is GRAND RAPIDS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1888, NO. 257. DD, YALE & C0 -Imperialand LaBelle BAKING POWDERS — And all kinds of Extracts and Flavorings JOBBERS OF TEAS, TOILET SOAPS,CIGARS and GROCERS’ SUNDRIES. Grand Rapids. SEHDS! IF YOU WANT Medium Clover, Mammoth Clover, Timothy, Alsike, Alfalfa, Hungarian, Millet, Red Top, Orchard Grass, Blue Grass, Field Peas, Spring Rye, Spring Barley. OR ANY KIND OF SEEDS SEND TO W. Y. LAMORRAUX, 71 Canal Street, Grand Rapids, Mich. BEWARE! It has come to our notice that unscrupu- lous manufacturers of cigars are putting an inferior brand of cigars on the market under a label so closely imitating our ‘‘Sil- ver Spots” as to deceive the general public. At first, we were inclined to feel flattered at this recognition of ,the superior merits of our ‘Silver Spots” by a brother manufac- turer, knowing full well that it is only arti- cles of standard or sterling worth that are imitated, but we feel that we should be derelict in our duty to the public should we not warn them against this infringement, and also to dealers in cigars, as we feel positive that no first-class dealer would knowingly countenance or deal with any manufacturer who had to depend upon other manufacturers to furnish him brains to originate brands or labels for their cigars. A counterfeiter is a genius, but amenable to the law, but a base imitator who keeps within the law, or just ventures near enough to be on debatable ground, is not worthy of recognition in a community of worthy or respectable citizens. The ‘‘Sil- ver Spots” are to-day the best selling five cent cigar in Michigan. If you don’t be- lieve it send us a trial order. Gro. T. WARREN & Co., Flint, Mich. BOOK-KEKPING WIPED OUT! No Pass Books! No Charging! No Posting! No Writing! No Disputing of Accounts! No Change to Make! ‘TRADESMAN Credit Coupon Book. {HE NEWEST AND BEST SYSTEM - ye eee Meee We quote prices as follows: 5 $ 2 Coupons, per hundred.................. 36 > oe bear ase sees she ce $io—C** as eS $20 = * es Pees cisy co Soke ol Be : ' Subject to the following discounts: “ _ Orders for 200 or Over.......... Trt san Pe Pree ieee _ . Bend in sam le order and put your business TOWE & BRO., Grand Rapids ESTABLISHED 1866. ARNEYY BROS, ‘a3 So, Water Street, Chicago, OMe ed y, We do a General Commission Business and offer as inducements twenty years’ ex- perience and clear record. The best equip- ped and largest salesroom in the business in this city. Ample storage facilities—full 20,000 feet of floor space in the center of the best market in the West. Ample capi- tal and first-class references on file with THE TRADESMAN. Write us if you wish information, whether to buy or sell. It will zost you nothing. BARNETT BROS. UE BROWN MILLING GO, Merchant Millers. Shippers and Dealers in GRAIN ald BAILED HAY. Flouring Mill and Office, Cor. Court St. and G.R. & 1.R.R. Grain Office, No. 9 Canal Street, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. O. E. BROWN, Manager. J. W. CONVERSE, Proprietor. THURBER, WAYLAND & CO, NEW YORK, RELIABLE FOOD PRODUCTS. [It is both pleasant and profitable for merchants te occasionally visit New York, and all such are cordially invited to call, look through our establishment, corner West Broadway, Reade and Hudson streets, and make our acquaintance, whether. they wish to buy goods or not. Ask for a member of the firm.] SAFES! Anyone in want of~a first-class Fire or Burglar Proof Safe of the Cincinnati Safe and Lock Co. manufacture will find it to his advantage to write or call on us. We have light expenses, and are able to sell low- er than any other house representing first- aie work. Second-hand safes always on hand. C. M. GOODRICH & CoO., With Safety Deposit Co., Basement of Wid- dicomb BIk. HYDRAULIC COMPANY PURE SPRING WAT The Grand Rapids Hydraulic Company is prepared to furnish pure spring water to customers on its pipe lines, under adequate pressure on all levels, on appli- cation at the Company’s Office, 76 Ottawa street. JOHN E. MORE, Secretary. GRAND RAPIDS Paper Box Factory, W. W. HUELSTER, Prop. Paper Boxes of Every Description Made to Order on Short Notice. We make a specialty of Pigeon Hole File Boxes, Sample Trays Sample Cases. Also Shelf, Shoe, Confec- tionery, Millinery, Dress, Suit and Packing Boxes. Druggists’ Slides and all kinds of Fine Work. All work guaranteed first class and at low prices. Write or call for estimates on any- thing you may want in my line. Telephone 85Q OFFICE AND FACTORY, 1] Pearl St., Grand Rapids, Mick. Voigt, Horpolsheimer & Go, Importers and Jobbers of DRY GOODS Staple and Fancy. Overalls, Pants, Ete., .OUR OWN MAKE, A Complete Line of Fancy Crockery: Fancy Woodenware OUR OWN IMPORTATION. Inspection Solicited. Chicago and Detroit Prices Guaranteed. S. T. FISH & CO., General COMMISSION Merchants WHOLESALE FRUITS and PRODUGE, 189 So. Water St., - Chicago. We solicit your correspondence fand will make liberal advances on all shipments for- warded tous. Send us yourconsignments and we will render prompt and satisfactory re- turns. CAR LOTS A SPECIALTY. _ FERMENTUM! The Only ‘Reliable “Compressed Yeast. _ Handled by a Majority o Grocers Bakers of Mi Martin’s Middlings Purifier Co,, _L. WINTERNITZ, ‘Beate Agent; Grand Rapids, KDMUND B. DIKEMAN THE GREAT Watch Maker = Jeweler, 44 CANAL 8Y.,, Grand Rapids, - Mich. BELKNAP Wagon and Sleigh Co MANUFACTURERS OF Spring, Freight, Express, ‘ Lumber and Farm WAGONS! Logging Oarts and Trucks Mill and Dump Carts, Lumbermen’s and River Tools. We ca a large stock of material, and have hp a for making first-class Wagons of a nds. Ge Special attention given to Repairing, Painting and Lettering. eee Shops on Front St., Grand Rapids, Mich, Millers, Attention We are making a Middlings Purifier and Flour Dresser that will save you their cost at least three times each year. - They are guaranteed to do more work in less space (with less power and less waste) than any other machines of their class. Send for descriptive cata- logue with testimonials. