The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-02-21

when it is classed as mot plentiful.
The farmers condition is prosperous
one when man of the wide experience
in and knowledge of farm life that Mr..
Horton has can make such a broad
statement as the above. And yet no
one acquainted with the conditions of
today can deny either of the statements
made by the Grand Master
President Roosevelt deserves the thanks
of the entire country for the statement
given out by him Wednesday regarding
the Santiago fight. He is to be con-
graduated on having apparently settled
the question of command ON that MEM
orable occasion beyond all criticism.
1T was captains fight, he says, and
both Sampson and Schley are entitled to
credit for the work they did but neither
of them for being actually in command
of the fighting squadron in the sense of
directing the fighting of the individual
ships. The general movements were
carried out in accord with the standing
orders of the commander-in- Samp-
son. The New York, Admiral Samp-
sons ship, was within sight of the
others, about as far from them as the
latter were from the Spanish ships when
the Spanish ships came out, and sign
allied to the rest of the squadron what
were already his standing orders, to
"Close in" None of the other ships
saw the signal. The Brooklyn Admiral
Schley's ship, signalled, Clear ship"
and "Close in" Only one of the signals
of the Brooklyn was noticed and that
by but one of the other ships, during
the battle. Technically only, Admiral
Sampson was still in command Actu
ally, on the other hand neither did
Admiral Schley command more than his
own ship. All did their duty in the
positions in which the opening of the
battle found them. Each of the aG-
mirals and each captain directed the
movements of the ship of which he was
IN charge to the best acknowledgements
it be the famous loop of the Brooklyn and
in accord with the plans provided forsuch
an event and the fight was won. But
1T was captains fight" and the words
of President Roosevelt will stand.
All who believe in governmental CON
troll of railroads and attended the Tues
day evening meeting of the combined
farmers clubs of the county III the Con
gregational church this week had good
reason for feeling greatly encouraged.
When man of the recognized ability,
and political astuteness as well, as
Michigans present railway commits
sioner, Hon. Chase S. Osborn, takes the
ground that he took that evening the
signs for ultimate government owner
ship of the railways of the country are
indeed suspicious. Particularly is this
true when in addition to the recognized
ability in business as well as in politics
the person who announced his conclu-
sions has given the matter as much
study with the advantages for pursuing
his studies to the best advantage as has
Mr.. Osborn. In brief when Mr.. Osborn
practically says that the difficulties in
the way of governmental acquisition
and control of the railways of the
country are no greater than difficulties
which have already been overcome by
this government and that the railroads
could be operated at a profit to the gov
eminent and paid for out of the profits
there is strong reason to believe that the
day is surely coming when the thing so
earnestly desired by many will be done
Mr.. Osborn did not advocate govern
ment ownership-he may want further
time to study and investigate before do
ing so, but the results of all his investi-
cations up to the present time are
in favor of such owner
ship. even after taking full inventory of
the difficulties in the way. The address
was certainly Almost instructive one and
it was more than gratifying to hear Mr.
Osborn speak with such frankness and
at the same time with such
regard for the conditions with which
both the railways and the government
would have to deal
Who is it that wants to help Cuba?
Statements made Wednesday show that
of the $4,000 tons of raw sugar now in
the island ready for shipment as soon
as congress shall settle the matter of the