The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-02-09

trioSism but our boys need to have th'
emphasis placed upon the Importance Of
clear understanding of what is honor
able and what is disgraceful in citizen
and an Office holder.
Paul exhorts every man to pray for
those in authority. Prayer was the
only means the christians had at that
time for securing a better rule If
Paul was living now he would say, vote
to put good men into Office or in au-
thority, and then pray that they may
rule we'll
The Indifference of many of our best
citizens touching municipal affairs is the
reason frequently why undesirable
and inefficient candidates secure place
on the ticket, and unworthy men secure
Office
A man betrays his citizenship when
he fails to take an interest in public
questions and principles, when he fails
to inform himself, when he votes
party ticket, when he fails to ascertain
as to the character of the man whom he
supports for office. -
The. voter betrays himseff when de
votes for his own personal interest re-
gardless of the public; when he sells
his vote; when he purchases a vote;
when his vote is for patronage or tow
ard patronage.
hn froi hn fov
dodger, the graft taker and giver, the
don't care man and the man who says
ITO hell with your laws and good
government"
The most dangerous citizen politically
is the man who can always be depended
upon to vote the straight party ticket
put up by the organization.
The circle at the head of the party
column il simply device to hold
the party trained and whipped voter
to vote the party ticket and to vote for
yellow dog if on the ticket.
Having given a definition of states
manship synonymous with political af-
fairs in the interest Of government and
politics. synonymous with party inter.
ests and personal profit, we will give
definition of town: "It is a civic
corporation, of which all the citizens
are members and in which all have
proprietary interest
If the corporation is will managed, all
gain if it is badly managed, all lose.
The objects Chat is the people) for which
this corporation exists should dictate its
government. Then there are objects
not OF personal interest only but the
public good; the preservation of order,
the enforcement of law, providing
elementary education, securing of sani-
tation; briefly-safe guarding of life,
liberty and property.
And the inhabitants mPy be of many
nationalities, creed, and calling. If the
question be one of church perferment
then whether he is protestant or a
Catholic has some consideration;
whether man is clergyman or lay
man is relevant if business or ecclesi-
astic position is in debate or whether he
is republican or democrat is import
ant in considering his election to con-
gress or the senate.
But has politics any more to do with
mayoralty than the dictatorship of
bankH Has the tariff anything to do
with clerkship Of municipality Is
there any more relation between the
republican or the democratic platform
and the board of alderman than there is
between such platform and the selec-
tion by a railroad company of a con-
ductor2
What has creed to do with munich
pal officer Some one asks why should
nearly all the policeman of New York
be IrishH Many of them even preaching
home rule for Ireland and foreign rule
for American.