The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1919-11-01
A SLAM AT MARK MCKEE.

day Night. took wallop recently at
Mark Mckee. the well known fraternal
insurance worker. Mr. Mckee r.
known to a number OF Crystal Falls
people. especially those interested in
the American Woman organization OF
which Mckee is the treasurer
4 Mr.. Mckee was. several years ago,
made secretary OF the 'Fraternai In
surance League. an organization that
was made up OF all OF the fraternai
insurance orders doing business In
the state for the purpose OF fighting
certain amendments 10 the state con-
stitution. II was claimed that should
these amendments be adopted the fra
ternai insurance societies would be
greatly damaged.
Mckee gained a large acquaintance
throughout the state in that fight and
he capitalized II by turning his ac-
quaintance to advantage in other lines
which demanded large acquaintance
and close organization. One thing af-
ter another came his way and he pros
pered. He formed partnership with
Paul King in the law business in De-
troit, still hanging onto his insurance
connections.
The Red Cross was fruitful field
for him and he got so close TO the
governor OF the state in his connec-
tons with him due TO Red Cross and
war activities in general that he got
TO be recognized as the favored one
with the governor. Then along came
the Newberry-Ford-O Osborn primary
and its aftermath OF scandal. Then
the cloudburt, and Mckee seems TO be
one that got quite washing from
the torrent.
Homer Guck, OF Houghton Mining
Gazette, taking Mr.. Nommo's declar-
alton against McKeeism as his text
reads lecture that is timely. lie
says.
THE curse or democratic poll
tics always has been and always
will be bosses, despotic BOSSES
The reformers who insisted on the
adjustment of the caucus method
OF picking candidates for office
and substituting therefor the di-
rect primary system in the selec-
ton OF our officials cried out
against the domination OF our poll
iucs by bosses.
They had some basis 10 work
on There were bosses. Some oil
them were crooked Some OF them
were easy. Some OF them were
efficient and had only the welfare
OF the people at heart. Yet the
bosses must 80. Everybody was
agreed on that And SO we did
away with the noxious system OF
nominating candidates for public
Office. And the bosses that then
were in power were relegated to
the background
III they continue 10 exert pow
or in politics II is by pulling the
strings from behind the scenes.
The people rule. They name their
own candidates for any and ali
parties And then elect or slaugh-
ter them at the polls just az they
please. But the people rule. And,
by heck, that's what they ought
TO do In great democracy like
ours.
80. therefore, when Mr. MINI
mo points out the power that a
gentleman like Mr. Mckee has at
tanned in our state. the power of
political boss OF far greater
prominence and strength and ca
pacity for results than ever any OF
the old-tlme politicians had in
Michigan affairs. II Is time for the
people who believe they are rul-
ing themselves to SIT up and take
notice.
Now, this must not be misin-
terpreted IA saying anything un-
kind concerning Mr.. Mckee. When
he started out TO gain control OF
our politics was In most
worthy cause. lie organized all
the fraternal societies in a cause
we were glad to support. And
since that time Mr. Mckee has
been organizing most everything
else In the state. Always with a
proper motive. Always with
right ideal. Always with a good
thing in view. But that very null
tiplicity OF organization. that very