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

their readers, they add to their state
ments the charge that Fred Warner
will be controlled by designing men
and by improper influences
Declaration of independence.
Permit me to say here now, my
friends, that Fred Warner has not
been and will not be controlled by any
man or any influences that are NOT
honest and not upright. and which do
not seek the advancement of the best
interests of the state. From many
who are here today | have sought oni-
cial favor in the past. You have re-
lied upon my integrity as TO what |
would do, and in the same way you
have relied upon my integrity as 10
the things would not do. have
never forgotten, as the matter of most
Importance in all my political transac-
tons, that duty to the people who had
given me power and who were trusting
me- should be first and should remain
nrSt in my mind. am glad,
more than a little proud, to note
that in all that is being
do in the future, not one word has been
said against the things | have done In
the past presume the records of our
| SAut1 hANN htNil 5Ncihll1h anu lily DOilll-
cal history has been gone over from
my first vote TO the last. and yet you
will bear me witness that not one Off
cial act of mine is being referred to
as reason why any Republican or
any Democrat should oppose me IN
this CAMPAIGN.
am Republican, but would not
ask Republicans to vote for man
whose honesty or whose courage they
had good reason to doubt. Since my
early boyhood | have shared In all the
struggles and attainments of the Re
publican party which have been so
closely connected with the struggles
and attachments of our country as a
whole ! have been gladdened by Re
publican victories and sorrowed by
Republican defeats, but that which is
most in my mind today as a reason
why |, as a Republican, should seek
to maintain its principles, is the ract
that the men who have been our
partys leaders have been men OF wis
dom and OF courage and of honesty,
and | am glad that in the CShpaign
in which we are now engaged the Re-
publican party has as it's leader
Theodore Roosevelt, n man who is
known and remembered for many
things, but who above all else was
selected as our party leader and as
our country's president because OF
bravery in his attacks upon corrup-
ton and wrong doing, and for his
splendid courage In maintaining and
UNFOLDING the measures and the men
that are representative of right do.
ing and of sincerity and honesty. /
am especially pleased To see that our
Democratic opponents I'm this cam.
paign in Michigan have thought 1t best
to refrain altogether from efforts to
prevent the election of President
Roosevelt. and that my friend, Prof.
Ferris. the Democratic candidate for
governor, by his silence. is permitting
the impression TO become current that
he regards with dlsfavor the officially
selected national representatives of his
party.
The Power Behind Him.
II may not be pleasant to me. my
friends (and | assure you il is not) to
be singled out as almost the oniy
target for abuse and unjust attack I'm
a great state campaign. | am glad
that Mr. Ferris saw fit to make the
statement In his Howell speech that
he believed Mr.. Warner to be a good
man, but | am sorry that il seemed
best 20 him TO add In that connection
the unkind suggestion. but think of
the power behind him" The power
behind me, Mr.. Ferris and fellow citi.
Zens, that | care more for than any.
thing else in the world, is the love and
respect which exists for me in at leasr
one Oakland county home | have
sought honors In an official way and
perhaps | have been more successful
than deserved, but | would rather
give up all | have secured or hope To
secure. than to give any reason for
the blush of shame coming to the
cheeks OF my wife or children through
any act OF mine or through any fail
ure to do that which duty will demand.
The power behind me which | will
most heed, will be the confidence and
goodwill which has caused my neigh
bors and friends I'm Oakland county
almost regardless OF party. to encour.
age and to assist my past political
ambitions and 10 give me their assur.
ances Of loyal support and cordial
esteem.
have many personal friends in the
Republican party and also many who |
are not Republicans. but | have no |
friend in this state. political or other |
wise, for whom | would do anything |
not consistent with my best ideas of |
official duty to all the people of our |
state. have made no promises 10 |
individuals or to factions. I am under |