The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-10-23
SPLENDID ACCOMPLISHMENT
FOR MICHIGAN.
Governor Warmers Effective Defense Of Republican
Management and Republican Legislation.


from all sources.
Gov. Warner called attention to
the fact that the state executive has
nothing to do with the expense OF
the legislature for it's own purposes
His Democratic opponent was men,
Der of the legislature. Through four
years he was in position then to
criticise legislative expenses, but he
did not do so, nor did he at any time
make objection to state expenditures
or state appropriations. And that
which Mr.. Hemans approved through
his silence while a member of the
legislature cannot be consistently
criticised at this time because of his
wish to pose as a reform candidate
for governor.
In explanation of the increase in
the earnings of the state, the COVER
nor called attention to the fact thai
within twelve years the number of
factories in Michigan had increased
from about 2,S40 to $500; and the
number Of men employed from 101,-
600 to 245,000. Twelve years ago
the average wages paid in Michigan
was $1.22, while the average wage OF
today is $3.50. This means, he saio,
that every Saturday night there is
paid out to the wage earners of Mich
igan almost two million dollars more
than was paid out on the Saturday
nights in 1896, or ninety million dol
lars more during the year. And these
thousands of new factories and this
great army of better paid working
states income to increase to a mil
lion dollars beyond its total of taxes
but 1t has added to the income of
other cities, villages and townships,
mad has led to the building of
thousands of new homes, new school
houses and churches and provided
for better streets and improved road
ways. And while this upbuilding
and advancement has been in pro-
gress in Michigan, said the governor,
it is worthy of note that the state tax
rate has grown less rather than larg-
ler.
In 1899 the average rate of taxa
ton in Michigan for state purposes
was $3.50 on each $1,000; last year
1907, it was 2.S1, and this year the
state tax rate will be but $2.42 on
each $1,000. While comparing fig
ures in this direction, Gov. Warner
called attention to another source of
gain. Twelve years ago the farmers
of Michigan were receiving but fifty
eight cents for wheat now wheat
is bringing near to one dollar. Oats
at that time were selling for eighteen
cents, today for fifty cents; corn was
worth but tweny-three cents, today it
sells for eighty cents; beans sold for
seventy-five cents, now they bring
two dollars; creamery butter was
sold for eighteen cents, today it rs
worth twenty-five cents; eggs than
were sold for eight cents, now
they are worth twenty-five cents per
dozen. And best of all, the cost of
living to the farmer has not increased
in the same proportion. In 1896,
from the proceeds of one hundred
bushels of oats the farmer could buy
three hundred pounds of granulated
sugar; today he can take one hun
bred bushels of oats to market and
with the proceeds he can purchase
seven hundred pounds of graduated
sugar. And what is true of the COM
Darison in value of oats and sugar
applies to other products the farmer
sells and other goods that he buys.
The governor reviewed his success
'ul efforts in behalf of the establish |
nent of two cent fares on the rail-
'oads OF the state; referred to the
aw making railroads common car
iers of live stock which he had fav-
red, and explained the value to the
tate and its people of the binder
wine plant at Jackson, which. had
'een secured through energetic eff
orts on his part. And he made it
'lain that much Of the opposition to
i'm at this time came directly from
he interests which were disturbed
through such desirable legislation.
lie called attention to the bills which
10 had supported which had not been
ut on the statute books and he stat
d that he had worked sincerely for
he bill providing for taxation of tel
graph and telephone companies, and
ad only failed because of inability
o secure the two-third's majority
made necessary for its immediate
assage and for the taking of the bill