The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-10-21

In a Recent Address Hon. G j. Die
kema said IN Referring to State
Affairs:

on this year by the democratic party.
There is no fight in them on national
questions. They say they will elect
elect Ferris and defeat Warner, but we
will meet them on both grounds. We
believe in our country's sglory and
prosperity, but we are republican
also ascitizens of Michigan, and
we believe it is the grandest state
in the Union. We are proud of
the government of our state. In this
state the republican party was born
fifty years ago under the oaks OF Jack
son, and here some of the brightest
pages in the record of that party have
been written; and we mean to keep 1t
in therepnblican ranks.
They say we must not vote for War
ner. Are there any reasons why we
should not? First of all, Mr.. Warner
is tried, trusted, and efficient public
official, who has never in public life
made an error that is reproach upon
either his character or reputation. He
is courageous in action, independent of
thought. When others succumbed to
the influence of machines" he stood
boldly for the privileges of the people.
Is it any wonder that such man should
receive in his own county almost one
half of the total democratic vote of that
countyH For four years he has acted
in the capacity of secretary of state.
Has there been one dishonest act? Are
not his record and reputation without
mark or blemish Of any kind? AS
chairman of the state board of auditors
he refused to audit any bill in which
ther was a job. This is his record as
secretary of state; and I was told this
the other day by all the state board OF
auditors 1t is unwise and unjust for
republicans to assail this man. Again,
he is entitled to your honest support be-
cause he has not promised single APP
pointment to Office. He has refused to
tie himself to any man or set of men.
Only thirty-nine years of age, trusted
by his neighbors, every one of them say
he has never told falsehood or broken
his word He comes before the people
of the state and says, 81 have not
promised single appointment, and the
only interest l will have as governor
will be the interest. of the whole people
of Michigan" Such a man deserves
your vote. He is entitled to our sup
port, because in life and character he is
pure, clean, and strong. He is shin
ing example for the young men in our
schools.
He is entitled to your support because
of the position he takes on the question
of primary reform, so largely discussed
throughout the state. There is great
difference in opinion. We are all
agreed that the corrupt use of money
ought to be stopped. A man who sells
himself in politics is no better than a
man who buys. We are all interested
in one thing, that we should clean up
our primaries. We must go at this in a
practical way. In the first place. we
shall hold all caucuses on the same day
throughout the state, and these meet
ings shall become purer primaries; that
is, no man shall any longer be able to
line up his men that he has bought on
his side, and some others on that, but
men shall be able to express their con-
victions.
We will not fasten upon the state as a
whole at once the extreme idea of vot-
ing for everybody. Why not? says Mr..
Ferris. Because the system now has so
many elements of uncertainty, newness,
that it would not be wise and prudent
to adopt it for the whole state at once.
Would you fasten upon the state of
Michigan this new, radical system with
out first trying it in the different coun-
ties, and eliminating what may be
found undesirable? Meanwhile we
will amend these county statutes and
perfect them, and finally, / believe,
there is principle enough in the people
of the state Of Michigan to prevent
fraud and bribery and to give us honest
nominations Is this not the wisest
course? This is the position taken by
Mr.. Warner Let us work on in this
matter of purifying caucuses, and elect
delegates to conventions who shall rep
resent us.
What would be the result If you
should elect Mr.. Ferris, and what would
his influence be in the way of giving us
his radical primary reform law9 He
would be incompetent to do it. But
what could he do9 Surprising one of
our aged senators should die. Mr..
Ferris would have the power to appoint
some one in the place. Would he ap-
point republican, You know he
would not Ferris is an upright citizen,
but politically he has every ism that has
been proposed. There has never been
one that he has not championed.
A Great Sensation.
There was a big sensation in Lees.
vile, Ind. when w. III. Brown of that
,,1oca xubo vvas axnectad RI die had his