The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-08-21
FACTS BETTER THAN THEORY
Congressman William Alden Smiths
Magnificent Opening of the
Campaign.

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Magnificent Opening of the
Campaign.
Brief mention was made last week of the
splendid republican meeting held Thursday
evening, addressed by Hon. VIM. Alden
Smith, the brilliant and popular representa-
tive of the fifth congressional district. The
campaign in Shiawassee county was never
commenced under more favorable circum-
stances. The magnificent audience gave
the speaker the closest attention throughout
and repeatedly interrupted with applause.
The vice presidents of the evening were:
Hon. Josiah Turner permanent chairman
of the first republican state convention held
in Michigan), Prof. j. w. Simmons, Hon.
w. r. Chapel, Hon. p. N. Cook, s. s..
Miner, w. A. Rosenkrans, F. E. Welch, v.
r. Pond, w. II. Lingle, Hon. r. Fl. Wat
son, G. e. Rigley, T. M. Wiley, j. I'll. Rob-
bins, M. Osburn, +. Wykes, J. T. Walsh,
Chas. Paris, II. G. Frieseke. Fred Beinsted
L. ID. III. Ralph, S. r. VanTiffiln, Rudolph
Colby, ]. w. Hibbard, f. II. Rush, Caleb
Mead, Mayor 1. G. Curry.
Wm. M. Fitzpatrick, president of the even
ing, opened the meeting and introduced the
speaker with few appropriate remarks,
saying in part:
Our people are about to exercise the right
and privilege of choosing chief magistrate
for the next four years. 1t is great privi-
lege but also great responsibility which
rests upon every person of mature years.
With the record from 1860 to 1898 behind
it, the republican party is willing to 60 be-
fore the people on the platform Of '96. On
the other hand is the democratic party, not
pure and simple, for too many other things
have crept in, but it opposes us this fall and
IL the record of the last four years is not
enough to show it as it is, refer you all to
the Chicago platform and the democratic
press of today. In '92 they came into power
promising free raw material, now they are
silent as the grave on that subject, remem-
bering how the American people repudiated
the idea in 1894. In '96 they have new
platform upon which to secure the people.
1t remains to be seen whether they will be a
second time deluded.
You have heard from the young man
from Minnesota. Tonight you will hear
from another young man who was acquaint-
ed with him in 's1, and 1t is great pleas
ure to introduce to this large audienceithe
man who represents the city in Kent, Viii.
liam Alden Smith.
A synopsis of Mr.. Smiths speech Is as
follows: 1t is indeed gratifying to come In
to community where one Is comparative
stranger and meet so many citizens of Owos
so and vicinity. l realize you have no
|, come out of idle curiosity or desire fo
. Oratorical pyrotechnic but because the pub
lie mind is stirred about questions upor
which they are soon to cast q vote. real
ize that the public interest is very great
We who were on the stump four year!
ago, told the people what would be tn,
, change, told them that If they changed thei
industrial policy, that in the readjustmen
bankruptcy might follow, deficit In th'
revenue might come, and warned them no
to participate in any such theory. Whel
the democratic party came into power fac
tories hummed with the song of many spin
dies, forges glowed with countless fires, vii
lagos and hamlets were adding to the beau
ties of their surroundings. IN Now bwha
language can paint the change since the las
presidential election. feel inadequate I,
the task.
The democratic party came In promisin,
labor, that capital alone would be affected
We said labor would be the first to be affected
The low tariff did not affect the interests O
the banker. l believe low tariff woult
give the banker and the professional mai
luxuries cheaper than before. But les
sened demand for the products of our owl
labor will not increase our prosperity
When we buy our own products both tn
products and the dollars stay at home, bu
: when we buy abroad, we get the goods bu
a the dollars 20 abroad. That is not the wa
d to build up prosperity. The farmer ca
( store his grain another year, the merchan
' can store his stock until another season bu
: the laborer cannot store his wares. Th
9 work which might have been done on Mon
!. day cannot be done on Tuesday. His cap
I tai is time. Because labor is helpless it
Q the first to go down with lowering Q
g prices and the last to rise with rise /
! prices. At the first onset of flood 9
cheap goods, down 90 wages. Time, you