Settling The Issues

In a coinmunication to the Detroit Free Press W. S. H. WeltoD, a citizen of Owosso, presenta so clearly and forcibly the duty of every respectable Toter in Michig-an that we reproduce it complete. Ile addresses himself to "the honest, fair-minded voters of Michigan, irrespective of party. "For the first time in the history of our state you are called upon to meet an issue which ought to be disposed of outside of politics. The question, are public servants to be held to their legal and moral responsibility to the people, is to be decided at the polls. "Within the last two years a spectacle of official depravity and neglect of official duty in state offlcers has developed well calculated to arouse the indignation of a law-abiding community. A conspiracy to override the will of the people by falsifying the election records and looting the public treasury has been brought to light that calis upon the moral sentiment of the country for condemnation and rebuke. What is your duty and the remedy for this deplorable condition of state affairs? Three members of the present state administra tion have been charged with and indicted by a grand jury for the commission of crime and conspiracy, which a trial by an impartial jury would consign to a felon's cell for a term of years. Not only this, but the governor himself is justly charged with the criminal neglect of a clearly-defined official duty, which had he conscientiously perf ormed would have rendered the crimes of his subordinates impossible. "Farmers, mechanics and laboring men of all classes, professional men and Christian gentlemen, you whose sacred honor is your business capital, ministers of the. Gospel whose duty it is to rebuke sin wherever found, what is your duty and how do you propose to meet this moral issue? "With brazen effrontery. these public servants, with the unquestioned evidence of their guilt confronting them, refuse to restore their ill-gotten gains to the pub] ie treasury. With unparelleled impudence they ask the voters of Michigan what they are going to do about it. Fellow-voters, it is this important question that we are called upon to answer at the polls in November. What is our duty in regard to it? The renomination ef Gov. Rich filis the public mind with the fear that should he be elected similar schemes of robbery and wrong may be made possible through his incompetency or lack of ofhcial vigilance. "It was the political outlook frora a moral standpoint that sent James M. Turner into politica! retirement four years ago. The same moral sentiment at this time should send John T. Eich to keep him company. Fellow-freemen, when you enter the polling booth to prepare your ballots. remeinber the ! duty you owe to yourselves and your j state, and, acting according to your convictions, you will make nomistake. !