The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-10-26

His Business Methods Objectionable
In Saginaw.

NS""' "Aion's OOo. iV'-SpeCiai u
Detroit Journal The idea of the
Democrats in nominating Wellington
II. Burt for congress in the Eighth
district was that his disbursements OF
dough" would materially strengthen
the county ticket in this county, and
In fact Mr.. Burt was the only man
known who was willing to bear the
burden of the campaign. But there
are Democrats In large numbers in
Saginaw who never took kindly to bis
candidacy, and think less Of it since
uhe nomination was made. Mr.
Burt Is not popular person.
atty In this county, by reasoa
Of his aggressiveness and strong
personal traits which repel rather
THAN attract. He is what is often re-
ferred to as rule or RUM. kind OF
man, since If he cannot have his own
way in business or in politics he refuses
TO play. 1t Is remembered by many
Democrats in this city, and they are
now talking it openly, that Mr.. Burt
opposed Congressman Brucker in his
contest for reelection two years aCo.
and the defeat Of Mr.. Brucker is
largely attributed to the "pernicious"
activity Of Mr.. Burt. 1t is even alleged
that he subscribed literally to tho
fund raised to defeat Brucker, and
caused literature to be placed among
the Ann Arbor railway employees in
Shiawassee county that was no
calculated to make votes for Brucker
The latter has many friends in Sagina " ,
and while some of his supporters OF
two and four years ago have dropped
differences and are helping Burt, there
are others busily engaged in knitting
him and they promise to continue the
work up to the closing Of the polls Oh
the night of November 6.
And this is not by any means the
only handicap to his candidacy. He is
making his fight largely by arraigning
the Republican party for Imperial
ISM" yet in the state senate on Feb
ruary 3, 1898, before Bryan had discov
cred that Imperialism was the para.
mount" issue, Senator Burt introduce
O. resolutions, which was adopted, re
questing the senators and representa-
tives Of the congress of the United
States to use all honorable means TO
accept the overtures Of the Hawaiian
commissioners, and by proper treaty
or otherwise annex those islands t.
the United States.
Mr.. Burt's record on the subject of
trusts is not less vulnerable. He has
bitterly attacked trusts in his speeches,
charging the Republican party with
being responsible for them and foster
ing and encouraging their growth, yet
It is only q few years ago that he
made trip to England for the express
purpose of enlisting capital in the for
nation of national salt trust. He is
now receiving $4,000 annually FROM
the Rockefeller trust as royalties on
iron ore taken from lands he owns in
Minnesota and which were leased TO
the Rockefeller syndicate, and he has
been and is still interested in various
combinations Of capital. Nothing would
be thought of this but for Mr.. Burt's
sudden conversion to the Bryan idea
that trusts are menace to the pros
perity of tho country.
In q business way, it is argued that
Mr.. Burt is not entitled to the sup.
port of the people of Saginaw county.
One Of the prominent Democrats, and
one who is doing all that he can to
prevent Mr.. Burt from representing
the Eighth district in congress, saiQ
today:
about every industry with which
Burt has been associated in this city
has had troubles through him. Unless
he could dictate the methods by
which they were conducted he would
pull out. A few years ago the AK &
Tool factory, the Saw g. File works,
the Bending works, the Feige Desk
Co., and the Home National bank
were all doing business in Saginaw
and were potential factors in it's in
dustFi9A a7d financial growth. Where
are Il 4? Gone, and w. r. Burt is
chiefly responsible for their going, as
any business man in Saginaw familiar
with their history will admit. The
Home National bank at the time Mr..
Burt decided to wind up its career, In
spite Of the protests Of others, was
the strongest banking institution in
the state for its capitalization, and
the stock was valued at more than 81
for 81. When it was proposed to
build q sugar factory In Saginaw did
Mr.. Burt take hold of it? Not at
all, but he invested large sum
through his son in sugar factory at
Alma. When the common council of
this city endeavored TO assist the
Valley Telephone Co, an independent
company organized to compete with
the Bell octopus, where did Mr.. Burt
stand2 Did he come to the front
for the independent company? Not
on your life, but he bitterly took up
the fight for the Bell company. or
course no one questions his right to
do this, but it is strangely inconsist-
cnt with his present position relative
&c combinations. of capital, and Demo
Gratis who oppose him do not believe
that such q man could do the Demo.
cratic party much good in legislating
against trusts in congress.
in fact 1t is broadly asserted that
Mr.. Burt's money will not carry him
through the campaign O. winner, and
that he will receive a smaller plural
ity than was given Mr.. Brucker in
Co. rin xrn