The Detroit times., 1908-10-31
Ray Stannard Baker. the Noted
Magazine Writer and Personal
Friend of President Roose-
Welt, Says Michigan is
Facing a Crisis"
A Stirring Appeal to the
Public Conscience.
Although a Lifelong Republican, Mr..
Baker Declares Warner 10 Unfit to
Occupy the Governorshlp, and
Pleads for the Election OF He
mans to Save the Honor
Of Michigan.

Ray Stannard Baker. OF Lansing. the
distinguished writer on economic re-
forms and general sociological SUP
iects, now one OF the proprietors ana
editors OF the American Magazine, and
a close friend of President Roosevelt.
has contributed to the press letter
on political conditions In Michigan
which has aroused widespread inter
est. We print the letter In full and
bespeak for II the careful perusal OF
every thoughtful citizen
To the Voters OF Michigan: Though
I shall vote for Taft, because l believe
in the sincerity Of the man. i cannot
vote for Warner. l do not believe
him To be a fit person TO occupy the
highest Office in the gift OF this state.
I say this wholly without personal
.rapcor, for have never met Mr.. War
ner, nor ever come into contact with
him directly or indirectly. but because
] believe that Michigan is, at this mo-
lnent, facing a real crisis In her his
tory. / believe ii for reasons which
seem to me to be sound, and these
reasons | wish TO lay before the voters
Of the state.
The State a Business Institution.
Has IL impressed itself upon the at
tention Of the people OF Michigan that
this state, like the United States gov
eminent. Is yearly becoming more
important business institution! The
functions OF the state government
are expanding with almost incredible
rapidity. New departments have been
established and old ones reorganized
and expanded. until at the present
time tens Of thousands of men. are
employed, OF partly employed. or VI
tally connected with some department
Ut the state government. In 18 years
since 1890, the tax levies have jumped
from about 81 100000 20 nearly $4,000
900. / am not complaining the amount
raised is exorbitant; probably 1t Is
not large enough; / am rather calling
attention to the magnitude Of Michi-
gan as a business institution-and the
rapid increase every year.
Governor at the Head.
At the head Of this vast business
stands the governor. Upon him IN
large measure ultimately depends the
management Of the army of state en-
-pfoyes;I he Is responsible fer the EN-,
cheney and honesty with which the
taxpayers money is expended.
Let us ask some questions concern
ing the present GOVERNOR Has he
done his work with such notable
faithfulness that the people of the
state should reward him by breaking
the third-term precedent and tri-
unmpantly re-electing him to this
high and important Office?
IL Is matter Of common report
that Mr.. Warner owed his election
four years ago largely to the fact
that he controlled, as secretary OF
state. a very large number OF census
enumerators
Since he was elected he has profit
ed by the lesson learned in that first
campaign. He has assiduously built
up large groups OF state employees.
Never before In the history Of the
state were the departments so CEN
tered In the control of the governor.
i Controls Game and Fire Wardens.
Previous TO Warmers administra-
ton the fire warden was appointed by
the state land committeeman
elected officer. But In the last legis-
lature the game and fish wardens and
the fire wardens were all brought to-
gether in one department, the chief Of
which (signifcantly enough) is ap-
pointed by the governor. Great DOW.
ers are placed I'm the hands Of the
chief warden. He not only has 10
deputy fire wardens under him, and
three deputy game and fish wardens,
but local warden In every township
of the state Is more or less closely
under his supervision. The power of
these wardens over private property,
In times OF danger, Is almost unlimit-
ed. and they can employ men almost
at Will.
No one doubts the value or need of
a strong organization to fight fires and
protect game. Events I'm the north
this fall show this conclusively. But
IN all the horrors which have recently
occurred In the northern part OF the
state-bnrned towns, devastated
farms, half hundred lives snuffed
out-has any one heard of Gov. War.
ner's fire department? 1t has scarcely
been mentioned in the reports. But
why expect it? Gov Warner appoint.
Charlie Pierce as chief Are war.
lena good fellow" a first class pol.
lticisn, who was his deputy when he
was secretary Of state. But Il is not
,n record that Mr.. Pierce has any
extended knowledge Of forestry or
game preservation. so far a I can
earn. the wardens have drawn their
'alaries, but as for any comprehen-
live plans for protecting the state
rom such horrible catastrophes as
hat which has Just afflicted us. who
las heard OF any! On the contrary
he fire and game organization. reach.
ng. as IL does. into every part of thu
tate. has undoubtedly been highly
lseful to Warner In his campaign for
collection.
Lover Of Secret Power"
Another department which has ex-
pnded with astonishing rapidity In
farmers administration II the dairy
pd food commission. This 10 a most
iluable and useful department of
pvernment. and know personally of
uch excellent work already done un-
ir US supervision. But the man at
II head of II. A. G. Bird. is q shrewd
tliucian. "A lover OF secret power"
wes said OF famous Englishman.
I'd one of Warmers closest friends
IN Advisers He has n Score NJ dentf.