Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-04

! NmNrnH SATWTUNy HITtTnOOH,
Il one O'Clock for the purpose OF electlng SIX dele
gates TO the county convention 10 be held In
Ionia February 18th. by Order OF Com.
The inaugural ball month after next
in Washington is, by the way, pretty
good theme for consideration in con-
nection with the Bradley Martin ball,
says an eastern exchange. These inau-
gural balls are not governmental af-
fairs, and yet they are semi-govern-
4 mental. Congress generally grants
one of the big federal buildings for
use on the occasion, prominent public
officials lend their presence TO it, and
the new President and Vice-Presdent
are expected to attend for at least a
few minutes. These balls have been
growing more and more expensive and
ornate as the years went by, and the
coming one is announced as sure to be
the "grandest and biggest" on record.
Here is a case Of extravagant display
upon which public sentiment can work
to better advantage than upon the dis
is no fitness whatever in an inaugural
ball. The President of the United
States is not sent to Washington as a
social functionary We venture to say
= that neither Grover Cleveland nor
VIM. Mckinley would arouse any adj
miration tripping the light fantastic,
and their fitness as society leaders was
never advanced as "a reason for their
election. What event of our history,
7 what phase OF patriotism, finds any re-
Election whatever in ball? We can
see some appropriateness in an inau-
gural procession. We could see some
I in an inaugural dinner followed by pa
( triotic addresses. But an inaugural
/ ball-pshaw! Mr.. Mckinley would do
worthy thing, and a popular, if he
would quietly ignore it or notice it only
I TO disapprove. 1t is a good year to
stop the absurd custom, when the char
lty societies of all our large cities arere-
porting their inability to take care of
all the worthy poor, and telling that
many who have heretofore been on
their lists as donors are now on as APP
plicants for relief Let that ball be
Indefinitely postponed.
-
Many Michigan newspapers are max
ing vigorous protests against the Gus
tom OF the state in printing vast
Quantities of department and official
reports that are Of little or no benefit
to any one excepting the state printer.
There is certainly great need of reform
in this direction. Many thousands of
dollars are spent annually for printing
and mailing these documents that very
Few who receive them everread. Every
county clerk in the state has cords Of
Them stored away that persons for
whom they were intended did not deem
worth calling for; every newspaper
office is deluged with the worthless
rubbish. The publication of much of
the stuff should be abolished, and the
quantity issued of the balance very
much restricted.
~.
We hear it whispered around among
the elements that knocked out the Re-
ipublicans in this county last fall, that
they will make determined onslaught
this spring TO capture a majority OF
the Board of Supervisors and also the
County School Commissioner, and
Unless the G. o p. has its eyes open
and keeps hard at work they will do
4 too.-Saranac Local. Buoyed up
bycr success last fall it is but very
'atural sequence that the Democrats,
topulists and otherists should be on
e alert TO hold what advantage they
aimed. and capture new territory il
,ossible Republicans should not be
Taught mapping.
-.
The selection OF Gen. Russell "A. AL
ger, by president elect Mckinley, as a
icmbcr of his cabinet, that OF Secre-
AIRY of War, is just recognition Of
treat man and great state. Michi-
gan in the war was loyal and fearless
Ind she is proud OF her honored son.
-.
Take care OF the nows and the by
And-bys will take care OF themselves