Press enter after choosing selection

Warren H. Smith

Warren H. Smith image
Parent Issue
Day
13
Month
March
Year
1903
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

good thing for republicans to let alone, or words to that effect. The democracy is undoubtedly in favor of an effective primary law applicable to the whole state. The action of Friday's republican state convention would seem to commit that party to the same reform measure. It would seem that the people ought to secure what they want in this matter therefore. And it matters not who or what party gets the credit therefor, provided the people secure a law which will enable them to choose their own candidates for the various offices without the corrupt and disgraceful practices which attend the caucuses and conventions under the present rotten system.

What the people of Michigan want in the way of ap rimary (sic) election law is one that will apply to the whole state and enable the people to nominate directly each and every candidate for any office within the state, be it local or state, supervisor or governor. The people unquestionably want a law that will do away entirely with the boss ridden caucus and convention. They want a law which will enable them to express their choice of candidates for office without having to go through the unseemly and disgraceful things which frequently happen under the present system. They want a primary system under the operation of which something besides money will carry weight. Such a law they will have and those who are able to appreciate this fact and who clearly recognize the need therefor as well as the demand of the people are deserving of credit.

-----

WARREN H. SMITH.

The democrats in county convention Thursday made no mistake in the nomination of Warren H. Smith for county school commissioner. Mr. Smith is a product of the schools of Washtenaw county. He is a graduate of the Ypsilanti high school and of the literary department of the University. He has had years of experience as a teacher. He spent some years as principal of the high school at Pontiac, Lansing and Flint. He is experienced not only in class room work but in supervising the work of teachers. He not only knows what good school work is when he sees it, but is entirely competent to do that kind of work in the classroom himself. He is a man of good presence and is a good public speaker. He is easy to make acquaintances and generally agreeable and well liked. As commissioner of schools he will be entirely able to competently commend that which is good in our rural schools and criticise that which needs improvement. He will make a leader for the teachers of the county, whom they can follow with entire safety.

The public schools are our greatest public interest. Their management brings them into closer relations with the people generally than any other public interest. They cost more than any other public interest. This great interest is one, therefore, which requires in a commissioner personality, moral qualities, educational equipment and experience such as to constitute him a competent leader for the great body of teachers over whom his jurisdiction extends. He should be a man, too, who when occasion demands it can speak intelligently before teachers, pupils and patrons on any subject pertaining to his work. In all these lines Mr. Smith is competent for the duties of the office for which he has been nominated. He ought to be elected. The Argus believes the good of the schools will be best conserved by his election.

-----

It is no doubt tantalizing to the majority of the senate and the majority of the people as well to rest quietly under the obstructive tactics of Senator Morgan relative to the Panama canal treaty. But let no one complain too much over this matter, but let each and all remember that the senate has become the only deliberative body of our congress and the fact that it retains this merit because of its rules. These rules which in substance mean legislation by unanimous consent have saved the country from more than one plundering measure and from disgrace. The senate and the people will do well to bear with the rules therefore, being assured that legislation will not be enacted in that body until it has been duly considered, but also being assured that meritorious legislation will eventually get through all right. The trouble with all our legislative bodies at the present time is not that they do not pass laws enough such as they are, but too many. The Panama bill will become law in due time.

Judge Frank A. Hooker has been an unusually fortunate man in his political life. For years he was circuit judge of the Eaton, Barry and Calhoun circuit and has now received his third nomination to the supreme bench.

-----

The machine suffered a hard throwdown in the action of the state judicial convention's vote for primary reform. Now let us see whether the legislature will respond to the command. As is always the case, the machine stood boldly against the reform demanded by the people. The machine prefers dirty politics because its ways are dirty.

-----

The nomination of Peter White for regent of the University is one of the most fitting that could possibly be made. Mr. White is one of Michigan's grand old men, a man whom any good citizen may be proud of the opportunity to vote for. He is a man of clean character, excellent business ability and a scholar. He will make a regent than whom it would be difficult to find a better. The more Peter Whites are named for positions on this important board and the fewer Eli Suttons, the better for the credit the state and the well-being of our state university.

-----

Governor Bliss has attached his signature to the Wayne primary election bill and this converts it into a statute. This a gain for the cause of primary reform, but it is not all the people want. The people of the state generally desire a uniform law through the state. They want a law that will do away with conventions altogether and enable the people themselves to select their candidates for all offices. They will not be satisfied with anything less, either. The present legislature may thwart the will of the people, but a general primary law is bound to come in the near future. The supposed representatives of the people are not nearly so representative as they should be, partly probably for the reason that under the present corrupt caucus system the people have actually but little voice in the selection of candidates. They are selected by the bosses and are accountable to the bosses, not the people. It is peculiar that in a government by the people this should be the fact, but it is true. It requires a very insistent public sentiment to get what the people want from alleged representatives selected as they are at the present time.

------

With the closing of congress last week the long political career of Speaker David B. Henderson came to an end probably forever. He might have been re-eleceted (sic) to congress but after accepting the nomination in his district he declined to run on account of certain conditions existing in his distrcit on the tariff issue which were not according to his views, at least this was the reason as stated by the speaker himself. But for this jumping of the track which brought down upon him the bitter denunciation of his party friends, he probably might have continued in congress as long as he desired. He has not been as great a speaker as was Reed. He has not b een even a good imitator. His party friends have in some very important matters broken away from his rule and thrown him down. He has been in many things erratic in his congressional career, yet with all he has been one of the most conspicuous members of the house and no one has doubted his patriotism. He served his country well on the battlefield in his younger manhood it is to be regretted that in the close his long and honorable career there should have been anything of a rankly partisan nature to mar the finish. The unanimous vote of thanks usually given a speaker was not to be his. His valedictory was most eloquent and friendly, full of patriotic sentiment and faith in the future.

-----

$100 REWARD, $100

The readers of this paper will be pleased to learn that there is at least one dreaded disease that science has been able to cure in all its stages and that is Catarrh. Hall's Catarrh Cure is the only positive cure now known to the medical fraternity. Catarrh being a constitutional disease, requires a constitutional treatment. Hall's Catarrh Cure is taken internally, acting directly upon the blood and mucous surfaces of the system, thereby destroying the foundation of the disease, and giving the patient strength by building up the constitution and assisting nature in doing its work. The proprietors have so much faith in its curative powers, that they offer One Hundred Dollars for any case that it fails to cure. Send for list of testimonials. Address,

F. J. CHENEY & CO., Toledo, O.

Sold by Druggists, 75c.

Hall's Family Pills are the best.