The Owosso times., 1900-08-24
George T. Mason.

Mr.. EDIToR:-George T. Mason sub.
mitted his claims-wh whatever they were
Ito the late republican county conven.
ton, for the Office of representative in
the legislature, as to body competent
to fully and finally decide upon them
Mr.. Whelan, of Shiawassee township
did the same, and it may be fairly as.
sumed that each acted in good faith and
with the honest purpose of being bound
by the decision. A majority gave judg-
ment in favor of Mr.. Mason-whether
rightly or wrongfully is question no
contestible, because it was the free ex.
ercise of the choice of representative
men, who are not to be taken to task
for what they did. No one will be
bound by the action of the convention
more surely or faithfully than both Mr..
Mason and Mr. Whelan
In republic like ours, every young
man animated by an earnest and loyal
purpose and who is thoroughly compe
tent. has right-nay, is invited by the
genius of our political systemic aspire
to the highest honors, and if he is a
republican or democrat he will readily
! see that he can gain nothing by oppo ST.
ton to any competitor in his own party.
or further his interest so much as by q
hairs breadth by the election of polit.
ical opponent! do not say this be-
cause it is at all necessary in this par.
ticular case as between the men who
have so pleasantly competed for the
legislative nomination, but for the ben
eft of all who may have the interest of
both at heart!
There were many reasons which gave
each one the approval of many admir-
ing friends. 1t is not now necessary to
name any of them except such as apply
to George T. Mason-not because Mr..
Whelan was not possessed of full claims,
but because Mr.. Mason became the
| nominee, and we always like to trace a
| justification of the action of conven-
ton in such cases.
Mr.. Mason belongs to a family of
farmers in Owosso township that have
held township and county offices of
various kinds, not on account of any
skill or address in securing nominations,
or soliciting places by the gracious per-
suasions of speech, but mainly on ac-
count of their incorruptible character
and their assiduity in the discharge of
official duty There never was one of
the clan who ever did mean act in
public life They never were bought or
sold or scared from the oftimes thorny
path of the full performance of public
trusts, and George 7. Mason is not an
exception! Thus it is that he has public
confidence.
He had represented the county of
Shiawassee in the lower house of the
legislature for one full term and had
discharged his duty fearlessly and we'll
He voted for the bill creating the tax
commission and so was in line with all
advanced ideas on the subject of tax.
alton!
His attitude in relation to chartered
railways is shown by the record to be
not only without leaning toward cor
porate interest, but always with an eye
to the betterment of the public in al
their relations to such bodies, and so al
the last he was found voting for q plar
that had in view the surrender of specia
charters!
The more these things shall be talked
about, the more will they vindicate hin
as friend to the people whom he rep
resented!
But George L. Mason deserved some
thing of his friends for other reasons
than his untiring devotion to the inter
est of his party and the people in th'
legislature of the state.
He had been a soldier-a private il
the 18th Michigan cavalry-in our civi
war, and had stood for all we held dea
on the battlefield. At time when W,
are "beariDg the burden" of our les
fortunate neighbors, the convention
knew that 1t would be we'll to fill tn,
place with a patriot who has showl
his worth. The people of Shiawasse,
county do not need to be told tina
George +. Mason would allow himsel