Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-09-16
HENANS VISITS ALMA
Democratic Candidate for Gov
ernor Guest of Alma Demo-
Gratis.
DELIVERS OPEN AIR ADDRESS
Opening Speech OF the compaign-
Discusses State Issues. .-Severdl
Hundred Present.

Saturday was a regular gala day for
the democrats of Alma and Gratiot coun-
ty. Lawton T. Hemans, demodatic
candidate for governor visited Alma and
in the evening opened the campaign
with speech, Bryan and Kern banner
was flung to the breeze and the Demo
cratic city caucus to elect delegates to
the county convention were held.
Candidate Hemans arrived i'll Alma on
the I2;44 Ann Arbor train and was met
at the depot by J. j. Shields, president
of the Alma Bryan and Kern Democratic
club and several of the democrats OF the
city and county. He was escorted to
the Wright House, from whence, after
removing the dust marks of travel, he
went forth TO meet the Alma public.
While il was not Mr. Heman's first
trip TO Alma, it was the first occasion he
had TO make any extended visit to the
city. He spent an enjoyable afternoon
here. He was introduced about the
street by Mr.. Shields and met many Re-
publicans and Democrats.
During the afternoon he met Andy
Hall. who was a schoolmate OF both Mr.
Hemans and Auditor General Bradley al
Eaton Rapids during the years 1850 to
1854 He was delighted to meet Mr.
Hall and spent some time with the latter
who drove him about the city in his car.
riage.
During the latter part of the afternoon
Mr.. Hemans was an interested spectator
at the unfurling of the Bryan and Kern
club campaign banner by the members
of the BRYAN and Kern club This ban.
ner is six feet in height and thirty feet
long. Across each side of it is painted
in red and black letters four feet high
BRYAN and Kern" underneath in small
er black letters is the inscription "Shall
the People Rule" The banner was
swung from a cable diagonally across
the junction of State and Superior streets
so that it is plainly discernable from
north, east, south or west. The banner
is the work of our townsman Dewitt
Vought.
In the evening Mr.. Hemans addressed
a crowd of several hundred people. Hi:
speech was made from a platform wagon
placed at the corner of Superior and
State streets With brief reference to
national issues in which he eulogized
both Roosevelt and Bryan he led direct.
" to the topic of his talk, state issues.
His speech was we'll delivered, and mod
crate in that he refrained from anything
personal in his arguments against his re.
publican opponents.
In his opening remarks Mr.. Hemans
referred in jocular manner to the nerve
and stamina it required to remain a
Democrat in Michigan in the face of SO
overwhelming a Republican majority.
He mentioned visiting town i'll western
Michigan recently where he was assured
by an old man Of the united support of
the democratic party of that town.
Then the old gentleman added that he
was the only democrat in the town.
Mr.. Hemans based all his ar gumen
on the fundamental point that in all
states the power of the minority party
should so nearly balance that of the ma
jority as to act as a check on the ma
jority party at all times. I'm no other
way he declared. 'can the best of party
government be obtained anywhere. "
For in this country we have party gov
eminent" He declared that il the mi
nority party were given more power
things we see happening in our state ad-
ministrations would not occur for reason
Of the fact that the politicians in power
would not be indifferent to the will OF
the people
Taking up Gov. Warmers claim to a
third term he made light of the idea
that the governor is the only man who
can administer the affairs Of state. III
he is, said Mr. Hemans, what are we 30
ing to do in case he dies " By figures
he pointed out the increase in state ex
penditures in the last few years and par
ticularly under the Warner administra.
ton. Referring to the Glazier deal, he
accused the governor of being anything
but anxious to push the matter because
Of his own complication in matters re.
lating directly OF indirectly to the Incl.
dent.
Mr.. Hemans made a brief visit tc
the Record Office during his visit Satur-
day afternoon. Mr.. Hemans proved
bimself very pleasant agreeable gentle
man TO meet. In brief chat concern
ing state issues he expressed himself a.
well pleased with the out look for Demo
cratic success both in national and STATE
politics. Questioned regarding hi,