The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-04-12


/ do not know very much about
this, or care about 1t, because ] hold
the state above the party. i would
wish to be blamed personally for
any harmful things I may have done
and / would wish the Republican
party to be given credit for any good
things that / may have accomplish
ed or endeavored to achieve. am
grateful for the endorsements that
l have received but do not hold
them as being important. In my
opinion the coming state conven-
ton, which / hope will favor Theo-
dore Roosevelt for the Republican
presidential nomination, will not
need to endorse my administration.
would prefer to have IL analyze
what / have done up to the present
time, and If there is anything to be
condemned to speak out boldly and
surely and state the facts.
/ still think the Republican party
Is by far the best instrument of gov
eminent in this country. In spite OF
the opposition of some Republicans
We are dragging the party back to q
place where the people will control
1t. It was unquestionably drifting
away. Bad men had flocked about
1t and come into 1t and were using
1t and they are still in 1t and are
trying to use it. 1t Is the duty of
every honest Republican to see that
they are not permitted to Go so. J
think the special sessions Of the leg
islature this year have given proof
of the superiority of the Republican
party. The present legislature is
in my opinion the best legislature
in capacity and morals IN the his
tory of Michigan.
Out OF the one hundred and thirty
two members more than a hundred
belong to the honor roll as patri-
otic,' honest servants and faithful
representatives Of the people. Not
all of the thirteen senator's who vot-
ed against the presidential primary
are bad men. ! think, however, that
they are all misguided and some of
the measures that were lost will be
enacted as laws within a few years.
They would have been passed at the
special sessions If it had not been
for the actions Of few recreant Re-
publicans supported by mischievous
renegade Democrats My contact
with the legislature has convinced
me that no matter how bad some of
the Republicans are, some of the
Democrats are worse. For good and
efficient government the people must
still look to the Republican party.
/ have made the confession to
myself that If I had not stated I |
would not be candidate for a sec
ond term before taking office, I fear
that I would have been dissuaded or
deferred from doing some of the
things have aimed to do. That is |
one of the reasons why I think it |
would not be honest for me to |
change my mind at this time. ri
wish also to confess that some of |
the things that I have endeavored to |
do have been much more popular |
than thought for. I really. sup
posed that by this time would have |
been blown entirely out of any con-
;ideration for reelection.
was elected upon an issue OF |
Clean Up" To clean up Michigan
loes not merely mean to remove from
'ffice a few unworthy officials. 1t |
more directly concerns the cure OF |
he causes that make for bad men
Ind worse service. The liquor in
erests of the state, and especially
he brewery interests, had become
arrogant and had sought to. dominate
he state in a most high handed way.
They have been taught their place
n measure and will be given fur
her lessons in the future.
When / was inaugurated 1 found
he state nearly million dollars in
lebt. When / will have concluded
ny term of office on December 81 of
his year the state will be entirely
'ut of debt and there will be good
eserve in the treasury.
1t Is true that in some admins
rative departments there has been
n increase of expense. This is not
more true of departments under my
irect administration than of elect
We departments. The fact is that
We have been doing more business.
n my own Office the force has been
ably overworked, much to my dis
ress. The Office has been open from
even-thirty in the morning until
TX at night and often until mid
light. Much of the force has worked
all these hours. If there
5 any criticism 1t may be honestly
harged that / have overworked the
xecutive Office force. Personally. /
ave given every moment of my time
ince / have been elected to the state
nd shall continue to do so until the
expiration of my term. 1 have net
,iven a minutes attention to my
'ersonal or private business affairs.
t has been a pleasure to do .tis.
have enjoyed the work of the gov
so far and expect to con-
inue to be happy in 1t. have
ven had real pleasure in the fric-
ions of the Office. There is great
abstraction in fighting for princi-
les, or what one thinks are princi-
lies. There is even much to be II