Democratic Rally

The deraocrats opened their carapaign in this city Saturday evening, with Hon. Spencer O. Fisher, democratie candidate for governor, and Hon. T. E. A. Weadock, congressman from the ioth district, as speakers. A fair-sized audience, numbering about 500 people, were on hand to listen to the discussion of the issues of the campaign as seen from the democratie standpoint. The meeting was opened about eight o'clock by Chairman Brown, of the county committee, who said that Ann Arbor citizens had in the past been accustomed to hearing the ablest men of the state and nation at such gatherings, and that the iresent occasion was no exception. i ie then introduced Hon. S. O. i risher as the first speaker. Mr. "isher was in good voice and made ïimself heard in every part of the ïouse. The strictest attention was )aid the speaker, and his telling i oints were hberally applauded. He aid he would confine himself in ïis discussion of the issues of the campaign to those points with which ïis business and public experience ïad given him the widest acquaintance. He said he was opposed to all features of paternalism in government, and consequently was for an economie system so adjusted as to furnish necessary revenue for the economie administration of the government without the laying of a single dollar of tax for protective jurposes. A revenue tariff, he declared, would furnish all the protection any industry could justly claim. He declared that while he was and lad been a producer of wool for the ast ten or twelve years, having$75,ooo invested, and 18,000 or 20,000 sheep, still he was for free wool. He believed the government had done its full dutv to the citizen when it protected him in person and property, and that discrimination in favor of one industry at the expense of another was wrong. He believed free wool would be an advantage to all concerned. On account of the necessity of mixing foreign wools with our own in order to produce the various woolens demanded by our trade, he was confident that free wool would stimulate the demand for our own clip, and thereby increase the price. He declared that he had a two years' clip on hand for which he had already been offered an advance of four cents a pound over any previous offer, since the placing of wool on the free list. He was also for free lumber notwithstanding the fact that he was a large producer. worked for free lumber while a member of congress, and had been accused of working against his own interests, but feit that as a legislator he had no right to support any measure that was for the benefit of the few at the expense of the many. He said it was puerile to assert that we, with our vast natural resources of all kinds and our ingenious population teeming with energy, and possessed of more inventive genius than any other nation, could not compete with the world. Give us, he said, free raw materials and plenty of money, and we will be the greatest people on earth. He favored the free and unlimited coinage of silver on the ratio of 16 to i, and said if the question was divorced from politics 9oper cent of the people of Michigan would vote for it. The striking down of silver had been a serious blow to the business interests of the country, and its restoration would do much toward business revival and general prosperity. Passing to the issues of state af fairs he compared and contrasted the administrations of Govs. Luce, Winans and Rich. He said in substance: I have bere an abstract of the iast animal report of the state treasurer. It shows that in Gov. Luee"s flrst term, 188T-8, the amount raised by direct taxation was $8,408,551.20, in Gov. Winans' term, 1891-2, the amount was $2,863,051.22, and in Gov. Rich"s term, 1893-4, $3,620.350.58. Governor Winans' taxation was $545,499.98 less than Governor Luce's tirst term, and $757,294.36 less than Gov. Rich's. The democratie adiuinistration of Gov. Winans saveil the taxpayera of Michigan a round three quarters of a million dollars, as comparecí with Gov. Rich's. I have here also an abstract it State Raüroad Commissioner 13111ings' last annnjel report. It shows the ?;unii)gs of Michigan railroads to have been $38,377.426, and on these earnings taxes were piiid to the amount of $893,762.01, or 2.33 per cent. Iowa's earnings were $43.913,833.92: taxes $1,322, S32.22, or 3.10 per cent. Wisconsiu earnings $31,732,050, taxes $1,220,674.88, or 3.10 per cent. New York earnings $114,203,855.95, taxes $6,264,158.96, or 5.50 per cent. Nebraska's earnings $22,521,574, taxes $1,112.997. or 5 per cent. Kansas earnings $49,303.503. taxes $1,798,322, or 3.75 per cent. The average taxation in these states named is 4.39 per cent. In Michigan the rate is only 2.33 per cent. Why this favoritism toward railroad corporations! Why are the common people, the little home owners and the farmers discriminated against and the railroads relieved of their just burdensv Other corporations, such as the telephone and telegraph companies, should also be called upon to do their share in bearing the tax burden. He said if elected governor he would give the duties of the office his closest attention, and endeavor to administer the same in the interest of all. In closing, he denounced those socalled conservative senators who deserted the party in its extremity and said the remedy was to bring them aearer the people by changing the mode of election. He urged the slection of Barkworth to Congress. The speech of Congressman Weadock was confined to national issues. He reviewed the acts of the 53d congress, and said the tariff bill, while not all that was desired, was a very good bill, vastly better for the people than the McKinley Act. Mr. Weadock is a forceful and logical speaker and made an excellent impression. At the close of the speaking many citizens crowded upon the platform to shake the hand and greet the distinguished speaker. All in all it was a very auspicious opening of the campaign.