The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-01-26
Unfaithfui Official.
Continued from page

Il
'clean up" 1t is not always pleas
ant task, but it is my duty and l do
not shrink from It. In my opinion
| Mr.. Shields hos been VIGOROUSLY lax
in the performance of his duties, &
in addition has uone improper things
| IL is stated that he has undertaken
to represent the brewery interests in
the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in
their political opposition to me. In
my message to the legislature and
several times since becoming Cover
nor | have called attention to the
danger of brewery domination in
Michigan. / expect to continue to
point to that danger.
| / wish in this connection to briefly
refer to history. For years the rail
roads of Michigan were in the politi-
cal business. They were a most pow
erful force and dominated the state.
They had the services of the best at
| torneys in the state. Their organiza-
| ton was directed by the most acute
| ly developed selfish genius. But the
people rose against them, demanded
their rights, wrested the state from
For long time the Tax Commits
sion claimed it had no power of init
| iative in the supervision of appraised
values in the various counties of I'll
state. I contend that they always
had the power; but because there
vas doubt as TO whether they had
sufficient power or not the last legis-
10 aytA a I'm nct
without limit. This law took effect
Aug. 2, 1911. No attempt was made
to take advantage of It; no organic
ing work of an initiatory character
was done until about the time the
tentative report of the Special Taxa
alton Inquiry Commission was made.
Then the Tax Commission appeared
to become unusually active.
Several times during 1911 COM
plants against Mr.. Shields have been
made to me as Governor. He heard
Of the Investigations that followed;
and it was reported to me that on
numerous occasions while drinking
he boosted that the Governor would
do nothing in his case because "he
had something on the Governor.
learned of this threat for the first
time a fortnight ago. / sought an
interview with Mr.. Shields, which
was not brought about until he came
to my office last Monday, January Il,
for the purpose of submitting to me
the tentative railroad appraisals.
This was three days before he made
his defensive statement. When We
the consideration of that
matter I told him wished to have a
very plain talk with him. I told
him Of the charges that had been
made against him; that l was inves-
them and if found them to
be true I would remove him from Of
fee. told him, furthermore, that |
his irresponsible threat made against |
me would only move me to greater |
activity; that If he knew any thing |
about me that the public did not
know wished it published. ! told |
him that, while did not make great
err claims to perfection than the aver-t
age man, my life 10 an open book,
and so it Is. ~ 4 = |
Among the charges made against
Mr.. Shields Is that he has used his
office to intimidate political oppon-
snts. ] have not Investigated these
charges sufficiently to come to a con-
,lusion as to their foundation. One
specific charge lis that stwhen his
friend Mr.. Miller. OF. Houghton, was
opposed for the presidency of the
village of Houghton by Mr.. Bawden,
Manager for Stone and Webster, of |
Boston, who own certain electric
railroad properties in Houghton
county, letter was written to Stone
and Webster advising them to have
Mr.. Bawden withdraw or their prop
critics would be attended to. Mr..
Bawden did not withdraw, and the
.axation of the Stone and Webster
properties was materially increased.
It Is not claimed that the Stone and
Webster properties are overtaxed.
rhe contention is that the increase
lid not come until after they had Of
'ended Mr.. Shields.
1t is further charged that he made
other threats against people who
nave opposed him. The detail of
.hese charges may be referred to
ater.
1t came to my attention sometime
lgo that nephew of Mr.. Shields had
been appointed attorney for the Pere
Railroad. This nephew is
4 very worthy and capable young
nan. However, Detroit and Michi-
gan are full of capable and worthy
ioung attorneys who are not related
% Mr.. Shields. There has been a
great deal of talk to the effect that
his appointment was made for the
purpose of influencing Mr.. Shields
treatment Of the Pere Marquette
properties in the matter of taxation.
do not charge that an attempt was
willingly made to bride Mr.. Shields
through favors shown his nephew. l
10 charge, however, that men in pub
lie Office are sometimes influenced by
indirect methods that are not in
themselves improper, but the result
IF which Is inimical to the public in