Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-06-25
PARTY AND ITS CHIEF
MADE GREAT RECORD
Burrows, Sounding Keynote as Tenn
porary Chairman, Reviews
Achievements.
PLACED WITH WASHINGTON.
Presidents Highest Claim to Fame,
Says Senator, Comes From Re
fusal of Third Term.

fusal of Third Term.
-Four years of achievement were re-
viewed with minute detail and dispas-
sionately in sounding the keynote of the
Republican national convention at Chi
cago. Senator Julius Cesar Burrows.
of Michigan, avoided extremes of en-
thusiasm in his address as temporary
chairman. When he approached the
close, however, the presiding officer
gave high praise to the President aid
evoked the greatest enthusiasm with
this statement after an account of the
work of the State Department:
But the browning act in this drama
was that in which the President HIM
self took the initiative, halted the
armies Of Russia and Japan. bringing
about an honorable, and, it is to be
hoped, enduring peace
Wins Place of Fame.
Yet nothing has added so much to
his just fame as his persistent and
1rrevocable refusal to break the I'M
written law of the republic by accept
ing a nomination for a third term. BY
this act of self-abnegati0n he places his
name and fame in the secure keeping
of history by the side of that of the
immortal Washington.
with this splendid record of the last
four years in the management of our
domestic and foreign affairs, backed
by the history of nearly half a century
of Republican policies, the public mind
must rest in the conviction that the
continued ascendency of the Republican
party will best promote the interest of
the people and advance the glory and
stability of the republic.
''The work of this convention will
soon be concluded. The platform will
voice the dominant thought of the peo-
pie, and the candidates nominated must
stand upon it firm and erect They
| must have the patriotism and sagacity
of Lincoln, the tenacity of Grant,
the wisdom and moderation of a Nc
Ki1ley and the courage of a Roosevelt.
With such a platform and such can
didates the issue cannot be in doubt.
The Republican party confidently sub
mits its record to the approving judg-
ment of the American people and, upon
its renewed declaration of faith. in
INN nf 70,
Nation Continues Triumphs.
Taking up his statement of the party
record, Senator Burrows said:
Although some untoward and unforeseen
conditions have beset the republic during
the last four years, yet these have been
met and overcome with aacrity and cour-
age, and the country has marched steadily
onward in its matchless course of industrial
triumphs. The wise and benefcent legisla
tion of the Republican party during the
long years of Its ascendency and admins
tration of national affairs laid the founda-
ton for the public veal securely that
no disquieting condition, not even tenn
porary panic, which necessarily touches
the handspring of all industrial life, could
arrest the country's resistess advance.
Here are a few of the interesting
facts the chairman gave to illustrate
the nations growth.
Since the last Republican national con
yention our population has increased from
81 100000 10 S7,500,000, while 100000
immigrants from every quarter OF the globe
have found welcome to our shores and pro-
lection under our flag.
During the last four years our 6ocks and
herds have increased in value from $2.99S,-
900, 900 to 1881 10000 the value of our
farm products from S5,917 ,000,0 to ST.
412,000,O00, and the output of coal from
314,000,000 tons to 420,000,000.
The accumulation in savings banks of S.
S15,000000 in 1903 was augmented to So
400, 100000 in 1907. The deposits in all
banks in 1908, aggregating 5000, 900, 900,
reached the fabulous sum of $4,000. 900
900 in 1907, an increase of $3,546,O0O, 900
In four years.
In spite of the disquieting conditions in
cident to the regulation of rates on inter-
state railroad, 10000 miles of new trackage
have been added In the last four years.
Progress in Administration.
Senator Burrows then went into a
thorough review of the work of the
executive departments and of Congress,
saying in part:
The nine great executive departments of
the government through which the. head of
the nation speaks and acts, have advanced
with steady and resolute steps within the
sphere of their activities, presenting a rec
ord Of achievements during the last four
years of intelligent and progressive admin
istration unexampled in the history of the
government.
1t is within bounds to say that no pre-
vious sessions of Congress have displayed
a more active or intelligent interest in the
needs of the wage-earners than the last
three sessions, nor has there heretofore in
the same length of time been as much i'm
portant aud progressive legislation in the in
terests of this class of our fellow citizens.
The work of the Department of the In
terror has been prosecuted under the present
administration with intelligence and vigor.
During the last year over 100000 acres of
coal lands have been restored to the public
domain During the last five years fences
unlawfully closing public lands have been
removed from 3,519,533 acvres, and steps
are being taken to remove from such inclos-
ures 375O00 other acres.
The work of the Pension Bureau has been
brought up to date. The labor has in
creased, but the expense of administration
during the last four years has decreased
nearly 100000 The force has been re-
duced from 1000 to 400, and yet the num-
Der of certificates issued during the last
twelve months has been greater than in
any previous twelve months since the bureau
was established nearly 100000 having been
issued during the last year.
Free Rural Delivery Gains.
During the last four years the Postofice
Department has continued its benfcent work
in the interest of all the people until on
the 1st Of April, 1908, free rural delivery
was in opera ton on 39,037 routes from 49,
3O3 postofices. Complete rural service has
been established in 1913 counties, saving 3d.