The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-12-31
State Politics


In review of the approaching ses-
sion of the legislature. Nimmo. I'm De-
troit saturday Night. whose comment
of political sort Is always interest
ing II not invariably Illuminating. de-
clares that Chase :. Osborn has man.
sized job cut out for him in promoting
any legislative reforms he may desire
10 see passed by the legislature. In the
execution OF this man-sized job. MINI
mo finds that Governor Osborn will be
afflicted with two weaknesses which
will impair his ability To put across the
aforesaid man-sized job.
The first weakness according to
Nimmo grows out of the fact that the
chairman of the state central commit
tee known TO be a close personal
friend OF the governor devoted almost
all of his time To the promotion OF Os-
born's election and practically none at
all to the minor candidates on the state
ticket. or TO candidates for the legis-
lature. This assertion provokes a
smile. A chairman who, i'm the last
campaign, devoted any time or atten-
ton, or gave any concern to the cleo
ton of the candidates on the state
ticket, except the head of the ticket
ought TO have been Oslerized. And this
bare assertion need not stand upon it's
own footing. IL is quite true as MINI
mo says, no particular effort was put
forth i'm behalf of the minor state/o Of
ficials by the state central committee.
and il is also quite true that they were
all elected by majorities ranging from
eighty to nearly a hundred thousand.
AS to legislative candidates Mr.
Nimmo is merely lacking in informa-
tion as any candidate for the legsla-
ture could advise him. A careful
study of the legislative situation in
every district was made by the COM
mittee and whenever danger threaten
ed strong efforts were put forth to aid
the candidates. 1t probably has not
occurred TO the usually observant
Nimmo that Charles T.. Townsend, |
whose popularity as a senatorial can
didate aided every legislative candi-
date in the state, was sent as a speak |
err almost exclusively into legislative |
districts where the democratic candi- |
dates seemed most formidable The |
Michigan legislature has one hundred1
and thirty-two members. OF these one |
hundred and sixteen are republican. |
The Legislature of Ohio, Indiana, New |
York and New Jersey went over
democratic. That doesn't
look as if the legislative campaign in
Michigan had been neglected.
The second weakness" according to
Night is found in Mr.. Os-
Dorn's admirable candor in announcing
hat he would not be candidate for
l second term as governor. Nimmo
igures that a governor who has but |
)ne terms nap to hand out will lack
n supporters among the legislators.
rhis estimate displays a complete mis-
of Governor Osborn's
Intentions and constitutes a gratuit-
,us insult to every member of the leg
stature who takes his duties seriously
md periodically and many will be
ound of this sort when the session
begins.
The announcement that he will not
Iccept a second term should make
lear to any man that the governor
,lect has no personal axes to grind He
obviously has no desire, nor does he
eel any need, to use patronage to
lchieve the reforms which he has de-
Jared the state needs. He doubtless
cells that public sentiment will be a
ar more efficient ally than political
zap. a sentiment which we are suffi-
iently unsophisticated TO believe in
md applaud.-Soo News.