The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-09-04

poru arc equally exalted. In Well
rounded education and in gubernatorial
dignity and in native talents. they bal
ance the scales. This is highly pleas
ing contemplation. 1t prophesies an
unusually enhghtening campaign.
But both cannot be favored There IL
no such thing as half and half ballot.
There must be individual selection
between these two strong men. What
shall be the deciding factorS2
First: INDIVIDUAL record in office.
Second: PARTY records and PARTY
purposes.
When Mr.. Osborn was Governor, he
drove state appropriations to a record.
breaking low water mark. He accom-.
plished splendid tax economy-NOT
at the expense of his successor, as has
been charged, who has to.shoulder a
budget which was large for the very
reason that its fore.runner was small
but because he applied rigid business
analysis to state appropriation bills and
insisted that NECESSITY rather than
DESIRE should be the measure of the
expenditure of the peoples money. 1t
was a wholesome land somewhat
unique) Michigan experience-wortby
of REPETITION (although NOT repeated
recently)
When Mr.. Osborn was Governor, he
took aggressive leadership in insisting
upon important legislative reforms. He
was a POSITIVE Governor. He fought
with bare knuckles for tangible &C.
complishment in line with promised
progress. Michigan will not soon for
get the vigor with which he sought a
presidential preference primary. And
the great Employers Liability and
Workmen's Compensation Law" will
always be perpetual monument to his
constructive faith in "humanizing" the
statutes. Michigan needs few VERY
IMPORTANT reforms still-notabiy
state budget system" of appropriations
and central purchasing and dis.
bursting agency"-snd it needs a Gov.
ernor who will LEAD In the accom-.
plishment of results.
(Are there any SUCH credentials to
justify preference for Mr.. FerrisD
When Mr.. Osborn was Governor he
established new measure of public |
service ideals. He worked con the job. "
He used veto" as we'll as ''signa-
ture' He scorned NEGATIVE acquies.
ence in the "other fellows" mistakes.
He visited EVERY state institution
and famlliarized himself with the
REAL problems of these great depart
ments for which he was responsible
as General Manager. His theory was
that his elevation was not mere
honor" He not only practiced upon
this theory himself; but-greatest &C
of all-he shook public
service in Michigan out of rut and
set new standards for officialdom all
the way down the line. Michigan's
profit from his administration in this
regard will continue to evidence itself
for years to come.
With perfect respect for the very
estimable gentleman from Big Rapids
who has been no more Of Flaw and
order" Governor than was the gentle.
man from The 500 before HINT would
seem to The Herald that the difficulty
Of choice on the basis of INDIVIDUAL
INTERNATIONAL RE. ORD must
Do resolved in favor of Chase s. Osborn.
This becomes emphatically necessary,
rom The Herald's point of view, when
he second factor-"PARTY record I
8 considered.
The vote in Michigan this fall will be
onstrued as referendum on the ma
ional policies of the national Democ. 3
acy. Despite complete lack of REAL z
between state and national Z
'sues, this situation will result and it 4
annot be avoided. If Gov. Ferris car d
les Michigan this fall, it will be said .
hat Michigan endorses the record y
which has been written by the ma. 4
lonal DEMOCRACY; and-because the n
ariff will overshadow all other issues II
lit will be said that Michigan is salts X
ed with the ''near.free trade" of the 3
Wilson, Simmons Underwood bill. The q
Ill elections will be the skirmishes
long the first line Of Defense look. :
lg toward the final battle in 1916 be-
veen the hostile theories of govern.
tent represented by Republicanism and
emocracy. Mr.. Osborn is the 1914
amer bearer for the one (which Mich
IAN horned and always supported, n
Ir. Ferris is banner bearer for the
her. Where will YOU enlist?
These first skirmishes along "the first q
ne of defense" are vitality important.
hey have potent bearing on the final
'ntest. And, so far as THIS factor
concerned, The Herald would hope
Id expect that Mr.. Osborn would
his opposition.
1t will be marvelously interesting