The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-03-11
Alderman White to the People.
Owosso, Jan. 81, '9S.

OWoooO, Oous OF oos
Having no other way except through
newspaper to reach the people appeal to
your generosity to allow me small space
in your paper IN order to reach the masses.
take this opportunity to state through your
columns that which believe to be just and
right. i do not wish to pose as reformer;
neither do / wish to mislead. Judge for
yourselves, labOriDg men, mechanics, and
ed diligently and untiIingly for one year
and a half to secure for us certain inaliena-
BILE rights which the moral law, the laws of
our commonwealth, Gods commandments,
and our city charter proclaim are just. One
of these is the appointment of sealer of
weights and measures, and en- ordinance
creating and governing the same. Have we
got it? No! At our last council meeting
seven of our ten aldermen voted to put it on
the shelf and wholly ignore our petition
until new council is elected, when this
heptachord of business men sounded their
death notes against this measure and con-
verted the government of the municipality
into heptarchy. When personal gain and
nepotism take the place of honest convic-
ton, it is time for US to act, and that time
is now. Let me present to you few Illus
trations of wrongs perpet rated, daily, right
before your eyes. l do not wish TO call 1t
dishonesty, because custom has made it so,
but habitual usage is not always honesty.
First. Is 1t right to drive your wagon
on platform ON the street to be weighed
with the indicator isolated from your view
on the inside of a private Office.
Second. Is 1t right to make five pecks
from one bushel of apples, potatoes or
peaches bought from the farmer and sold to
tie consumers of this city. Why not buy
and sell by standard weight? Does this
mean equal rights to all.
Third. Is 1t right to take from the con-
sumers of this city 81, $50 each year for ber-
ries alone, by selling to us boxes by wine
measure instead of dry measure. Look
under your b0x-its bottom Is one inch up
from Its base. Measure and be convinced.
Fourth. Is 1t right to allow from rs to
100 tons of coal to be weighed, delivered
and sold by dealers of this city to heat our
public schools, city hall, and run our water
works plant, without an officer who has
taken the constitutional oath of Office to
oversee the weighing of the same. Tax
payers take note of this.
Fifth. Is 1t right to charge S1.65 more
for coal in Owosso than consumers pay in
either Detroit or Saginaw, or to advance Its
price 81. so when the time comes to lay in
our supply for winter use.
Is there any way to remedy this evil? 1
will answer yes. Ii 1900 laboring men and
electors will allow 800 business men and
Office-seekers to tickle their fancy for three
weeks before election with cigars, card
boards, smiles and pictures, and not look
out for their own interests by putting in
nomination for every ef1ce in this city, men
who are fearless, men who are ready at all
times to put their feet on the neck of any
class of men who dare usurp your liberty,
such as boards of trade, combines, trusts,
monOpoies, lobbyists, sinecures and favorit-
ism. Why then submit and keep on groan-
ing, il not select men whose interests are
your interests, as candidate for every Of
fee at our April election. Show to the
world that you are men, men who can not
be manipulated by deceitful smiles to the
detriment of your wives and children.
V. M. WHITE.
p. S.-Since the above was written the
council has submitted the question of ap-
pointing city sealer of weights and meas.
ures to vote Of the people at the coming