The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-04-15
The State Press On
0sborn's Retirement

II is a manly letter in which Chase
$. Osborn announces that he will not
accep, denomination for the office
OF governor OF Michigan this year
This voluntary action on his part was
not unexpected His single term has
already been OF great value to the
state. He has lifted the governor
ship out OF the slough OF incompe-
tency and inefficiency into which II
had descended.
The best feature OF his farewell 10
the Office Is found In the fact, hither'
10 officially unrecognized IN Michi'
gan, that he exalts the citizen above
the partisan. This is the beginning
of new era. The seed Is sown. how
soever long IL may be in fructifying,
growing and ripening into the harvest
OF better condition OF public AFFAIRS
for the whole people.
Since Pingree's time, Osborn has
been the only governor the state has
had who has gained nationwide
reputation; and in every respect he is
better man and governor than was
! Pingree The political stables OF the
state were awfully dirty when Chase
S. Osborn became its chief executive
He promised 10 clean" them and he
has done his best. The state was
! bankrupt when he entered the office
fand he will leave IL on the last OF
next December out OF debt and with
n surplus.
For number OF years the state has
Z 4. la h. -fxFE
spirit that formerly characterized the
people OF Michigan. For this the
political machines in number OF
senatorial districts are blamable.
That body has been the chief obstacle
to progressive legislation during Gov.
Osborn's term. Too many senators
have represented interests-not the
people
While the governor has accomp-
lished much, yet some OF the merit
orious methods he proposed for max
ing the power OF the people more eff
fective in both state and national af-
fairs failed of enactment, through
the hostility of a minority OF the
senator's; and IL is unfortunate for
the Democracy of the state that the
three senators who We're labeled
Democrats" constituted part of the
obstructive senatorial minority.
What will be the effect OF Gov. Os-
born's retiracy from the field of con-
fiict? This question comes 10 the
minds OF many citizens who care less
for party and more for the state.
Probably the state, politically and
morally, will lapse into the old and
regrettable condition of perfunctory
and strictly partisan offlcialism; and
il certainly will unless the party in
power shall select another strong
man 10 carry forward 10 completion
the creditable work already begun
Jackson Patriot.
Gov. Osborn is out with an an
nouncement that he will not be can
didate for denomination He covers
considerable space in making the
same, including the astounding OBJ.
servation that some Republicans are
mean, but some Democrats are worse
That was awfully unkind. This leaves
the field open. with Kelly and Mus
selman as probable competitors fol-
governor in the Republican pri
maries.-The Charlotte Leader.
Very often the reformer is not ap
preciated. More often he is received
with sticks and stones. Luther found
II so, Cromwell found IL SO. Wash
ington found it so. So did Garrison
so did John Brown, so did Lincoln
so did Roosevelt. Hughes, Wilson and
many others. II may be that the
people do not appreciate what Os
born has done TO check avaricious
politics in Michigan, and unless they
show that they do We see no reason
why the governor should make
martyr OF himself The fight for good
government will so on, though it may
be slower OF achievement without a
fearless and militant leader.-Saginaw
Daily News.