The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-08-03
Campaign Issues Discussed.
CONTINUED from first page

COMPARISONS ullSut uot Otuci Wloc nave
made and to gather from citizens else
where, information and opinions as to
conditions in their own states. l need
hardly assure You who are citizens OF
Michigan that these comparisons in
nearly every instance were favorable to
the state we love In educational affairs
and in the standing and national repu-
tation of all its state institutions, in the
varied character of its industries and in
the beauty of its rivers, lakes and or
chards, and homes of country and town,
there is but one Michigan and its stand
what the Giver of Sunshine and Har-
who are occupied with its larger move
ments have reason to be proud. have
noted in comparison with other states
that in all matters which could be affect
ed by good government or by the zeal
ous guardianship of state officers that
Michigan people seem to be more favor
led than the people of other states. And
when as a summing up of conditions
brought about through this zeal and
care / repeated the statement a little
while ago, that Michigan had between
ten and twelve million dollors in her
state treasury with not a single cent
of debt,sI was aware that was making
declaration that probably could not
be made by citizen of any other of the
fortysix states of this great union.
have been pleased, too, to note that
what we have referred to as Michigan's
prosperity is not possessed alone nor even
in the greater part by its capitalists or
its industrial captains. l saw it stated
a Of
of Michigan were participants in savings
deposits in the banks of the state, ag
gregating more than $111, 000 900. There
are suggestions of pictures in this state
ment my friends, pictures of hope and
plans for the future; pictures of care and
thonghtfulness for others; pictures of
ambitions some day to be fulfilled and of
the love of husband and wife and father
and mother that give them more value
to our state and country than are in
cluded in all the gold they represent.
With these facts in mind, l was by no
IN cans surprised to learn from another
official statement that Michigan's death
rate was the lowest of any of the states
from which statistics had been gather
ed that would permit of comparisons.
There seems to be more reason why
Michigan men and women should live
and should wish to continue to live than
people elsewhere possess To go to a
better land beyond~is the hope in the
minds of many who longingly look to
another shore, but just at this time, my
friends, am not at all prepared to as
sert or admit that there is better land
than Michigan.
But whatever we may think of our
state and our party and of its manage
ment of affairs here at home, in the
coming campaign we will be required
to give account of the power placed in
the hands of our party for the direction
and management of national affairs
can assure you my friends, / have not
the slightest hesitation in taking up
that subject. The Republican party
: has been fortunate in the selection of
its leaders from the opening days of its
history. The lives of these leaders have
given to literature pages that will in
spire and appeal to higher manhood so
long as our race survives, but it has
given no man possessed to a greater ex-
tent wa honesty and backbone and de-
termination to serve first and best the
interests of all the people than our pres
ent Chief Executive, President Theo-
dore Roosevelt Not all persons may
agree with him at all times, but think
all will agree that he is endeavoring to
put into practice ideals in government
which are finding expression in legisla-
ton and meeting with sympathetic re-
Spouse from an overwhelming majority
of the people of this country.
OF the congress which has recently
closed its session very much has been
said and much more will be said during
the coming campaign and perhaps
through many future years If | could
speak of Michigan's representation in
that congress without including the
representative from the eighth district,
l would declare that Michigan had good
reason to feel satisfied and proud with
the part this state has played in the
work of that great session. You have
probably noted that President Roosevelt
recently declared that in the session
just closed congress has done more sub
stantial work for good than any congress
at any session since he became familiar
with public affairs. From platforms
and rostrums and in the schoolhouses
of our country through the campaign of
this year the work of that session will
be recited and dissected, and | believe,
lElcuuS, budb tllC cllu buC SIdJt-
ment Of my dear old friend, Speaker
Cannon. will prove to be the verdict of
most Of the American people, that more
important legislation, important and
valuable to the people of this country,
was enacted during the recent session
than in any one session for more than
thirty years. 1t is not necessary here
and now to review this work in detail.
You who are here probably have it well
in mind You know that the purposes
of the most important acts were to Sc
cufe to the people of this country, fair
dealings and square dealings from those
whose control of mighty industries
made it possible for them to sometimes
disregard such just requirements. 1t is
well to keep it fully in mind that no
degree of prosperity will fully provide
for the happiness and contentment of a
nation. There will be dissatisfaction so
long as there is realization or fear of in
Justice, and it was that this fear might
not exist or have less reason for exist
ence than ever before that the agrees
i've legislation of the past few months at
Washington was alphabetically con-
sidered and enacted.
Indeed, sometimes / think great and
increasing danger to our country exists
in the very measure and degree of our
favorable conditions. Through such
conditions are created an intense, inn
patient and constant striving for adj