The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-07-06

Shiawassee county has had quite varied
experiences In her representation In thu
state legislature, and from one cause or ar.
other seems to have usually failed to return
q representative to the legislature for sec
ond term, thereby losing much of the pres
tige which might have belonged to the
county if good man had been returned
for more than one term. OF all the men
who ever attended the legislature from this
county however there certainly has never
been representative who made better
record aud there never has been repiesen-
tative who invited so careful scrutiny OF
his every action as has Representative Geo.
L. Mason during the term which is now
drawing to close. Mr.. Mason went to
Lansing knowing as we'll as any person
could the desires of bis constituents, and
never at any time did he adopt a course
which he did not feel perfectly free to thor
oughly discuss With his constituents, or q
course of which he could not honestly as
sure every honest constituent that he be-
lieved, had he been 10 the same place, he
would have voted and acted as he did.
Shortly after the session of the legislature
ended, Mr.. Mason had published resume
Of the work Of the same and with 1t his vote
on all the matters of any Importance 30 that
his position has been one constantly open
to intelligent criticism, either friendly or
otherwise, and he has given every chance to
every voter In the county to examine his
record to the most minute detail. Oppor-
tunities were freely given for verifying the
record with the official House Journal, to
which references were made in oil the mat.
tiers referred TO, and standing invitation
was given any and all to do 80. When the
record was first published THE TIMES said
that IL was q record which alone would en-
title Its p0ssess0r to denomination and
reelection II Its possessor wished II, and 1t
has never had any reason to doubt the cor
rectness Of that affirmation. Today Mr..
Mason Is q candidate for denomination at
the hands Of the republicans of Shiawassee
CVQuty 0uu NE 4lmho UClCvSo th0t tuO
republicans cannot afford to do otherwise
than to give him the denomination which he
so thoroughly deserves. There may be
other men, there doubtless Are other men, In
Shiawassee county who would make just as
competent Legislators In time and who would
be equally honest, but that Is no argument
this year for refusing to give Mr.. Mason the
second term which he has richly merited by
his course in the last regular and special
sessions of the state Legislature at times,
too, when 1t was far from easy to see just
exactly where the best interests of his con-
stituents and OF the state as whole lay.
The TINES hopes to see Mr.. Mason renOm-.
mated by vote which will be practically
unanimous and then expects to see him re-
elected by majority which will be even
greater than the handsome majority which
he carried out of the county two years ago.
There is never good reason for not giving
q good official the compliment of q second
term and this Is almost always recognized
III the nominations for county Offices. Today
there Is no reason for not giving Mr.. Mason
the same compliment and, moreover, there
is every reason why he should be returned
to Lansing, where, with the experience al
ready gained, he will be of even greater
value to the county than before.