The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-08-26
preventative In the State Lesisla
tures g''s@

or this paper TO MAINTAIN neutral
position as between candidates for
county officers until after the nomina-
ton has been made either by conven-
ton or at the primary. We have be-
fieved and shall continue in the belief
that this is the proper course for party
paper to maintain. There are, how
ever, exceptions to all rules and to all
lines of political action and we feel it a
duty to our party and to the people Of
Shiawassee county to break our custo.
mary policy of not endorsing a candi,
date for nomination in the case OF
representative in the state legislature,
so firmly are we convinced that the
present representative John j. Whelan
should not be re.nominated.
This action is taken not because we
have anything of a personal nature
against the present representative, who
4 10 CdhdluotO LII Jul
because we feel that he failed at the
last session to realize the dignity and
Importance of his Office and brought
humiliation to his constituents by his
course throughout the session. This
does not mean that Mr.. Whelan did
anything wrong or in the least ques-
tionable from moral standpoint. His
attempt to gain fame by his poetical
productions, to be the funny man of the
body, his long-winded speeches on
every possible occasion, his lack OF
knowledge of parliamentary law.
simply made him the subject of ridicule
by his fellow members and left him
with scarcely particle of influence
along any line, so that Shiawassee was
practically without representation in
the last house. These things are said
with regret but with the positive con-
viction that they are absolutely true
and that the denomination of Mr..
Whelan would be taken as a joke by
the people of the state who known any
thing as to his career as member of
the house.
That he failed to represent the senti'
ment of the people of this county on
many important measures cannot be
questioned but on this score we are not
going to oppose Mr.. Whelan. We give
him credit for voting as he apparently
believed to be right but in so doing he
evidently failed to consider the wishes
of his constituents or to realize that
very many of them have SPLENDID
His controversy with the former
commissioner of the state highway de-
partment developed into hobby which
he rode to the death and ISL now en-
deavoring to resurrect that he may
have the opportunity Of repeating the
the stunt next winter. despite the fact
Mr.. Earle is out of Office and the work
of the present commissioner is giving
universal satisfaction throughout the
state Indeed, two or three townships
in this county have cheerfully accepted
the aid given for state reward roads
and others will do so another year thus
showing the people are coming to ap-
preciate the present road law so far as
it is governed by the state officials. 1t
does not seem that an intelligent voter
in the county could be induced to sup
port Mr.. Whalen for re nomination on
this score Neither do we take it that
his talk as to the harmony club" said
to exist in the legislature to the detri-
ment of the taxpayers of the state will
be considered seriously by single
voter when he comes to place his cross
opposite the name of one of the three
for representative. If such
an organization has existed in the past
or is to exist in the next legislat-
ure its influence would not and could
not be broken by man who
pursued the course Mr. Whelan did in
the house. Reforms are only brought
about by strong, courageous men who
can command the confidence of their
fellow men and whose influence is not
lissipated along lines previously me
toned.
Judging by the temper of the men
we have heard express opinions
there is little likelihood that Mr.. Whe.
Ian will have a seat in the next legisla.
ture. There is, however, more than an
even possibility that he may be the
Of the Republican party owing
to the fact that the vote of those op-
posed to him will be divided between
two candidates. Messrs. Otto L. Sprague
Of this city, and James N. Mcbride of
township. With but one
Of these men in the contest the result
would not be in doubt for a single
If the members OF the Re.
publican party wish to make certain
that one of their number is to represent
this county they should quickly decide
who is the stronger candidate and then
pull unitediy for that man in opposi.
ton to Mr.. Whelan. It seems to us
that Mr.. Sprague is today in the lead
,pI that ha mill coc<;u.a - v-o- 4.