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"Anything To Get To Congress."

"Anything To Get To Congress." image
Parent Issue
Day
21
Month
October
Year
1898
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Henry C. Smith, the republican nominee for congress from this district, evidently meant what he said when he assured the gentleman at the convention in this city that he "was for anything to get him to congress." The following clipped from the Detroit Evening News of Oct. 7, unmistakably indicates that Henry has great faith in the Pingree bulldozing methods of winning out in an election. The New says:

"Henry C. Smith, who is running for congress in the second district, is a candidate after the governor's own heart. He is conducting, on his own account, the same kind of a suit against the Lake Shore, that the governor has been conducting against the Michigan Central--to compel the company to sell family mileage books. The governor, on this account, likes him better than some of the other congressional nominees in Michigan. "I've been making speeches now for three weeks," he told the governor, "and I tell them at every meeting that we're not going to let up on our fight on the railroads until we bring them to time."

Now Henry is cute enough to see that Pingree's alleged war on the railroads was the means of hoodwinking many democrats into voting for Pingree in 1896, and as long as his platform is "anything to get him to congress," he is making a great effort to work the governor's scheme, and with the monumental cheek for which he is famed, he is deliberately giving his audiences the false impression that it was directly due to his efforts that the famous Lake Shore mileage ticket case was won in the supreme court.

Now the true facts in this matter have been given in at least 10 newspapers throughout the district--facts that are on record--and they prove conclusively that Mr. Smith had nothing whatever to do with the case with the possible exception of the use of his name as complainant, and he would not even permit this until the state agreed to pay his law partners $300 for making the argument. Although Smith is for "anything to get him to congress" he has not dared to deny this, but he goes right ahead telling the people how HE was responsible for the victory. Even if he had played a prominent part in the case, it must be admitted that he was paid well for his service, and he would have very little excuse for posing as a reformer but the despicable feature of the whole matter is Smith's attempt to slide to congress by such a stolen glory route.

Every member of the bar in Michigan knows that Smith became frightened at the expense of the case and the prospects of losing his position as corporation lawyer for the Lima Northern and Wabash railroads, and his audacity and nerve in claiming other people's glory has made him the laughing stock of the entire legal profession. It is unfortunate for Smith that so long as he was perfectly willing to "be for anything to get to congress" that he did not select something that would not call for so much unbecoming, down-right fibbing.

The charter behind which the Michigan Central hides when called upon to conform to the regulations imposed upon other railroad companies doing business in this state, provides that at any time after March 28, 1876, the state may, by a two-thirds vote of both houses of the legislature, alter, amend or repeal that franchise, and that upon so doing the state shall become liable to the railroad company for the damage sustained by the company by reason of such repeal. The real question thus turns upon the amount of damages. In the opinion of high authorities these damages would be nominal. It will not be contended that the legislature in creating the Michigan Central railroad company intended to invest it with powers of perpetual extortion. It was established as a business enterprise upon a basis which, under the then existing conditions, promised fair return upon the investment. When changing conditions make the terms of that compact burdensome to the people and give to the corporation undue and unjust advantages, alterations in it which will grant relief without depriving the stockholders of the company a reasonable profit upon their investment will not inflict very serious damages.

The Evening News was hard up for sensational matter when it published that cock-and-bull story about Wellington R. Burt soliciting democratic campaign funds from the railroad companies. The railway managers are too well advised of the situation to do anything to advance the interests of the democratic party. They have been tied to the republican party with tolerable success for 30 years and they are not going to break a part now. The real danger of the corporations lies in the direction of democratic success.

It should be clearly demonstrated to the farmer by this time that the temporary stimulation given to the prices of farm products since the passage of the Dingley tariff was not the work of a man but of nature. It did not result from the careful management of our own resources but from the calamities of others. It has also demonstrated the fact that prosperity is bred upon the farm. The tax tinkers have ignored this. Their plan is to bring prosperity to the people by taxing them for the benefit of the manufacturers. But it won't work.

The democrats are running veterans of the Spanish-American war for county clerk in Livingston and Grand Traverse counties, and for prosecuting attorney and circuit court commissioner in Washtenaw. The republicans give them a circuit court commissionership in Washtenaw. The friends of the soldiers will notice the difference.

Republicans who voted the Mark Hanna ticket two years ago under the delusion that an international agreement was something more than a campaign myth will note that the republican platforms of this year have abandoned further pretense in that direction and declare for the gold standard pure and simple.

The democratic legislature of 1891 passed a law which made corporations pony up a franchise fee. The state realized $26,024.57 from this fee the first year, or half the expenses of the state department. Did the republicans ever exact anything but campaign contributions from corporations?

