Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-10-10


preference primary, the home rule act
for cities, villages and townships, and
the employers liability law
While Mr.. Musselman spoke high
ly of his opponent, Woodbridge n.
Ferris, calling him cultured gen
tleman,' he made it clearly under
stood that he believed that politics
should be divorced from the admin
istration of the states affairs, that
the administration of the state was
business mans work, one who had
proven himself thoroughly practical
and was not full of academic theories.
Mr.. Musselman also spoke highly OF
Watkins, Progressive National can
didate for Governor, but that Mr..
Watkins had turned down the party
that had honored and favored him
and had Mr.. Watkins wanted the
nomination for governor he should
have gone into the Republican prim-
airy and put the proposition squarely
before the people
The impression that Mr.. Mussel-
man made upon the people of this
city was highly complimentary to the
man. His open countenance and
honest, straightforward manner is
winning him more votes every day.
Following the address of MIR. Mus
selman, Hon. Patrick Kelley was in
PRODUCED by Chairman J.. A. Sharp.
Mr.. Kelley did not touch upon per-
sonalities or enter into the discussion
of the platforms of the different par
ties. He chose TO take party history
from ats inception and show that it
was the only practical way to run
a free government. He pointed out
that where there were two strong
parties upon every question deci-
sion would be made by majority,
but where there were a number of
small parties, small minorities were
enabled to rule.
Asking the question why the par
ties hang together though the per-
sonnet is constantly changing, Mr..
Kelley said, at is because of the
great underlying principle, and this
principle if the Republican party is
the belief in building up labor and
industries bf protection. "You can
change from one plan to the other
any time you want. If you want the
conditions of 1892, you can have
them. You have two ways TO do it
this year. You can vote, directly for
the Democrats or you can divert the
Republican vote TO a third party and
thus give the Democrats plurality.
The speaker took up the situations
in Vermont and Maine, which states
the Republicans carried in the recent
state elections. In Vermont, how
ever, there was a third party ticket,
supported in the campaign by tours
of Roosevelt, Beveridge and Pinchot
through the state The Republicans
came out with 5000 plurality In
Maine, which went Democratic two
years ago, the Republicans carried by
5000 Had there been a third party
in Maine, the Democrats would have
won handily. This was followed by
a strong plea for party unity.
The strong gain in prosperity since
1897 was shown by Mr.. Kelley in
comparison of statistics. In 1897 the
wealth Of the farmers totaled at
twenty billion dollars. The total
wealth of the farmers at>present is
forty-one billion dollars. Thus in the
fifteen years since the Democrats
went OUT of power the farmers OF the
United States have accumulated
more than the farmers of the two
hundred seventy-seven years pre-
vious.
Though President Taft favored
reciprocity, the Republicans didn't
The Democratic congress put it
through for President Taft" said Mr.
Kelley Then he proceeded to show
that free trade with the world, the
principle Of Democracy, would be
the result OF a Democratic admins
tration and he asked the people pres
ent who were so bitterly opposed to
Canadian reciprocity if they favored
this free trade with the world
Claiming that principles of party
are greater and stronger than per-
sonalities, that principles are the
things that hold parties together,
though the leaders be supplanted by
others, and asking the Republicans
that they stand shoulder TO shoulder
again and march step to step and in
the end bring this country to the
summit of prosperity, Mr. Kelley
closed his remarkable address. When
he had finished the audience burst
forth in tremendous applause, show
ing more enthusiasm than has been
shown at any political meeting held
in this city during the present cam
pagn.
Both speakers were introduced by
/. A. Sharp, who presided as chair
man over the meeting In his re-
marks he said, 1--WE salute you at the
beginning of the campaign. The Re
fNYhltc NayfU ts ,ortu.