Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1905-01-19
The LAW MAKERS
All Promises are TO BE Re
deemed.
Organization and Prepa ration for
the Work of the Winter.
lansing. Jan. lG, 1905.

l~duSAnRf JdAls lOi IoOOs
The forty second Michigan Legis'
lature has passed its second week
and is now ready for business. These
two weeks have been devoted to or
ganization and preparation, the Sc
lection of the necessary officers in the
two houses, the naming of the two
committees, the acquainting of the
members with each other and with
their places and lines of work, and
the settling of themselves into such
living arrangements as they find nec'
Ssary or desirable. There is large
.oportion of new members, and
these preliminaries have required
considerable time. The actual ses-
sions have been few and brief; but it
is not necessary to suppose that the
time outside of those has been wast-
ed.
In many ways it is happily appar-
eut that the state government starts
of under hopeful conditions OF har-
mony, harmony between the execu-
tive and the legislatures between the
two branches Of the legislature, be-
tween all the departments of the
government, and between the people
and their government. This last
condition is one of peculiar sensitive
ness, and may be easily cemented or
alienated. Conversation with officers
Ia 60
a sincere desire TO cement it, by de-
serving il. If there is anywhere
lurking purpose to cheat the popular
expectation for some wholesome leg
islation along the line Of primary re-
form, as some predetermined critics
insist upon believing, it is not appar-
ent, and it would surely be too weak
to be at all effective.
Primary reform has wide diver
sity of meaning, as the term has been
used in the last two or three years, in
no two states alike and by no two
-.aa--'s. -7=-s~A -tiaps likn-Rut in one
phase or another, it has cors~- ,aa.,h
prominently into view, and become
he subject of wider discussion, than
perhaps any other question in our
politics has ever done in the same
time. Nearly every state has legis-
lated or is in process of legislating
upon it: and we may feel assured that
our own state will not be behind her
sisters in any advance in that direc-
tion that gives safe promise OF bet
terinp conditions. In Illinois meas
ure is agreed upon that will undoubt-
edly pass, for compulsory primary
elections throughout the state; but 1t
only provides for election Of dele.
gates to nominating conventions, and
not for nomination of any officers,
quite short of what Republican pledg-
es in Michigan have promised.
The mere important appointments
that Gov. Warner has thus far an
nounced have been made. as the gov
ernor has specifcately stated, IN rec
ognition of past services well per
formed in the case of reappointments
and in the. case of new appointments
through expectation that the mer
selected are especially capable o.
giving excellent service to the state
in the line Of official duty for which
they have been named. Mr.. Barr1
for insurance commissioner, Mr.. At
wood for railroad commissioners ant
Gen. Kidd for quartermaster gener
al, are reappointments made by reas
on of that iong-standing Republica
custom of giving denominations whe
official duties throughout the frs
term have been well rendered. TIL
appointment Of Mr.. McCloud as labo
commissioner, of Mr.. Wildey as sal
inspector, of Mr. Bird as dairy an
food com missioner as we'll as Co
Warmers military and various stat
board appointments, have met wit
approving comments from all WI
personally know the men selectt
and have information touching II
duties they are to perform.
is fair and candid judgmei
that Gov w dIItl d5h- AbA hio .
pointees and his administration,
that his work as chief executive al
the work of those for whom he is
sponsible shall be judged by resu
obtained and by whatever eviden
shall appear of sincere effort on the
part to meet the wishes and expect
tions Of all the people of Michiga
Itisavery reasonable request fr'
Michigan's new executive, and u
Warner can be assured that at lie;
those who made up the more th
sixty thousand majority he reeei'
at last falls election will be gu
willing to extend to his administ
tion fair and generous judgment,
The legislature adjourned from