The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-03-30
PAW PAW. MICH. MARCH so, 1894.


Tho Dopo6od state Omcors-SOme
Reflections.
A Detroit contemporary, commenting
on the outcome of the action 10 remove
the state officers, adds that Gov. Rich
has appointed three gentlemen TO thier
vacant places who are SO well aud
favorably known throughout the state
as to give every assurance TO the people
that their rights will be strictly pre-
served; that every duty devolving upon
them by virtue of the Offices which they
severally assume will be honorably per-
formed as the law requires, etc. Now
this is no doubt all true. We personally
know the gentlemen whom the governor
has selected to ill the stations made
vacant, and add our testimony to the
praise rendered and attest that it is
fully merited.
But the reflection occurs, did we not
have the same assurance a year and a
half ago when the gentlemen deposed
were indicted into the same Offices?
These disgraced men were selected by
a state convention; a convention I'M
usual for its brilliancy, the ability of its
members and its general representative
character; a convention composed of
eight hundred delegates, or Whereabouts,
coming from every county in the state
in equal representative numbers-com-
ing together for the avowed purpose of
deciding who, in their judgment, were
the best men for the people to elect to
the several state offices. AS the result
of all this apparent care, these men
were chosen and the choice was sub
sequently ratified by the people. 1t is
fair to assume, unless there is something
radically wrong that needs righting in
this method of selecting, that these men,
Messrs. Jochim, Hambitzer and Berry,
were reputable men, or their several
constituencies would not have endorsed
them for the important places from
which they have finally fallen. 1t seems,
after all the great trouble and expense
gone to in selecting these state officers,
prodigious mistake was made.
The success of the governor in making
selections is simple enough. He has
not sought out obscure individuals
whose history had to be inquired into,
but men who are well known by repu
tation to every well-informed man in
the state. And there is no murmur of
dissent.
Isn't it time that there should be
little overhauling of the methods of
procedure in state cOnventionsg The
truth is, we now know, and should
have known before, that these men
should not have been nominated. They
were too inexperienced in state affairs,
too ignorant, too little known; of far
too little consequence as general fact
TO have been elevated to such import
ant positions.
1t will be in order in future in our
state conventions before jnal determln
alton is made to ascertain If the pro-
posed candidate has a proper realiza
ton of the Importance of the duties of
the high office for which he asks to the
extent that he is willing to meet the
obligations by the thorough perform
ance of all the requirements; that is, to
know if he will enter the Office to do
his duty or only to feed his vanity and
play sneak thief with the public. If that
seems strong expression, the cases of
Soper and Ellis, as well as the others,
justify it.
Let us reflect for moment upon the
danger to which we are exposed which
this episode has revealed to us. The
constitution of the state of Michigan is
it's fundamental law. 1t is a guide to
all legislative enactments and court de-
cisions. 1t tells what may and what
may not be enacted. We have preserved
our autonomy as state under it for
many years. The instrument itself
provides how it may be amended or
changed. First, by the action of the
legislature, then by submitting the pro-
posed change or addition to the vote of
the people. Amendments have been
submitted from time to time, and good
citizens, as in duty bound, have pom
dered over the matter of voting pro and
con regarding them. Such was the case
with the last amendments submitted
one to raise the salaries of certain state
officers. But it transpires that it is
practically immaterial how the people
vote. The question for or against is to
be determined by-not the millions of
the people of the state of Michigan, but
by three gentlemen at Lansing who con-
stitute the final board of canvassers
BY three gentlemen, did we say? Rather,
since these gentlemen, as they aver, did
not see fit TO perform their duties, by a
couple of clerks who performed it for
them and SO manipulated the returns
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