The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-07-29
A SQUARE DEAL.
osborn's Record, Life and Acts Bear
the Light.

The Daily Herald-Leader, of Me-
nominee. makes the following, inter-
esting comment on the gubernatorial
situation:
Depending upon ignorance and
prejudice. an effoyt is being made up
on the part of those newspapers
which are supporting Lieutenant Gov
ernor Kelley to injure the guberna-
torial candidacy Of Chase S. Osborn
because of his residence. north of the
Straits of Macinaw. The success of
this, move depends upon two things,
first, popular ignorance of upper PEN
insula geography, and second, lack of
acquaintance with Mr.. Osborn and
his record. Both these occasions, for
opposition to Osborn will have dis
appeared before this campaign is
over.
Chippewa county, Chase Osborn's
home, is an agricultural county. 1t
has a larger acreage of arabic soil
than any county in the state save
one 1t is removed from the nearest
mine by over two hundred miles. 1t
is as reasonable to say that the peo
pie of Berrien county in southwest
ern Michigan would be governed by
influences which directly affected the
city of Detroit as to say that a resi-
dent of Chippewa county was gov
erned by what affected conditions on
or
county is not only wholly an agricul-
tural county, but its population is
largely rural. There are two men en-
gagged in agricultural pursuits to one
engaged in, any other line of bust
ness. There are more oranges in
Chippewa county than in many coun-
ties below the straits. So much for
argument that mining influence con-
trolls in Chase Osborn's home.
AS to Mr.. Osborn personally, he
owns not dollars interest in mine
in the state of Michigan and while il
elected governor, he will insist upon
square treatment for mining inter-
ests, he will insist upon this with no
greater vigOr than he will upon
square treatment for the farmer in
Clinton county, or the manufacturer
in Detroit or Grand Rapids.
Now as to Mr.. Osborn's record.
The greatest and most significant
fight ever made in Michigan for equal
taxation was that led by the late Gov
ernor Hazen S. Pingree. 1t was be-
cause of Pingree's efforts that the
system of specific taxation, so pro-
life of abuse, was given it's quietus
in Michigan and the ad valorem sys-
tenn put into general use. Where
was Chase Osborn in that fight?
At that time Chase Osborn owned
and published newspaper, the 500
News. The News was the first pa
per in the state to come out for
Hazen S. Pingree for governor. 1t
announced his candidacy. Chase Os-
born led the fight for Pingree in the
upper peninsula. Chippewa county
Sent a representative to the legisla-
ture pledged to the Pingree taxa.
ton ideas. 1t was the bill intro
duced by Chippewa county's repre-
sentative, William Chandler, that
finally became a law, putting the
fight for Pingree in the upper pen
tnsula. Chippewa county sent
representative to the legislature
pledged to the Pingree taxation ideas.
1t was the bill introduced by Chip
pewa county's representative, William
Chandler, that finally became a law,
putting the railroads upon an ad
valorem basis. In that fight, the
mining corporations Of upper Michi-
gan were unfriendy to the Pingree
proposals and opposed the Pingree
candidacy.
After Pingree became governor, he
called Chase Osborn to Lansing as
his railroad commissioner, thus Civ
ing him the best and most powerful
place in his official family. AS rail-
road commissioner, Chase Osborn
served the state and his chief with
courage and vigor His admini5tra-
ton OF the Office was such as to
command Governor Pingree's warm
and often-expressed approval.
Inasmuch as Chase Osborn will in
wade every county in the state before
this campaign is done and inasmuch
as his record Is daily becoming more
widely known, this campaign against
him will fail of its purpose COM
pletely. For the people when they
see and hear Osborn will instinct
lively recognize him for what he Is,
a man without sectional prejudice, a
man who loves and practices square
dealing and In whose hands the In
terests of the whole state and all the
people will be safe and secure.