The Calumet news., 1910-09-01
Statement to the Voters
By Representative William r. Oates.

islative experience and am personally
acquainted with every member of the
Legislature. Whether can serve the
District better at probably the most
critical period of its history. IL for
the voters to decide. 1t was a sacriaea
for me, financially to represent YOU I'm
the last House, IL win be again II re-
turned, but / feel owe 1t to my Dis
trict to show my willingness to do
tho right thing.
| Now what about this Tonnage Tax?
| 1t is the judgment of all intelligent
observers of political conditions I'm this
State, that this so-called Tonnage Tax.
one of the most important measures
affecting the mining industry of the
| Upper Peninsula will be introduced in
the next Legislature. II needs no ar
gument to convince any voter that any
additional burdens OF taxations placed
upon our mines, not only affects the
| employer but workingmen, business
men and all others dependent upon
| the mines for n livelihood. II IL pro-
posed to place n specific tax of one
cent a pound on every pound OF con-
per produced I'm the Upper Peninsula.
What does this mean? 1t means that
Houghton County alone would pay
more than two million dollars I'm taxes,
or in other words, our mines of this
county would be compelled to pay 40
per cent of the net profits, for taxes
This is the most important matter for
our consideration. 1t involves our
bread and butter. for IL the mines are
compelled TO pay 40 per cent OF their
net profits for taxes, IL is a foregone
conclusion that II will seriously affect
the laboring man as well as the mine
owners.
Now voters. il Is up TO you and if
you think / can represent you better
than one who has had no experience I'm
Legislative matters, / shall be glad TO
do anything in my power for the good
| of the cause. If you decide my oppo-
nent can represent you better, | shall
| cherfully accept your decision.
An attempt has been made to pre-
Judice voters against me with the ar
gument that am corporation man.
ord i'm the last House. voted for a
law to tax the telegraph and tele-
phone companies. This measure was
/ strongly opposed by the corporations.
l voted for the Primary system OF
nominating officers. A peoples meas
ure. | voted to create the public do
main commission. A sane conservation
/ N IN hxa
of Labor, to limit the hour of employ
ment of women and children and to
regulate the employment OF labor and
all the amendments thereto. Did vote
against laboring interests? See House
Journal, Pages 124S-51 also Page 1856.
In recent pamphlet containing my
record I'm the Legislature my opponent
says ] voted against the bill to provide
for the grading OF salaries for certain
clerical positions i'm the several depart
ments In the state Government ! GER
tainly did. but supported a bill to es-
tablish the State Civil Service Com
mission. to regulate the Civil Service
of the state of Michigan. and make an
appropriation therefor. See House
Journal, Page 1905. I voted with 22
others against striking out all after the
enacting clause. In other words | am
IN favor of Civil Service. Would my
opponent vote for the bill that he said
| voted against?
My opponent states in this same
pamphlet that l was present and did
not vote on the bill to prohibit the
manufacture, sale or use of adulterated
cigarettes and prohibiting the use OF
cigarettes by minors. on Page 1888
the Journal states that l was absent
at the time this vote was taken. How
does my opponent reconcile this state
ment with the one saying that was
present and did not vote?
My Legislative record shows that
strictly attended to my duties and
was continuously on the job. 1 served
on some of the most important Com
mittees. The entire Upper Peninsula
has only l2 Representatives out OF 100
and SIS others must be considered be-
fore any laws are passed or defeated.
No mans record Is absolutely perfect,
but / did what thought best. II my
experience and acquaintanceship belts
me to represent you. II the voters de-
sire to send me back let me say to you
now that / am not hamperd by any
obligation. not Identified or tied to any
corporation and shall do what con- >
slider is the square thing for employ
ers, laboring men and the interests or
my District. l shall not go to Lansing
as the Representative OF any interests
or clique. shall fight the Tonnage
Tax with the best there Is in me.
am squarely and fairly in favor of
compensation act for the better pro-
lection of those who are injured in the
course OF their employment.
On account of insufficient time, /
have rot gone into all the matters I
should like to discuss with my consti-
tuents. but ask all who can conven-
iently do so to examine my Legislative
record and I believe you will say that
] represented you honestly. squarely
and fairly.
Yours very truly.
william r. oates.