Under republican rule the rich mining corporations of northern Michigan escaped taxation for 20 years. The democratic legislature during Gov. Winan's administration repealed this law exempting mining companies from taxation and their property has since been taxed like other property.

Illinois listened to the honeyed words of promise two years ago and went 100,000 for "McKinley, protection and honest money," and yet it is now necessary for men to shoot each other down in that state in order to secure a chance to earn a living.

A favorite pastime of hizzexcellency just now is dragging the smouth personality of Julius Caesar Burrows around by the seat of the trousers much after the manner that a mischievous puppy plays with a half grown kitten.

Our friend Wedemeyer told the boys over in Lenawee last week that Hank Smith's majority in Washtenaw would not be less than 800. "Wedey" must have faith to burn.

While McKinley is going about the country talking up his own particular make of prosperity, like a patent right man in a backwoods districts, coal miners at Virden, Illinois, are maintaining their right to earn a livelihood with Winchester rifles.

The war investigating commission may succeed in whitewashing the frauds perpetrated in the commissary department, but it can't wipe out the recollections of the boys who suffered through this inefficiency and peoulation.

It may be said without fear of contradiction that those who are opposed to the taxation of the property of railroad corporations to the same extent that other property is taxed are profiting in some way by holding such opinions.

If Spanish statesmen know a good thing when they see it they will insist on interfering, on the ground of humanity, in behalf of the American working men who are suffering from McKinley prosperity.

It has at last dawned upon the republican editor that he must lay aside the pleasant pastime of writing obituaries of the democracy and get down to business. In this connection "business" means almost anything but telling the truth.

Remember when you lick a revenue stamp that you are helping to pay the salaries of papa's irresponsible boys who were appointed to responsible positions in the military service, and then look pleasant--if you can.

The war tax has come to stay unless it is relieved by an income tax. We will get an income tax when we get a democratic congress and a supreme court which does not change its mind every time it looks toward Wall St.

State salaries under Pingree aggregated $422,856.22; under Winans, $290,550.92. The people paid thereby $122,304.47 more for salaries under the former than under Mr. Winans economical reign.

The farmers in the vicinity of Hudson, almost to a man, will vote for O.R. Pierce for congress--a significant fact for farmers in other portions of the district to ponder over. --Hudson Gazette.

The brand of good government for which Supervisors Deans and Allmendinger sacrifice their valuable time upon the board of supervisors seems to have been conceived with "malice aforethought."

The danger to our institutions lies not in the anarchy of irresponsible mobs nor in the demands of organized labor, but in the unscrupulous use of the power of concentrated capital.

Henry C. Smith is a railroad lawyer. Orrin R. Pierce is a successful business man. Which of these gentlemen will best represent the interests of the second district in congress?

The democratic county ticket is composed from top to bottom of clean and competent men. There is no reason why any democrat should refuse to support it--or republican either for that matter.

Senator Burrows is said to be making two and three speeches a day. It may be that the senator is talking against time--the time when the other fellow takes his seat.

"In the interests of humanity" we demand that Mark Hanna interfere and put a stop to the barbarous slaughter of Burrow's pacificos by Pingree insurgents.

A republican contemporary terms democratic campaign matter light literature. The charge is admitted. It throws a flood of light into the dark place which the enemy would conceal.

When the politician confides in you a startling political secret, remember that little secrets are commonly told again, but great ones are are generally kept.

The philosopher who said that men speak best upon what they know most had no reference to the orators who are exploiting the glorious achievements of Dingleyism.

Major John P. Kirk's service to his country has neither detracted from his accomplishments as a lawyer nor his popularity with the people.

It is well that no serious responsibility is incurred by the candidate who qualifies his promises with an "if."

Republican campaign managers are becoming alarmed at the apathy shown by the rank and file.

The war taxes fit the Dingley bill deficit like a schooner of beer does a thirsty tramp's stomach.

Among the other achievements of the republican party is the restoration of the parity between wheat and silver.

And the trouble with the republican candidate for congress is that he frequently reflects without proper food for reflection.

According to the Ann Arbor Argus "General Purposes" in Michigan's tax levy, must be a Lieutenant-General, with a big staff. --Adrian Press.

Almost every day seems to be wash day with republican politicians on the board of supervisors and they have already got out a full line of dirty linen.

Jackson democrats and fusionists claim that county by 700 majority for the fusion ticket. This means the election of Orrin R. Pierce.

It is so disagreeable in Gen. Miles to insist on talking when his silence would be highly appreciated by the war department.