The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-07-05
WELCOME HOME
FOR R. Il. SHIELDS
TAX COMMISSION CHAIRMAN
GETS OVATION ON HIS RE-
TURN FROM OSBORN
HEARIN

A welcome surprising I'm enthusiasm
and curdElity any ever extended 10
any private resident of Houghton Tor
many years and equallirs almost that
riven the soldiers of Houghton coun
~ on their return from the spanish
war. was accorded to Robert II.
shields chairman of the state tax conf
mission. on his arrival in lioughton
"Wednesday night after undergoing an
examination at Lansing on charges
preferred by Governor Osborn who
sought to remove him from office
\ group of citizens headed by Re-
publican County Chairman William
.F. Miller conceived the idea on We'd
aesday of giving MIR. Shields a rousine
welcome and they got busy during the
day to arranFe for meeting the 100
South shore train on its arrival. The
Quincy oand was engaged and the
news Of what was on foot quickly
spread, so that when the train pulled
into Houehton two hours late there
was an immense crowd In the vicinity
of the depot and on the streets. When
Nh. Shields stepped from ;he ear,
there was a shout of greeting that
would have been behtting a victorious
general returning triumphant from the
wars. the band played See the Con
quering Hero Comes" and every steam
whistle on Portage Lake, on bodtS,
romdries. shons, locomotives and
breweries added their noise to the din,
while automobile horns footed a STAG
cato accompaniment to the general
chorus of welcome.
Friends Of Mr.. Shields rushed for
ward t. shake hands and mcted
concentrations. but these were heaG
ed of by Chairman Miller OF the recep-
ton committee who hustled the tax
commissioner into an automobile. y
parade Of citizens and automobiles and
the Quincy band marshaled by Colonel
James \. Cox, former adiutant gen
craI of the Michigan national guard,
was then formed as an escort 20 MIR.
shields to his home in west Houghtou.
The residence had been decorated 70,
the Fourth with Japanese lanterns and
presented festive appearance appro-
pirate to the occasion. After MIR.
Shields had been given time to greet
his family, Mr.. Shields acquiesced to
demands for speech and responded
as follows:
"Neighbors and friends: The eN'
preston of your loyalty is worth a
great deal more to me than political
hunors. would rather have your
respect than any Office in your gift
have Just gone through hard siege
YOU know something of how hard II
must have been some men would
rather resicn but | conld not resisn
under ire knowing that I had to come
back home and face YOU ! do not
care particularly for the office but
am like the lamb in the fable
Here Mr.. Shields recited Aesop's
fable Of The wolf and the lamb to IL
lusrtatc the position in which he wa'
placed during the investigation jus
closed. Continuing he said:
THE man who conducted the invcs
tigation was judge. jury complaining
witness and prosecutor. This was
hare position to place me in but
went through il all because ! know
that | have done nothing that coulC
prevent me from coming home anC
looking YOU straight in the eye.
have mover sold my political convic'
tions and my record dlrine the eieh
years / have heen tax commissioner
is open"
Mr. Shields then asked 10 he es
cuscd. pleading WEAKNESS and after ;
final selection by the band the GROVE
dispersed.