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. OUR AIMS, As Set Forth by. an Eloquent Speaker. At the recent convention of the Michigan Business Men’s Association, at Cheboygan, Myron H. Walker, of Grand Rapids, deliv- ered the following address : There are certain important principles and truths underlying the organization of Business Men’s Associations, upon which they are founded, and which are, impliedly at least, recognized by the formation and existence of these Association, but which need to be dwelt upon and emphasized both before the public and among business men themselves, that the public may understand and appreciate, and that the members may make the most of these Associations. I shall mention now but two: first, that business men, even those in the same line of trade, have many interests in common, the furtherance of which demands co-opera- tion and more intimate business relations between them. In recognition of this fact and necessity, one of the important objects of these Associations, whose representatives have thronged this city for the past two days, is to bring about a more generous and honest rivalry, and a more hearty union of effort and work in all worthy ways and en- terprises on behalf of the trade and of the community in which they do business. The other important and fundamental fact is this: that the interests of the public, the great body of customers and consumers, and of men engaged in legitimate business, are also one and the same. The time has been, perhaps, that this was not so. At some time in the past it may have been true, and certainly there have been times when business men assumed and acted upon the assumption, that the harder and dryer the business man could squeeze the public, the sharper bargains he could drive with the public, the greater immediate profits he could make out of it, the better it would be for him, and the more he would be pros- pered, even though the rest of the commu- nity suffered thereby. Upon the same theory and from the same motives it has at times been deemed the proper thing for the business man to do to *‘knife” every competitor, cry down his goods, undermine his trade in every con- ceivable way, and run him out of the busi- ness or ruin him if possible. In other words, these men at these times have made a practical application of the wholly selfish and short-sighted -statement, that they sought ‘‘the greatest good of the greatest number, and the greatest number is num- ber one.” Saying nothing of the morality or immorality of such a course, it is possi- ble that in the past the state of trade and society has been such as to make it profit- able to the one thus succeeding in squeezing the public dry, or in thus ruining his com- petitor. If it ever were so profitable, that time and the day for such things, I believe, is past. Society is to-day too dependent in all its parts and members, each upon the other, for one rortion to prosper long, or find its truest prosperity at the expense of any other portion. Like the human body with its members, one cannot thrive and grow unduly without some other one grow- ing weak and wasting away, and without an abnormal development of the body, at the expense of its strength, beauty and symmetry, causing the whole body and all its members to suffer! for society, trade and business are all firmly bound together by common ties and common interests—the farmer and the miner, bringing wealth from the earth in the shape of raw material; the laborer, doing the heavy lifting and work of life; the mechanic and artisan, skilled in his useful trade or vocation; the profes- sional man, helping to solve the problems of education, of health, of theology, or of law; the capitalist, furnishing the financial aid and power to start the wheels of indus- try, erecting mighty plants and aiding great enterprises in every direction; the middle- man and tradesman, importer, wholesaler or retailer, bringing the necessaries and comforts of life to the doors of the .con- sumer and finding a market for the raw material of the producer—in short, every person who, by his daily activities or re- sources, contributes to the life, the comfort or the advancement of society is, in his place, essential to the prosperity and growth of society, and he and his class cannot suf- fer permanent loss and injury without harm coming to the whole body of society thereby. Take but acouple of illustrations: Is it a matter of indifference to us that the farm- ers of Michigan for some years have been receiving but poor returns for their labor and have suffered from poor crops; that, in consequence of this and other causes, their mortgage indebtedness reaches many mil- lions of dollars and is-something appalling to behold and has become a