Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1904-09-29


which ! shall decide 10 be right and
Tor the best inter SITS OF our state.
Wants Fullest Discussion.
Some of the questions now being dis.
cussed in political way have created
differences of opinion even among the
members Of my own party. However.
l do not regard this fact as mistor
tune. | have always esteemed the he
publican party most because IL con
tains men strong in their convictions
OF right and aggressive in their efforts
To urge such convictions upon others.
The radical man Is OF more value Ia
the community and state than one VINO
Is lukewarm and Indifferent. IL mas
not been possible for me to view all
public questions through the eyes OF
others, and | would scorn to make use
OF sentiments as a bid for popularity
which | did not fully accept.
Stands Squarely for True Primary Re
form.
No question has ever arisen in Mich
igan with which have more sincere
sympathy than the demand for honest
elections and properly conducted prl
maries. ! regard the vote-buyer and
the man whose vote Is brought as
even worse than other types of pub.
lie criminals. Our institutions are In
danger when nominations are secured
through the expenditures OF money
and when our elections are sought &c
be controlled by utilization and mis-.
representation. | can sincerely say
that | wish Godspeed TO every man
in our state and 10 every newspaper
that is sincerely endeavoring TO cor
rect the abuses which have existed In
connection with primaries and cleo.
tions in Michigan and elsewhere.
Though some may be more radical
than myself in their desire for the
adoption of new methods, | am sure
that none are more earnest in their
Willingness to favor reforms which
will prove OF practical value and TO
approve OF changes which we are
convinced Will be in the right direc
ton. My parry is pledged TO pass a
primary election law at the coming
session of the legislature and | will
do my best to see to It that that
pledge is fulfilled. | have made the
statement many times and wish to
repeat 1t here, that whatever effective
primary election law il seems best to
the representatives selected by the
people of Michigan 10 pass at their
next session will receive my sigma
tufe. | have given the subject of
primary election laws as much con.
slderation perhaps as any other man
in the state. and through such con
sidsration | have become convinced
that 1t would be unwise. at this time,
TO sweep from our statute books all
laws now in existence providing for
political conventions. | am told my
friends. that the possession Of such a
conviction will cause me the loss of
votes at the coming election, but
would not deserve the vote of any
honest man if did not frankly ex-
press my sincere belief on this and
every other subject. am sure if
those who are most radical on this
subject would give to ii the time and
investigation which | have sought To
give, If they would inform themselves
as TO the experiences of other states
II they would study the practical as
we'll as the ideal possibilities of the
change they invoke, even though they
might not fully agree with me, they
would become convinced as to the
sincerity OF my position, but | fully
agree with the demand for change and
Improvement and even should the
vestige of present methods, would
still deem it my duty to meet the
expectations of my party as indicated
in the action of the peoples represen-
tatiVes and to assist by my signature
the enactment into law of whatever
legislation concerning primary cleo.
tions the next legislature shall see fit
TO pass.
Servant of the People, Not Boss.
| desire, and expect, TO be the ser.
want of the people. not a political boss
or a party dictator. | have my per
sonal convictions on public affairs and
shall endeavor to intelligently ad.
vance them. The several years of my
political experience have given me in
formation as TO our state institutions
and the general course of state affairs
which | believe can be made valuable
TO the state and its people. In the
past | have sought to be economical in
the expenditure of public funds and
shall be even more so if given higher
power and greater authority to urge
such views.
Honest, Sincere Service as Governor.
AS | said little while ago, | am
sorry 1t is not in my power to make an
Grafton, TO charm you with graceful
public speaking. have tried, however.
In these plain words TO let you know
as to the kind of favor | most seek
and as TO the influences | will be most
obedient to. The Fred Warner Won
have known and have befriended all
these years will be the Fred Warner
who is governor OF Michigan. If the
people of this state see fit to elect me.
ana ! promise to you ana to all whose
favor seek and expect, that the
power behind me as governor of Mich
igan, which | will hold as most worthy
of attention and respect. will be the
good will and esteem OF not only my
political friends but Of our political Oh.
ponents as well. TO be gained and held
through honest. sincere service rem
dered in behalf OF all the people OF
our state. am proud Of Michigan.
proud of its history and proud of its
present. and If elected governor OF
Michigan. as ] fully expect to be. will
endeavor to see to it that no act of
mine shall lessen that pride which ex-
lists in the minds of all our states true