The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1912-03-15

wins MS revenue IN any manner
possible and his only concern Is not
TO be caught at his repeated vio-'
lation of all tho laws that make
for human decency and protection.
He sells drugged liquors, he rolls
and robs his drunken victims. he
profits from the prostitution piled
by human dereiicts, he harbors the
white slave traffickers. he gives po-
lice officers hush mony, he encour-
ages every form of gambling and
brewer master in anyway possible.
Just SO he gets II. The snug brew
er master sits in his office or In
his parlor and takes this blood
money as did the absentee landlord
In Ireland, without thought of Its
source so long as II is paid to
him on time. and IT must be paid.
Time TO Curb Traffic.
1T is within your power to re-
move this breeding place of vice.
the brewery owned saloon, the evil
baited man trap that Us set TO
catch the weak and the unwary.
Pass a law prohibiting and punisn-
and you Will have done more for the
welfare OF Michigan than any other
legislature in its history; you Will
have done a real act for the protec-
ton and conservation of our sons
and daughters and those who work
until they are overweary and those
who, though older, are like chill
dren in their weakness and lack of
self-control. and finally you Will
have done the only thing that Will
give the so-called decent saloon-
keeper chance TO make of his
business legitimate calling. If such
is within the power of mankind.
"Unless you do this and curb the
low saloon curse, the day will soon
come when the people of Michigan
will rise in righteous wrath and
wipe out all of the saloons by state
wide prohibition. which obtained in
this state from 1856 to 1876. Far
down in the hearts of the people
they are moral and desire That
which Is right and wholesome. IL
they can cure without fanaticism
or resorting to extremes they will
do so. but. in time they will cure.
Also Curb of Bonding Company.
II also authorize and request
your consideration for bill TO
amend section one of act 266 OF the
public acts of 1895, entitled An act
relative to bonds and other obliga-
tions, with surety or sureties and
the acceptance as surety thereon, OF
companies qualified TO act as such,
and the release of such surety and
the safe depositing OF assets for
which such surety may be liable
and to the charging by fiduciaries
OF the expense Of procuring sure
ties, and repeating all laws in con-
fiict Herewith
This proposed legislation has for
Its purpose the limitation OF that
lnquitous monopoly the Michigan
troit. The amendment TO the law
enabling this company TO under
write liquor dealers bonds IN force
the effect Of which could not have
been fully understood by the legis-
lature that passed it, gives the
Michigan Bonding e. Surety com
pany practically an exclusive
monopoly of the business of fur
nishing bonds for saloons in Michi-
gan.
This company is owned and con-
trolled by certain big brewers in
Michigan. 1t has capital of $780,
0O0 of which $250,200 is paid up In
cash. In lieu of other commissions
for organization, or in other words,
to pay those who promoted 1t in the
legislature, stock 10 the amount of
$4,000 was issued. making q total
paid capital of $2S5.200. IL has on
deposit with the state treasurer
100000 In interest bearing secur-
tiles. This interest of course is
controlled by the Michigan Bonding
4 surety company It has paid In
claims since organization the small
sum OF s16.070. It's net earnings
since organization April A, 1908,
amount TO SlJ6,Sl6.S2. SO great has
been its influence that it has es-
capped with taxation on value OF
only $12,S20. It's total tax for 1917
city, state, county and road
amounted to SeS767.
Dangerous Monopoly.
The law creating It was drawn
in manner TO prevent and avoid
competition, and 1t has had exactly
the result anticipated By It's mon
opoly IL has a peculiar and sinister
hold upon and influence over the
saloon-keepers OF the entire state.
They must pay double the amount
usually charged for other bonds;
they must do the bidding of the
Michigan Bonding d surety COM
pany or obtain no bonds at all. The
connection mus formed between the
brewery owned bonding company
and the saloon keeper Is clearly APP
parent. IL makes for u complete
organization that can be used most
effectively TO head on or even de-
Stroy any person or persons aim
ing toward corrective Legislation.
In every community IT has we'll
para lawyers as agents They are
expected TO do. ana do do. the bid
ding or TINS bonding company.
Damage suits against saloons are
fought with vigor and ability
that could not be commanded in
any other way. resulting in delay
and defeat of these who have been
damaged by the saloonkeepers,
ward sons and daughters or wives
Of drunken husbands. On February
81. 1910. the board Of directors of
this Michigan Bonding d surety Co.
adopted the following resolution.
which perfectly explains It's policy:
BE 1t resolved. That In order not
to establish a precedent that settle
ments with the company are easy
TO obtain, II Is the sense OF this
meeting to continue appealing the
case for a Judgment more favorable
and the discouragemcnt of future
iitigants. This resolution is taken
from the official records OF the COM
pany. and explains why only $16,0T0
has been paid for claims in the
three and one-half years of its life
I'm the interest of the welfare or
the people of this state. the exist
ence of the Michigan Bonding &
Surety Co. as q political monopoly
should be made impossible under
the laws OF Michigan.
Other Liquidation Asked.
you are authorized to consider a
bill or bills amending the Mich
igan primary election law in such
manner as to make it include all
or any state offices now elective
and also to consider corrupt prac-
tice legislation pertaining to all or
any nominations and elections.
This message is in response to
house resolution No. is requesting
the same.
You are authorized and request