great incubus and weight upon their prosperity? Not one of us, whatever our occupation, but is inti- mately and personally interested and af- fected by this fact. Or who of us can say that when the laborer and mechanic become dissatisfied and strike, and thus block the wheels of industry—whether with or with- out just provocation—which one of us, I ask, can say that we are not affected and injured thereby, and do not suffer with him ? The members of society, therefore, in whatever useful calling, are not at their best, and neither serving themselves nor the public, when preying upon and tearing down each other, asa pack of hungry wolves, grown desPerate from starvation, fall to and devour one another. They are, if engaged in useful vocations, as I assume all present are, rather the necessary parts of a finely complex and delicate machine, or system of machinery, which we call society, each part and its work essential to the proper action of the whole machine and to the production of the highest style and kind of the manufactured article, which in this case is humanity. I am assured, from evidence seen in this convention and elsewhere, that the business men in these Associations are at least be- ginning to comprehend and act upon these principles, and that progress is being made in the direction of the establishment of more confidential relations between them- selves and with thepublic. Were it not so, this convention would have been impossible and unthought of, and the local Associa- tions would have no existence. ‘The exist- ence and perpetuity of your Associations, local and State, depend upon your harmo- nious action, your mutual helpfulness and friendliness, and hearty co-operation, and these grow out of and will be promoted by the clear conception and reception of the truth before stated, that the interests of business men are the same and are mutual; and I believe that, as business men, you can learn and practice no more important truth than this which necessarily follows, from the fact stated that the interest and welfare of one member of the trade is the concern of all. The failure of a merchant in your line of business is aninjury to you. Rejoice not at the downfall of a competitor, for there has fallen with him a part of the credit and confidence -reposed in the trade as awhole. Your capital, perhaps, is small; your credit and name are your chief cap- ital. With these for a basis, you are doing a good business. Your neighbor in the same line of business fails. Your first thought is that you have one less compet- itor; but this is a short-sighted view to take of it. The failure, perhaps, has badges of fraud. Itis found, for instance, that he chattel mortgaged the whole stock, just be- fore failure, to secure indorsers of his paper lately discounted at the bank, the proceeds of which are unaccounted for, and which the creditors, with apparent reason, suspect has been salted down; or some other sim- ilar fraud appears. What is the result? You soon find that your credit is injured; your creditors become doubtful and sus- picious; your lines of credit are narrowed and you are unable to buy goods as readily or aS advantageously as before. Honest failures, even, injure the trade and the com- munity at large. Credit is always more or less affected and confidence in the trade shaken. The loss occasioned by these fail- ures must be retrenched somewhere and somehow and the honest and debt-paying merchant must make it good to the loser in higher prices or poorer goods or less accom- modations and, while the main loss event- ually falls upon the consumer, the long suffering public, yet friction, dissatisfaction, trouble and loss come to the whole trade thereby. Confidence between every branch of trade, jobbing, wholesale and retail, and trust in each other’s integrity, lie at the foundation of all business. Take these away, and business transactions of extent or importance are impossible. It neces- sarily follows, then, that business men can- not afford to tolerate, wink at or practice | b trickery or dishonesty; neither can they afford to pull down the weak members of the trade, nor does it pay to cry down each other’s goods, for thereby the trade is given a bad name, and your own customers will soon believe that the goods of all, your own included, are poor and deceiving. Let business men avoid ruinous competi- tion. Speak well of each other whenever possible; maintain otherwise a golden silence; unite heartily to advance common interests, and elevate the tone of the trade. Organization for these purposes is laudable and should be encouraged, both by members of the trade and by the public. I have said that the public and business nren are equally dependent upon and _inter- ested in each other; therefore, confidential and trustful relations should be established and exist between them. The middle-man, like the poor, we have always with us; and bewail the factif we will, it is evident that he has come to stay; for, following close in the wake of the pio- neer along the blazed path of advancing civ- ilization, goes the middle-man, and the more thickly settled a community becomes, and the more diversified its industries, the creat- er the number of middle-men, and the more numerous and specialized the branches or lines of business he pursues. The old- fashioned country store gives place to the general store of the