The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-08-26
WILL REMOVE CORRUPT OFFICIALS
Osborn's Plain Statements as to Conditions in Mich-
gan Pleases the People.

ldulnOfiIeu anu Si6ucu otdtcucHt.
Inasmuch as some attention has
been paid to the question of my poll
tical relationship to Governor War
ner and the press has given the sub
Iject much valuable space it may be
worth while to make complete and
connected recital, in as concise terms
as possible, OF such relationship.
To me the matter seems to be of
mo Importance whatever and Is even
more amusing than interesting. l
am so conscious there is nothing
in my public record that Is embar-
other that / am content to have both
my public and private life scruteniz-
ed and analysed to the extent of the
minutest detail. / think this is due
the public from any candidate, and l
not only wish the people to know
that my public record is good but az
so that my private life is without D
serious flaw. l do not wish to as
sumo to be better than the average
lgood citizen, but l most earnestly in
vite examination into both my public
and private character.
The first time that / ever met Fred
M. Warner was at Lansing while he
was a member of the senate. ] had
gone to Lansing in the interest of
my home city, Sault Ste Marie, for
the purpose of securing legislation
that would release any claim the
state might have upon the accrued
tolls on hand in the treasury Of the
st. Mary's Falls Ship Canal at the
| time of the transfer of the state
canal to government control. 1t
may be remembered that while the
state conducted the st. Mary's Falls
Ship Canal tolls were charged. When
the canal was transferred, as above
referred to, with all its belongings,
to the government there was a fund
of 100000 on hand. This fund the
state held in custody and did not
pay it over to the government at the
time the other property was trans
ferred. The 500 is an ideal point for
a marine hospital, the mangnitude
of the volume of the shipping there
being we'll known. 1t was consider
ed by the city that if the canal mon
ey belonging to the government, as
they supposed, could be secured for
the purpose an additional appropria
ton from the government could be
obtained and government marine
hospital could be erected at the 500
adequate to the great needs that eX-
listed then and still exists. The city
requested me to go to Lansing with
others in order to have this fund re-
above could be worked out. Repre-
sentative Conner of the Chippewa
district easily passed suitable bill
through the house. 1t was not
thought there would be any opposi-
tion in the senate. All at once, how
ever, opposition arose and it was led
by Fred M. Warner. He finally sue
ceeded in defeating the measure 1
was so earnestly and enthusiastical-
ly advocating, by very narrow
margin, and had the moneys involv-
ed formally transferred from the st.
Mary's Fall Canal fund to the state
treasury. This was about twelve
years ago as nearly as I can remem-
Der without having opportunity to
consult the records; it may have
been longer. / was so disguised
with Mr.. Warmers unfair and unjust
attitude, as / regarded it, that l then
and there made up my mind that he
was small, unfair and unsafe man.
In justification of my position it is
just as we'll to interpolate that the
United States government has sued
the state for the funds. / am not
informed as to the progress the case
has made
My dislike of Warner became
more acute while l was commission
er Of railroads. He was a member
of the railroad crossing board of
which / as railroad commissioner |
was chairman. At that time he be- |
longed to the old reactionary wing |
of the Republican party and opposed |
to Pingreeism, which l espoused, |
and he was controlled very evidently |
by the railroad interests which were |
dominant in the state at that time. |
AS commissioner of railroads my rec
ord will show that initiated several |
policies, among them
one to separate dangerous grade |
crossings in the state and prevent as
far as possible the crossing of |
steam and electric roads at grade.
1t was an era of much electric road
construction. In almost every in
stance when matters came before
the crossing board they were oppos-
ed by Warner, who had by this
time become secretary of state and
by virtue of that Office member Of
the board. This served to further
strain my political and personal re-
lations with Mr.. Warner.
At the time that Governor Pin
gree's second term expired / became
a candidate for governor This was
ten years ago. / failed of nomina-
ton and served one term more as
of railroads and retir-
ed from active politics. About the
same time / sold the 500 News and
have not had cent of ownership In
hat paper for eight years. About
he same time / became associated