The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-01-12
Men And Inc dents.
BY DAVID M. CAREY.


"oh! think what anxious moments pass
The birth OF plots, and their last fatal periods;
Oh tits dreadful interval OF time,
Filled with horror and big with DEATH"
was just thinking of that banquet
of the Republican club at Owosso, the
surface innocence of the whole affair
and the burning aspirations which I'M
derlay the outward manifestations.
The quotation refers TO the political
features which vivify the situation.
Hon. VIM. Alden Smith pleads guilty
to the indictment of wanting to be
United States senator. There is no
chance of his realizing when the sue
cessor of Gen. Alger is chosen, but he
acts upon the motto of noble house
and at the suggestion of the best gener-
alship when he builds and forti6es as he
bides his time. He has good grip up
on the western part of the state, and if
Senator Burrows survives the decisive
battle he will be sufficiently battered
and SCARED to know that there has been
a fight:
Everybody will realize with smile
that the significant rally was not es-
sential to keeping Michigan in the re-
publican fold. There were paens sang
and eulogies pronounced with old time,
fourth -of-July fervor, but the sponta-
neity of the occasion was of personal
and mercenary origin. Each fence
builder was hustler and conspirator.
This is not grave charge under the
code of American politics, for the pure
ly receptive candidate, 900, 900 times out
of million, is kept outside the charmed
circle.
With apologies to Homer Warren,
for whose abilities and patriotism 1
have the highest regard, let me express
the opinion that he is shining exhibit
in support of my proposition. He is en-
titled to things that he has never had
and is likely never to get unless he be-
come more truculant He is always
willing. Ii the people want him as a
public servant they can have him. But
the other fellow scrambles, clamors,
scraps and gets there. Mr.. Warren
may sing the Sword of Bunker Hill'
until he loses lung or his voice, but no
political Office worthy of his occupancy
can be bought, for a song. 1 should
like to see him strip to the buff, shy his
caster into the ring and put up a fight
inspired by that same Bunker Hill SEN
timent.
Fx-Gov. Rich was there. There is a
wheel horse for fair. He knows the
game from soda to hook. He has held
Office so long that the memory of man
runneth not to the contrary. Kindly
fate must have pre-emptied his place at
the public crib, for he is never crowded
out or requested to wait for the second
feed. I'd hypothecate salary to get
his recipe. a At that he has honored
every position he has ever occupied and
his presence at banquet is a blood
4, warming assurance that the faith OF
the fathersis doing all possible to abide
forever.
Sugar Beet Joe" Fordney is a
dandy who knows all the moves
with his eyes shut and his hands tied
behind him. He has made the Eighth
district understand that it needs him
and he's not averse to have the knowl
edge spread abroad that he is eligible
for promotion. He rpstles for his PEG
pie and is square. In that is sugges
ton that it were well if he be called w
higher. am not with him on his stand
as to the taxation of sugar from the
Philippines, but he is in the beet sugar
belt. His constituents would suffer il
the Filipinos profitted and-well the
Filipinos did not elect him to lool
particularly after their interests.
Congressman Townsends present
business in craftsmanship is to create
public sentiment in favor of his bill ex
tending the powers of the interstate
commerce commission so that it can dc
something more than sit around an6
get the worst of it. He would breathe
the breath of life into this national in
stitution and give it specific contro
where it has been as impotent as par
alytic. He told the banqueters al
about it and can be relied upon to make
the house as well as the country under
stand why and how railroad rates must
be regulated.
Every man prominent at the feast was