campaign.
AN OLD REPUBLICAN FARMER.
Carson City, Mich, May 23.-Detroit Tri-
bune.