The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-10-25
EvADES MOST
VITAL ISSUE
Candidate Watkins Avoids Refer
ence to Tonnage Tax

In at least one respect, the address
of State Senator Whitney Watkins
Progressive candidate for soveror, at
the Calumet Light Guard armory hast
evening. failed TO come up to expecta-
tions. Although he talked for fully
thirty minutes on state issues and
hurled n few hot shots into the camp
of political enemies, he failel to dis
cuss the one vital state issue Of the
campaign so far as the cor err country
and other mining districts of the up
per peninsula are concerned, namely
the tonnage tax. In view OF the fact
that Senator Watkins voted i'm favor Of
this specific tax which would impose
added burdens upon every miner as
well as mine shareholder. when II was
before the legislature, his frieEds of
this district had hoped ne would come
out sQuarely against 1t. but In this
they were disappointed. His only
statement which might be construed as
bearing on this issue was:
every big interest or industry in the
state is entitled To- correct and honest
representation. The representative who
fails to represent such interest is ?
knave. We want them To continue to
provide employment for the men they
now have engaged. We believe that
all special interests, the railroads,
farms and big companies are e3titled
10 just as much consideration as any
individual man or woman and no
more
This general statement was not
given in reference to the tonnage tax
issue and il is believed Senator Wat
kins' chance Of gaining local support
would have been improved had he
treated with the issue specifically, in
stead of evading it entirely
There was n large attendarce at
last nights rally, the armory being
lilled to the doors. Prior to Senator
Watkins address, Or. w =. Cornell of
Chicago spoke at length and after the
gubernatorial aspirant left to catch the
night train. w. t. Jones Of Cripple
Creek, Colorado. spoke briefly. Before
the opening of the rally. the Lsurium
band played a number Of selections on
the street \ male chorus oreo nized
by Harry Il. King rendered several Sc
ections at the armory and two vocal
numbes by Miss Leanora Linhoff were
highly appreciated
w. j. Reynolds presided as chair
man, aud in his opening remarks said
he admired Roosevelt because he was
always right on any question and be
cause as much as possible he com
PEELED all others To be right He snid
Roosevelt demanded the food manu-
facturers TO put proper statement of
the contents on labels and held Poose
welt up to the American boy as a model
of righteousness and truth and hon
esty.
Dr. w. y. Cornell of Chicago. in a
lengthy oration. reviewed the birth and
development of American liberty and
appealed to those present to practice
good citizenship. lie painted glowing
pictures of Patrick Henry. Daniel Web
ster, Henry Clay. stephen Douglas and
Abraham Lincoln and devoted the last
two minutes of his talk to an eulogy
of Roosevelt. In which he compared
him with those statesmen above men
toned and stated as his profound be-
lief that Roosevelt's fight Is inspired
by God
I'VE have found out there il a gov
ernment behind our government, which
is running Congress-" said DR. Cornell
No one denies that. The Democrats
want to tell YOU they are out Of tho
grip of the capitalists who have put OF
the statute books the laws they want.
cd but they are wrong. We have sounc
cut that the power of this nation u
vested in the people. not in their serv
ants. Both of the cid political parties
have been corrupted and this corrup.
ton has so infested the government
that YOU can't get the legislation de.
sired"
Senator Watkins discussed brief,
The history OF Mlchigan's fght for I
primary election and the fight thi
year for a presidential preference pri