The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-08-05

GERS. The date OF the county picnic had
been made August 81, Saturday, said Mr..
Whelan, and II would be held at Caled6 MIA
Park on that date from early In the forenoon
until as late as they wished to stay. But
Pingree had been invited, but A. c. Bird,
whom they had secured. was good speaker
and in fact he was the first state organizer
of farmers clubs and on that account alone
his address could not fail to be interesting.
The election resulted in the choice Of
Theron GLADDEN. for PRESIDENT; Ira Snyder
vice president; Miss Otie Cook, secretary;
Mrs NJ. h. Seeley, chaplain; c. p. Rey
nolds, reporter; Mrs. Lewis, Roy Seeley,
Mrs Mccullough and Leon More. music
committee.
The chief topic of the afternoon, the
farmers duties in nominating, electing and
influencing members of the legislature, was
then taken up and considered In clear cut
sensible way by Mr.. E. j. Cook, although
as he said he had not expected to speak on
the subject In this state, he said, the
farmers have one.half the votes and pay
seventy per cent of the taxes. But he did
not believe that the farmers should neces-
sarily have either one-half or seven tenths
of the influence In legislation. Influence
should be In proportion to ability to infu-
ence for the right rather than either proper.
ton of votes or taxes. and the farmers duty
was to fit himself to be able to influence for
the right, to be posted on legislation, to
know what the different bills were for and
who supported them before attempting to
interfere, In a word to thoroughly inform
himself on such matters but more especially
on the character of the men sent from the
caucuses to the various conventions. He
should know both whom and what he
wants. But 1t Is not farmers or lawyers or
doctors that are wanted, but men--men of
character and of principles.
Hudson Sheldon, who was called on for
remarks, would place the duty in sending
the right man to the legislature believing
that any person who is fit to be sent will do
his duty. What control was necessary he
would exercise by the possibility of re-elec-
ton or defeat. He believes that general
principles In politics are better for farmers
than minutiae, but would have every farm
er keep himself posted. and advises them to
attend both caucus and election but to at
tend the caucuses any way.
Prosecuting Attorney Chandler made
some very interesting remarks In AN anus
ing vein. He liked suggestion made by
Mr.. Cook that the farmer after preparing
himself should make his influence felt. by
getting into the ring and having hand in
the running of the machine and said he
thought the farmers had been too long con-
tented to simply furnish the grease for the
while someone else ran it and got
the profit from it. His description of the
swapping of delegates was quite amusing
and though of course exaggerated contained
at least grain of truth. Mr.. Chandler
seemed to believe that the farmer should
use means to influence representatives after
they are elected, to look after their interests,
telling them that they were the only class
who did not keep delegates there to look
after their interests and saying that If
they did not look after them no one would.
Mr. John Whelan, guest from the
North Newburg Club thought the key note
n politics was, What is right. The ques-
ion of politics had always raised barrier
10 such meetings as this, but the time had
come when all questions should be looked
IN from all Sides The torch light process
ZION and the crowd should no longer in
luence mems minds but Preside study should
De the controlling force. No question is
more important to the farmer than the
question of politics, for this government is
lot necessarily divine institution and, sup
pose it should crumble, what would be its
7alue then. Besides our government is as
yet but an experiment which we have Pc |
'uliar interest in proving success.
Mr.. A. Wrigley, representative from |
he Oakgrove Farmers Club, believed that |
hey were on the right track when they |
we're talking of keeping posted and of study |
ng subjects of current interest. He illus |
rated his remarks by telling of his own |
tudy of the initiative and referendum sys-
EN- and the theory of proportional repre-
entation.
Senator Il. s. Hadsall had arrived on the |
Gene by this time and, as he had been ex-
,ected to speak on the subject he was called |
Onward. He did not see that any greater
luty devolved on the farmer than on every
,ody else. 1t is the duty of everyone to see
hat men, honest, able men, are nominated
or all offices. The farmer might 60 fur
her he said and insist that no one should
70 who did not know something about farm
bR hut IL ANYTHING Ia done the caucuses