The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1908-08-15

what's the use of "bribing" q man to
vote, when he can take the money and
vote as he pleases, and no one be the
wiser as to how he voted?
The bulk Of the money in campaign
expenses goes for thoroughly canvass
ing the wards and getting all the vot-
ing strength out; for sending out cir
culars and other campaign literature;
for hiring halls, and hack hire for ora
tors; for brass bands and torch-light
professions; for carriage hire to make
thorough canvass of the ward by the
on election day: for printing bills, and
divers other expenses. The money
that goes over the bar" Is what the
candidate himself puts up as rule.
Now the business men contributed
their checks to see the men win
who they thought would be friendly
to them In pinch; they selected their
party candidates when they could,
and l am OF the opinion that the most
OF the big men" wanted absolutely
trustworthy and reliable candidates
| who would not he too ferociously stub
born about granting any little harm
less" privilege. They were bitterly
opposed to graft" of whatever party
they happened to belong to, but they
had their individual ideas of what
that baleful term meant
| For instance, suppose some highly
reputable merchant wanted to ele-
vate the sidewalk above his place Of
business to facilitate the handling Of
freight. Suppose such an elevation
practically "hogged" that part of the
sidewalk. to the exclusion of the pass.
ing pedestrians who demurred at
climbing up the elevated sidewalk,
there to stumble over skids and
through piles Of boxes and barrels.
Was that any part OF the public's bust.
ness? Pish. and also File! Nothing is
80 obnoxious as the average pedes-
trian. He is always getting tangled
up In electric cars, or cabs, or skids,
or wheels, and having his plebeian
anatomy defaced or broken by getting
In the way Of progress.
Then there was another type OF
business man. This was the type
that had no particular Ak TO grind.
They were party men," who gen
orally held their conferences with the
down town" leaders, and who played
politics" in a genteel way. They
never contributed unless they knew
where the money was going to, ant
they did not use politics az a means
to an end. Sometimes they wer,
chosen as aldermanic, or other candI
dates, and when elected made goot
officials.
They were often selected for posi
lions OF non-salarfed prominence, anc
they represented what might b,
J termed the passive respectabiIIty O
the party. The active" respectable
ity OF the parties was divided anon,
} the professional men, big" mer
: chants. small tradesmen and ward Dol
iticians, In proportions which varie,
: according to localities. Sometime
: one Of these men would turn IRE
! former" and often he made a very DC,
: sistent and active man behind the gu
Of reform. Reform, bad as It som,
times 10, must be credited with havin
accomplished much, both in local an
national politics.
J About the only way the averag
J business man could be reached wit
} political argument, was either by mai
: or BY q personal call. You never %,
! bunch" In your life 30 immun
from campaign oratory. Many Of thsr
took their politics from theis paper
and voted straight the ticket xhic
their editor had selected for tnen
They might be Induced to read can