village, which, in turn, is succeeded by the great retail establish- ments with plate glass fronts and finished interiors, carrying immense stocks of goods, and devoted to but one branch of the retail trade, and sometinies making a specialty of a few things in that line or branch. The middle-man is a product and a necessity of advanced civilization. It is for him to bring the great products of our country to the hands of the consumer in quantity and qual- ity to suit, and he usually finds that in this business is full scope for all the talent, tact and patience he may possess; for, with the sharp competition and usually small profits; | the uncertain and changeable market and prices, due largely to speculation and its evil influences; the poor quality of many goods, and a burdensome system of credit, necessitating an enormous amount of book- keeping, often loosely done; with large losses from bad debts, and heavy tribute paid to the army of dead-beats—the average tradesman has no bonanza and is not a sub- ject for envy. Success, under the most favorable condi- tions, is only won by the application of cor- rect principles in the conduct of business; and the public, upon its part, should study well the fact and learn well the lesson that, in the long run, they will get from the mid- dle-men about the kind and quality of goods that they ask and are willing to pay for. Do they blame the merchant for handling poor goods and adulterated goods? He is blame-worthy. But do they not realize that they themselves are largely in fault by their unreasonable demand for cheap goods and their apparent love of being humbugged, manifested so often by preferring poor goods at a low price to good, honest goods at a reasonable price, thus placing a premi- um upon dishonesty and cheats, and induc- ing the merchants to handle cheapind adul- terated goods—the very thing they condemn them for doing. It may be said that the public, in doing this thing, in the words of poor Richard, ‘‘is paying dear for the whistle.” Was it Artemus Ward or was it P. T. Barnum who said ‘‘the great Ameri- can people love to be humbugged?” Well, whichever great writer of fiction said it, he told a great truth, and rest assured, dear people, so long as you like it so well, there will be plenty of public benefactors who will be willing to humbug you ‘‘for a considera- tion,” and I doubt not that some of these disinterested philanthropists will be found among the middle-men or business men of Michigan. These Business Men’s Associations have pledged themselves and their members to try to stamp out and prevent ‘‘adultera- tions of goods and cheats in trade,” and’ therein have set themselvés a mighty but praiseworthy task; but the public may rest assured that adulterated goods and cheats in trade will continue, toa greater or less extent, until they are willing, as the old saying is, ‘‘to live and let live;” to pay a fair price for fair goods, and leave the mer- chant a reasonable margin of profit. If the people prefer cheap goods, or try to get. good goods for the price of cheap goods, they will get what they pay for, namely, cheap goods, every time and will ‘‘pay dear for the whis- tle.” Is it not better to go through the world paying for what you get, and getting that which is good, wholesome, honest in the sight of all men? _ The business men of these Associations, in proposing to ‘‘guard against adultera- tions and cheats in trade,’ have set before themselves an herculean task, and they must be argus-eyed and sleepless to detect them all. But the effort, I believe, will pay. ‘‘Honesty is the best policy”—ever has been, ever will be; and selling goods for exactly what they are, ata fair price and profit, will, in the long run, insure suc- cess, where deceit and cunning will fail, and while the ubiquitous and all-knowing ‘‘sharp” customer, so-called, is sure to be- lieve that merchants are all dishonest and ready to cheat, and if he escape it is because of his own shrewdness (and who, by the way, will bear watching himself), yet the desirable customer is one who, by experi- ence, has gained confidence in the trades- man and relies largely upon his word and judgment as to the price and quality of goods. Such customers are only to be se- cured and held by honest dealing. Adulter- ations of goods and cheats in trade can only be stamped out by a determined and united effort upon the part of all branches and classes of the trade and with the help of the public. Law itself can do little in ferret- ing out these adulterations and cheats, and punishing the responsible parties; but a general recognition by business men of the fact that it does not pay to handle, and by the public that it does not pay to buy such goods, and a union of effort accordingly, can do a great deal. The union of one class of the people or of business men in hestility to another class is to be deplored; so a union of retailers against wholesalers, or combina- ticns to make fictitious prices is injurious, and to be deprecated; but union against dis- honest customers, dishonest goods, dishon- est methods and dishonest men in trade is highly desirable, and such a union, in part, at least, I understand these Associations to e. I have asked myself, and I ask you, what kind of a business man would a practical acceptance and application ef these princi- ples make of the average business man, namely—that the interests