The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-03-07
BIG MAJORITY FOR WoODARD
BONUS.

We dnes days Vote Shows High De-
gree of Confidence In the Woodlands
and General Determination to See
the City Prosper.
The voters of the city went on record
Wednesday for expansion. The vote
was large enough, too to be represent
alive, if not of the wishes of the ma
jority of the largest taxpayers, at least
of the majority of the voters of the
city. Whether it would have been
carried by so large majority if the
voting had been limited, as it should
be in all cases of that kind to those
who are taxpayers, is not so GER
tain and yet in the face of the vote
which was cast it is not likely that any
one will doubt that it would still have
had the necessary wo-thirds majority.
Until the time comes when all matters
of public expenditure are voted on as
stock in a corporation is voted, each
stakeholder voting in proportion to the
amount of his holdings which in this
case would mean that each man would
have more or less votes according to the
amount of taxes which he would be
called on to pay, there could hardly
have been more fair showing than
that made in the election of Wednes-
day. The vote of 1850 to 200 was
simply too large to leave any doubt in
the minds of any as to the wishes of
the citizens, taxpayers included. 1t is
certainly an encouraging sign for the
city when the citizenship in general is
as anxious to see the city progressing as
this vote shows it to be. With the addi-
ton of this factory and the employment
of one hundred fifty additional men,
and the location of sugar factory, the
ground for which has already been pur-
chased, assured for the city for another
year, it certainly looks as though
Owosso had made good arrangements
for little expansion within her
borders.
Incidentally besides being the express
sion of desire on the part of the voters
to see the city growing more than it has
been for some time past, the vote was a
decided compliment to the Messrs L. E.
Woodland and sons. The undertaking
which they have assumed is no small
one and the successful establishment of
the business--the building of suitable
factory, the equipping of the same with
the best and most improved machinery,
and, not in the least, the securing of
competent force of workmen for the
turning out of the high grade furniture
which the firm proposes to make, de-
mands much in the matter of both
capital and business ability. The city
by its vote said that it had confidence in
the ability of the above mentioned
gentlemen to carry out these plans to
successful completion. The size of the
majority showed clearly enough how
great their confidence in that line was
and should be of intellectually more
value and encouragement to the Messrs.
Woodland than the giving them of an
even greater amount of money by bare
majority which would not have showed
that the people of the city are with
them in their project heart and soul.
Among the members of the Master
Plumbers Association who were in Ann
Arbor this week was ex-Mayor Ira G..
Curry, of Owosso. Mr.. Curry is life
long, hard working republican. He was
great admirer of Pingree, and gave
what strength Pingree had in Owosso.
AS he did not want any Office his brother
was appointed deputy oil inspector for
one term, but was turned down the sec
ond term in gratitude for what Mr.. Cur
rey had done for Pingree. Mr.. Curry
attended the University in 1885. He is
successful hardware dealer and one of
the pushing men of Owosso. -Washte
nav Times.