Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-10-28

Governor Hazen s. Pingree is one
Of the most attractive personages in
American public life to-day. This is
not due to the fact that he is Re
publican or that he is governor Of the
great State Of Michigan 50 much as 1t
is to the firm position he has taken
in his public life, in favor Of reforms
in the interest of the masses, and
against the selfishness of large cor
porate interests and combinations.
He comes from the ranks of the
working men, the common people, and
knows from experience and contact
the hardships endured by the Ameri-
can toiler in his struggle for exist
ence. When he strikes Il blow at the
various forms Of oppression as he finds
them, he touches n responsive and
sympathetic chord in the breast of
every honest, liberty-loving toiler in
the land.
Hazen s. Pingree was born in Den
mark. Maine, August 80, 1910, where
he pursued the course incident 10 the
life Of q farmer boy until his l4th year
when he secured employment in cot
ton mill ut Saco, Maine, where he re-
NAMED four years when he removed 10
Hopkinton, Mass, and took up the
trade of n shoemaker and followed his
vocation until when. in 1861 on Au-
gust |. he enlisted in Co. F., LIST Mas
sachusetts Heavy Artillery, and for
three years followed the fortunes Of
war, battling for principles Of equal
ity and justice; participating in many
Of the fierccst battles Of the war. en-
during for six months the hardships
and miseries Of Andersonvillc and Sal.
isbury as a prisoner. was finally cX-
changed and rejoined his regiment in
front of Petersburg and was mustered
out in August, 1860. having served his
country with honor during the most
trying years of her history.
After tie war. Mr.. Pingree came to
Detroit and secured employment in
the shoe factory Of ii. T. Baldwin Il
Co. and with the knowledge acquired
IN this line in Massachusetts was en-
abled to start in business for himself
with G. II. Smith as partner in 1866.
To-day the firm Of Fingree & Smith Is
known wherever shoe leather is worn.
and from this small beginning they
now furnish employment for seven
hundred persons with an output of
Mr.. pingrees varied life as farmer.
soldier, shoemaker and manager of Il
large establishment furnished him the
rugged discipline so necessary TO en-
able him TO meet and combat success
fully the great questions of govern
ment with which ne is now thrown in
contact, and illustrates the possibili-
ties Of American boyhood and Amer
lean opportunities.
Twelve years ago Mr.. Pingree was
unknown In political circles. but was
an active, enterprsing business man.
enjoying the respect and confidence OF
ali who knew him. Knowing he pos
scssed those heroic and sterling quail
tiles which make men useful in times
Of great need, his friends persuaded
him TO fOrsake the ways of civil life
to n certain degree and assist them in
rescuing the City of Detroit from IA
corrupt and on-prOgreSSiyc manage
r:ent, which had controlled its affairs
for so many years.
The marked ability with which he
managed the affairs of the city rs
mayor attracted the attention Of muni-
cipal reformers throughout the length
and breadth of the land and after
serving the city as It's chief executive
for seven years he was elected gov
ernor of Michigan I'm 1896. and re-
nominated for a second term by the
Republican State Convention at De
troit on September DIST last To-day
he is in the midst of an active cam
paign, battling with his usual f~-.--
and earnestncss for the principles of
equality and justice. with which his
name is so closely allied the country
over.