of the bnsiness men themselves, and also of the business men and the public, are mutual and depend- ant? 1 name but one characteristic, which, I think, would distinguish him to a much greater degree than now. He would be, al- ways and everywhere, a public-spirited citi- zen, in the breadest and best sense of the term; for he would not only work more harmoniously and unitedly with his fellows in the business or trade, and thus work to much greater advantage and effect, but, knowing that whatever benefitted or injured the state, the city, the community in which, and the people amongst whom he lived, benefitted him in like degree, he would awaken to a more active interest in the pub- lic welfare and prosperity. The successful business man is a man of weight in any community. In his judgment people are inclined to trust. To him they look and often come for counsel and wise directions. Any enterprise to which he lends the use of his name commands the confidence of the public, and if he bea pub- lic-spirited citizen, as most successful busi- nesS men are, especially does he carry weight and become the source of public good and strength in his community. But mere accumulation of money does not, of itself, make a man a desirable citi- zen, nor, in a proper sense, successful. The manner and methods by which he maée his money; the investments he makes with it; the use he puts it to; his public spirit or lack of it; his influence in behalf of good morals, or otherwise—these characteristics all largely help to determine his desirability as a citizen. There are men of wealth in nearly every community who so use their money as to never benefit their town, and most of whom too often become penurious and sordid, without public spirit or enterprise, ‘‘inter- est” and ‘‘bonus” being the very breath of their nostrils and life of their life. Take to them a subscription for any worthy object and they meet you with a crusty refusal. Seek their aid and counsel in starting some local manufacturing enterprise that will fur- nish employment for labor and attract capi- tal and immigration, and these men will tell you that the best and safest investment they can make with their money is _ in first mortgages and bonds. Does the place need water works ora city hall, or does the county need a court house, their votes will always be recorded ‘‘No” upon every propo- sition to raise money for these necessary purposes. Interest, which was their slave, has become their master. The business man should be, and I be- lieve a recognition of the truths I have tried to emphasize will make of him, a public- spirited citizen, intelligent and active upon all questions that affect the welfare of the state, and interested and enterprising in be- half of his own town or city; quick to ob- serve chances of improvement and growth, and ready to aid its material prosperity as far as he is able. Every man owes a debt to the community in which he lives or does business. Espec- ially is this true of the successful business man, for not only by the weight and influ- ence of his character, but by reason of his success, is he under a double obligation to return to the community in which he has achieved that success some equivalent there- for, and he by no means discharges his obli- gation by payment of his taxes. The veri- est old miser does that when he cannot help himself. He must contribute to the mater- ial prosperity and growth of his town or city. Every worthy public enterprise and improvement and every private undertak- ing of benefit to the place should find in him a friend and, when necessary, a helper, to the extent of his ability.. Look over your villages and cities when you go home from here. Are there notnum- erous ways 1n which, even at small expense of money, lasting improvements may be made and benefits conferred? It cannot all be done at once, but a watchful interest, a . live public spirit and united effort can and will accomplish a great deal in this line. But not only in a material way has the business man a duty and work todo. It is for him, above all others, to encourage mor- ality, temperance and obedience to law, and to discourage vice and crime. Itis well te: remember that, other things being equal, the intelligent and desirable citizen will. seek that place for his home and for the in- vestment of his money that is most orderly, law-abiding and moral, and which offers the- best educational advantages. Believe what. we may, the school-house and the chureh at- tract a desirable class of citizens; and, as-is always the case, the business man, by prae- tical recognition of the rights and interests: of his fellow tradesmen, and of the claims and welfare of the public; by the discharge - of the debt due his community, and a faith- ful observance of these duties and obliga- tions, will subserve his own highest good and greatest prosperity, and be benefitted thereby. Little by little the petty vexations and jealousies of the trade will disappear; a cordiality and friendliness with his rival will be established; he and the publie wilb understand each other better, and deal with each other with less deceit and haggling and more confidence, and the community will hail him as one of its most desirable eitizens and chief pillar of its prosperity; and, asa natural result, he, himself, will become broader-minded, more liberal-hearted and? public-spirited, with a