The Owosso times., 1908-05-15
State Convention Assemblies
to Choose Four Chicago
Delegates.
HAMILTON OCCUPIES CHAIR
6iodgett, Gilchrist, McNaughton and
Stair Apparently First Choice
For National Convention.
May lndorse Taft.

Grand Rapids, Mich, May 12.-Del.
egates having poured into the city
from all directions for the past twen-
ty-four hours, the Furniture City to-
day finds herself entertaining the
state Republican convention for the
election of four delegates at large and
four alternates to the national con.
vention in Chicago and the nomipa.
tion Of fourteen presidential electors.
That the sentiment of most of the
delegates is for the Endorsement OF
the candidacy of Secretary Of War
Taft for presidential honors IL very
apparent. Aside from the selection
OF delegates to the national conven-
tion, this matter of Endorsement is the
only question of Importance to come
before the state convention, unless it
be the Endorsement of the administra-
tion of Governor Warner. Relative
to this, too, there are many delegates
who are desirous of seeing it framed
in the resolutions.
Numerous names are being men.
toned for delegates at large to the ma.
q
E. d. Stair of Detroit, from the First
district, John w. Blodgett of Grand
Rapids, from the Fifth district; Frank
Gilchrist OF Alpena, from the Tenth dis.
trict; James McNaughten Of Calumet
!. from the Twelfth district; Frank Buell.
and E. T. Darlington, both of Bay City,
from the Ninth district. The first four
named, however, appear to he favored
by majority of the delegates.
Formalities were few when the
state convention opened this morning
in the exposition rooms of the Fur.
niture Dealers association, where ses.
sions are being held, and delegates
got down to business in very short
. time after Congressman Diekema OF
Holland, chairman of the state cen
trail committee, let fall the grave.
which called the convention to order
Chairman Diekema, with a few re-
marks, turned the chair over to Con
.,essman Hamilton of Niles, chosen
temporary chairman at the recent
Hmeeting in Lansing of the state cen.
trail committee. Mr.. Diekema said IL
part:
Diekema's Remarks.
"The great quadrennial debate, with
its red fire, oratory and music, with
it's marching columns, banners and
transparencies, so unique in the his.
tory Of governments, and yet so neces-
sary to perpetuate free institutions
and to educate the people, is again
at hand. Already we hear of daily
skirmishes along the picket lines, and
soon the great contending hosts will
be in full action until the dawn of
election day, when from the freemen's
hands the ballots will drop as the
fieecy snowflakes from the overhang-
Ing clouds, and labor and industry will
Join in a great shout of triumph over
another record breaking Republican
victory, guaranteeing continued peace
and prosperity.
"The victory will record the ap-
proval of the administration of Theo-
dore Roosevelt and the principles and
policies of the Republican party as
enacted into law by congress and en-
forced by the courts.
"We are living in the days Of a
great moral awakening, when, as the
result of the aggressive courage and
patriotism of a single man, the whole
people have been lifted up to a higher
plane of thinking, away from the ma
terial and sordid to the ethical and
spiritual. There can be no halting,
no marking of time, no looking back
ward, no retracing Of steps. Forward,
is the watchword; forward to CON-
equality; forward to greater indus
trial triumphs, to the reign of equal
Justice for all and special privileges
for none. equal rights before the
for none: equal rights along the great
highways of travel trade and COM
merce: no rebates, no special rates,
no monopoly, no Capitalization be-
yond the point Of competition; pub
Iicity In politics and IN business;
complete and scientific revision Of our
tariff laws readjusting schedules to
present needs and based upon the
dual principle of revenue and protec-
ton. Neither will we forget a maxi
mum and minimum rate by which
'fair dealing abroad can be enforced
Taft the Man.
4 There never has been a moments
Question as to where Michigan stands
Upon these problems. There never has
been a moments question where
Michigan stands as to her choice of a
itandard bearer. The Republicans or
his great state, rejecting the best
hought and sentiment of the nation,
did not wait for a bandwagon to jump
tnto but assumed leadership and stood
eteadfastly on the battle line in the
front ranks of the Taft forces. Upon
the shoulders of William II. Taft
Heaviest burdens rest lightly. Be
Ior his luminous mind the most intri'