The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-10-20
! E0g, OSBORN DEFENDS PLAN
To INCREASE THE TAXES OF
s MICHIGAN CORPORATIONS
Should Pay Extra Sum For Spe-
cial Privileges Bestowed
BY State, He Says.
TALKS TO BUSINESS MEN.
Declares For Initiative, Referen'
dunn ard Recall; Mum On
Special Session.
TALKS TO BUSINESS MEN.

Before a representative company OF
business men and manufacturers, all
members OF the Detroit Board oil
Commerce, at a luncheon in the Hotel
Cadillac, Thursday noon, Gov. Chase
s. Osborn delivered an address, the
feature OF which was defense OF the
proposed plan to increase the taxes
paid by corporations He argued that,
inasmuch as special privileges are
conferred by the state on corpora.
tions, IL was no more than right that
they sholld pay taxes according 10
the DEMENT'S received.
Milton A. McRae, president OF the
Board OF Commerce, presided and in
troduced the governor, who was given
a hearty greeting. The governor spoke
as follows:
Yvu represent the most potent ma
terial force In this great city Your
achieyemeuts cannot pe measured ace
QuaielS because there is no determi-
nation of the indirect results that How
from the spirit, atmosphere and har-
nony you create Primarily. L under
stand. your energies are directed along
material lines, but secondarily, yoEr
Influence upon the ethical and moral
character OF Detroit and Michigan Is
not 10 De forgotten or moderated
Every mar here is a good citizen IS
he understands citizenship The teB-
dency is TO lift this body 10 the plane
OF the highest type among you, Grad
ually you Will take a greater part in
the political life OF the city and the
state.
If our present conditions are unsat.
/. tsfaCtory--and while they are improved,
they ARE not perfect--a portion OF ne
reason may be found In the fact tina 2
too nanny of our strongest men have
not done their political duty You
have permitted professional oNsictanS
self-seekers and those OF questionable
ambitions 10 assume too importap;
places In public government. IL tnls
class had conducted the private bust
ness of the country, and the men who
have developed business TO sucn high
standard had administered publio
work, | am not sure that conditions
woui.. be as bearable as they are now
We must have instruments OF susl-
ness in society, or the structure falls
Coco government can only be erected
upor good business. only one Trofes-
sional class has made specially Of
a. nebt to them for what they have
done Had tt not been for -treni,-tf1e
class purely political would have
weakened the country, or brought y
quickly to a pass demanding general
interest on the part OF all citizens The
burden OF good government having
fallen upon the shoulders or che law
yeIs OF the country, the natural re-
suit is that we are a government OF
LAWYERS. Everywhere--in Washington
In Lansing. in all OF the state capi-
to!s--the lawyers dominate and direct
Other professions must do their share
Business men, physicians, preachers
Professors and all who enjoy tbs
blessing of American citizenship mus
engage in directing public activities
This wilt bring about better balanc,
and cure whatever tendency there ma!
be 70 lawyeritis.
Popular Government Growth.
nj "a A W.T.
Failures OF the past may be successes
OF today and tomorrow under Differ
ont apd more favorable conditions. The
pure democracy of Syracuse and tLe
republics OF Greece and Rome, and
others OF ancient and medieval his
tory. failed because OF the low aVers &c
Communication was slow. inte.cours,
was clumsy public schools had not
done their work, the printing press had
not been started. The agencies D; pv,
ular education had not been born. New
people are enabled. because all car
read and have common access To tn,
Information OF the time. 10 think ant
act en- masse. This thinking and act
ing must be trammeled.
believe in the initiative, referep.
dun. anc recall, but l do not think
their II auGuration and application viii
directly or of a necessity quickly cur:
Fundamental evils The Initiative a
simply an extension OF indisputHSI,
right OF petition. The referendum II
. n IoFlnul OF the SOW
ereiCn right and power OF the peeps
with legal machinery for their eNpres
sion Tho recall gives to the masses
the right now jealousy guarded 10y tn,
intivicuel OF discharging unfaithfu
servants at Irregular Intervals Elec
lions 1T stated intervals are a regular
form Of the recall In use today. W IN,
masses can be entrusted with the re.
call at regular intervals there is nc
reason apparent TO my mind WIZ theN
may not exercise that function IT ary
time IL has been argued thar the