greater regard for and hold upon whatsoever things are true and honest and right. —q@xqx—oo_ Origin of Petroleum. The origin of petroleum has been ex- plained, both on the organic and inorganic theory. The commonly accepted view, which is held by many American geologists, is that it has been formed by the distilla- tion of organic remains by the internal heat: of the earth. Others consider that it» has. been formed directly from its elements by- chemical reactions, and that its existence is: in no way dependent upon its organic re-- mains of former geological ages. Prof. Mendelejeff, the distinguished Russian. chemist, has recently advanced a theory of ° the inorganic origin of petroleum whieh is of considerable interest. Briefly stated, he- believed that in the interior of the earth iron is present in large quantities, combined with carbon, in the form ofa carbide. Now, when water from the surface reaches this . heated carbide of iron the oxygen combines. with the iron, replacing the carbon, which: unites with the hydrogen, forming the. hydrocarbons of which petroleum and nat- ural gas are principally composed. The- most_important practical point of this. theory is, that, if true, the formation of these substances may be continually going - on, so that we need have no fear of the- supply becoming exhausted. Of course;. this theory has yet to be confirmed; but it. is hoped that it way prove true, in so far, at least, as regards a continuous formation of these invaluable natural products. ——q@on--_ oa __ Hints on Selecting Rope. A German paper, in an article on the present methods of rope manufacture from. hemp, aud the determination of the differ- ent qualities and probable strength simply: from the appearance, lays down the follow-- ing rules: A good hemp rope is hard but pliant, yellowish or greenish gray in color, with a certain silvery or pearly luster. 2a Gripsack Brigade. **Hub” Baker and wife spent Sunday at Petoskey. Cass Bradford has covered. his store at Baldwin all over with signs reading, ‘‘Brad, the Grocer.” A. F. Peake, State agent for D. B. DeLand & Co., of Fairport, N. Y., put in Sunday here. Will Tenny, late of San Francisco, has gone on the road for Chas. C. Kritzer, the Newaygo miller. None of Arthur Meigs & Co.’s travelers have yet made any permanent arrangements for the future. E. Mortlock, of Detroit, spent Sunday in the Valley City. .Mr. Mortlock represents Stone & Firth, of New York. D. G. Kenyon now represents Geo. W. Cady & Co., the Cleveland boot and shoe jobbers, covering the same territory as be- fore. Alonzo Seymour, the veteran cracker salesman, is entertaining his daughter-in- law and grandson, Mrs. J. A Seymour and son, of Chicago. Will seme one please explain what hold Steve Sears has on Charley Falls, to the end that the latter dances to Steve’s music whenever asked to do so ? Hi. Robertson says that the report that he has signed with D. B. DeLand & Co. is un- true—that he has not, as yet, even entered into negotiations with the firm in question. Jas. A. Massie was summoned to Green- ville, Saturday,-to interview a new son. It is understood that the youngster will travel for Il. M. Clar& & Son as soon as he is old enoxgh. D. S. Haugh and family have gone to Barry County to spend a couple of weeks with friends. Chas. Clouster takes Dave’s place on the road during his absence. Frank H. White, formerly with Curtiss & Dunton, but more recently with Felix & Marston, has engaged io travel for Curtiss &Co. He started out on the road under the new auspices on Monday. David R. Hackett, extensively known throughout Michigan and the Northwest as the representative of the hardware estab- lishment of A. Y. McDonald, of Chicago, died at Lansing Saturday of Bright’s dis- ease, aged 49 years. J. L. Strelitsky obtained judgment in Justice Westfall’s court last Wednesday for $30 and costs against the McNeil & Higgins Co., of Chicago, for services rendered while he was in the employ of the house. The house contested the claim at consid- erable cost. L. M. Mills and family left Saturday night for Petoskey where they will spend several days with Geo. E. Mills and family. They will then proceed to Mackinac Island and the Soo, returding home via Traverse City. They expect to be gone about two weeks. Shelby Herald: W. G. Hawkins, H. R. Savidge and Geo. Owen, three Grand Rapids drummers, got off the train here Thursday, but as soon as Owen saw the other fellows alight and heard that peaches were not yet ripe he swung himself onto the car again and said something about ‘‘some other day.” SO Oe It Beats the Telegraph. When Wm. B. Edmunds started out on his trip through Ohio and Pennsylvania, he left his route with THe TRADESMAN, re- questing that the paper be sent him during his absence. Last week, it devolved upon Tur TRADESMAN to chronicle the advent of alittle strdnger at Mr. Edmunds’ home on Lyon street and a couple of days there- after the mails brought the following ac- knowledgment: «— CLEVELAND, Aug. 15, 1888. E. A. Stowe, Grand Rapids: DEAR Sir—Your valuable paper was re- ceived here this evening, and the notice of the niine-pound kidlet at 418 Lyon street broke the news to me. Many thanks. I had been expecting a telegram every day, but THE TRADESMAN beats them all! May it always be ahead and on top. Business is good and politics and weather red hot. Will be home to go to Detroit. Yours 10derly, W. B. EDMUNDS. The moral of the above is plain to be seen: If you want to keep posted on what is happening at home, when you are out of town—read THE TRADESMAN. bs : Purely Personal. Fred. H. Hosford is spending a colbte of weeks with friends in Northern Ohio. ' Osear D. Fisher has started a diamond factory in opposition to Morris H. Treusch. Alex. Keith, shipping clerk for Hawkins & Perry, is confined to his home by illness. N. B. Clark has returned from a week in the tanbark region along the G. R. & I. Richard Bean, late with the Old National Bank, has taken the position of book-keep- er for Olney, Shields & Co. Hon. R. G. Peters, the Manistee million- aire, was in town Monday in consultation with his partners im the firm of Lemon, Hoops & Peters. Heman G. Barlow, of the firm of Ball, Barnhart & Putman, left Monday for a trip te the Thousand Islands. He will be gone about three weeks. Geo. Deitz, late of the firm of Smith & Deitz, passed through: the city Friday on his way to the Southwest, whither he goes to seek a new location. Joseph W. Welton, for several years in- structor at Swensberg’s Commercial College, has leased the art room in the Hartman block and will open a business college therein. Wm. E. Ramsey, the Louisiana lumber- man, has presented Byron Gifford—son of the genial Geo. P., Jr.—with a thorough- bred English pug pup, from the Chequasset Kennels at Lancaster, Mass. Chas. McCarty, the Lowell Poo Bah, and the sole owner of the Great American Laugh, was in town Monday on his way home from Macatawa Park, where his fam- ily are spending the heated term. H. S. Bartlett, designer for the Grand Rapids School Furniture Co., has taken the position of assistant to Superintendent Peregrine in the wood-working department. He will continue to evolve the handsome designs which have helped to make the School Furniture Co. famous all over the country. Mr. Gooding, of the firm of R. B. Good- ing & Son, grocers at Lisbon Station, paid a flying visit to Grand Rapids last Saturday and dropped in at THE TRADESMAN office long enough to say that his firm had pur- chased 26,000 bushels of wheat since Feb- ruary 15. He says that.the grocery trade of the firm averages $30 per day; that a general store would do well there; and that Chas. H. Loomis, of Sparta, contemplates putting in a branch hardware store there. > a _ Ready for the Fray. About fifty traveling men met at the read- ing room of Sweet’s Hotel, Sunday noon, to complete arrangements for the trip to Detroit. Inthe absence of President Mills, Chairman Robertson presided, while Secre- tary Seymour took note of the proceedings. Chairman Owen, of the Committee on Transportation, reported that both the D., G. H. & M. and D., L. & N. Railways offered to take a party of fifty to Detroit and return for $4.50 or a party of 200 for $3, in each case gckets to have a five days’ limit. Wm. H. Herrick remarked that if it were advertised that fifty traveling men were going to Detroit onacertain train, there would be at least 150 young ladies on hand to go along. This remark was greeted with cries of ‘‘Louder !” but it was decided not to put him out. Geo. H. Seymour moved that the excur- sion be made over the ‘‘Old Reliable,” leav- ing on the fast train at 6:30 o’clock Friday evening. Leo. A. Caroseconded the motion, adding that the Grand Trunk system had done more for the traveling men than all the other roads in the State, and if facilities and rates were the same, that line ought to have the preference. This remark was greeted with evidences of general approval, and the motion was unanimously carried. The Committee on Transportation was instructed to request Ben. Fletcher to furnish a special coach for the trip. The same Committee was instructed to procure necessary suits for the players and badges for tle entire party. A. B. Cole and B. F. Emery were con- stituted a committee to wait on the jobbers of Grand Rapids and request that the trav- eling men be given a lay-off on Friday and Saturday. It was voted to stop at the Hotel Cadillac while in Detroit. Edwin Mortlock, of Detroit, addressed the gathering, advising the boys to take a broom along with them, as they would un- doubtedly win the game. He asserted that if the Detroit boys were allowed to pick out a nine from traveling men’s sons, how- ever, the result would be entirely different. A oo <——___—__ The Muskegon B. M. A. to Picnic Sept. 6. MusKEGON, Aug. 17, 1888. Grand Rapids Mercantile Association: GENTLEMEN—At a meeting of our Asso- ciation, held last Wednesday, I was instruct- ed to invite your Association most cordially to a basket picnic, to be held Thursday, Sept. 6, at Interlaken Park. A fine time is guaranteed. Comeone, come all! Yours truly, Wm. PEER, Sec’y, Oo Well Worth Seeing. From the N. Y. Commercial Bulletin. Thurber, Whyland & Co. have sent their mechanics to Albany to erect a stand in the State Food Exhibition, to be held there for two weeks from Sept. 10. Their space will be the largest in the exhibition, measuring 40 by 60 feet, and their exhibit will comprise products valued at $10,000 to 15,000. FOR SALE, WANTED, ETC. AA Advertisements will be inserted under this head for two cents a word the first insertion and one centa word for each subsequent insertion. No advertise- ment taken for less than 25 cents. Advance payment. FOR SALE, Pek ALE—BAZAAR BUSINESS, WELL ESTAB- lished in one of the liveliest and best business townsin the State. Proprietor’s health failing. In- voice about $1,400. Now is the time to buy for fall and holiday trade. Address A B C office of this paper. 272 OR SALE—SMALL, NEW 8TOCK OF DRUGS. SPLEN- did opportunity for live young man. Address Lock Box 253, Gladstone, Mich. 273 LEAN, NEAT LITTLE DRUG STOCK IN EAST SAGI- naw, doing a cash business, for sale cheap if tak- enatonce. Address No. 1309 Genesee street, Hast Bask naw. 267 OR SALE—CLEAN GENERAL STOCK OF GOODS and store building in a growing railway town sit- uated in excellent farming region. Stock will inven- tory about $5,000. Reason for selling, too much other business. Will exchange for Grand Rapids property. Address No. 262, care Michigan Tradesman. 262 OR SALE—CLEAN GROCERY, DRY GOODS AND Crockery stock, situated in a railway town, with good line of customers. Stock will inventory ‘about $2,000. Will take part cash and balance on time. Ad- dress A. S. Musselman & Co., Grand Rapids, 260 OR SALE—AT A BARGAIN FOR CASH OR PART cash and terms easy, a circular mill now running | § and in good order, located on a railroad in a section of fine hard and soft timber. Capacity 10 to 14 M per gay Apply to No. 256, Michigan Tradesman. OR SALE—DRUG FIXTURES AND SMALL stOCH of drugs. Address Doctor, Box 242, Rockford. 258 OR SALE—OR EXCHANGE FOR STOCK IN TRADE, Grain Elevator, ten carloads capacity; horse power, large gr ounds; fine town on C. & G. T. railroad; good wheat and produce market. Write for particu- oh ihe B. Tyler, care B. P. & D. A. Co., Grand Rapids, ic OR SALE—A GOOD-PAYING DRUG STOCK x A growing town. Nearest drug store is six miles. Will invoice about $2,500. A big chance for a man of push. Termseasy. Bestof reasons for wishing to sell. Address “Pain Killer,’ care Michigan Tradesman, Grand Rapids. 246 OR SALE—GENERAL STOCK, GOOD TRADE, LONG or short lease of store. A bargain for some one. Must sell. ville, Mich. OR SALE—THE DRESS OF Want to go South. Address Box 12, Grand- 242 TYPE “The Tradesman”—600 pounds of brevier and 200 pounds of nonpareil. A good bargain will be given bux chaser. 206 OR SALE—FRUIT FARM OF 74% ACRES, LOCATED in Spring Lake. Ten minutes ,walk from post- office. Pleasant place. Nice buildings. Will sell on long time or exchange for stock of any kind of mer- chandise. Place is valued at $3,000, will take $2,000 for it. Address S. A. Howey, North Muskegon, Mich. 208 WANTS. V ANTED — AT ONCE, A REGISTERED DRUG clerk, with good references, at reasonably low wages. Address Albert E. Smith, City Drug and Gro- cery Store, Cadillac, Mich. 274 \ ANTED—PART INTEREST IN DRUG OR GENERAL f store by practical register:d pharmacist. Ad dress Robert, care Michigan Tradesman 271 WV ANTED—TO EXCHANGE 80 ACRES OF TIMBER land (pine and black ash), desirable village prop- erty and three horses, for clean stock of groceries in some lively town of not less than 1,000 inhabitants. Address, «xchange, care Michigan Tradesman. 270 V ANTED— SITUATION AS HARDWARE CLERK. Seven years’ experience. Best of references. H. L. Williams, Ludington, Mich. 268 NOW USED ON ANTED—EVERY STORE-KEEPER WHO READS | - this paper to give the Sutliff coupon system a trial. It will abolish your pass books, do away with all your book-keeping, in many instances save you the expense of one clerk, will bring your business down to a cash basis and save you all the worry and trouble that usually go with the pass-book plan. of the month with the new system and you will never regret it. Having two kinds, both kinds will be sent by addressing (mentioning this paper) J. H. Soe Albany, N. Y. V ANTED—1,000 MORE MERCHANTS TO ADOPT aun Improved Coupon Pass Book System. Send for samples. E. A. Stowe & Bro., Grand Rapids. 214 MISCELLANEOUS. HAVE SOME CHOICE GRAND RAPIDS REA?. ES- tate which I will exchange for +tock of gu ds, hardware or boots and shoes preferred. Address No 261, eare Michigan Tradesman. 201 iL 20 CASH BUYS MANUFACTURING BUSI- ness paying 100 per cent. Best of rea- sons? for selling. Address Chas. Kynoch, St. fences ic 228 Start the Ist | , PLACE to secure a thorough and useful education is at the GRAND RAPIDS (Mich ) Bust. NESS COLLEGE. wri tor Col- lege Journal. Address. C. G. SWENSBERG. CASH SALE CHECKS. Encourage your trade to pay cash instead of running book accounts by. using Cash Sale Checks. For saleat50 cents rer 100 by E. A STOWE & BRO., Grand Rapids. Parties in want should CEE) t write to or see the Grand Rapids Seed Store, #4 Street. Offer No. 172. FREE—To Merchants Only: A tripple-plated Silver Set (6 knives, 6 forks, 6 tea spoons, 1 sugar spoon, 1 butter knife), in satin-lined case. Ad- dress at once, R. W. Tansill & Co., 55 State St., Chicago. We carry a full line of Seeds of every variety, both for field and garden. na On Naa ee sar ONAN ce cy / Richmond & Seymour, ! MYGS. OF ALL KINDS Packing Boxes, Shipping Cases, ss Crates, eto. ' 4 and 6 Erie 8t., GRAND BAPIDS SHELF BOXES, ‘SYaMved DonAd The most practical hand Roaster in the world. Thousands in use—giving satisfac- tion. They are simp:e durable and econom- ical. No grocer should _be without -. one. Roasts coffee and pea-nuts to per fection Send. for circulars. Robt. §. West, = 150 Long St., Cleveland, Ohic. EXROTDY PS Saat Bele) Aas aes Peers Ole Naat a ce ae CUES oI-Y VS 0 ge ato a es eT eg) ON as ae Are Rs STANTON, SAMPSON % 60,, Manutacturers and Jobbers of Men’s Furnishirg Goods. Sole Manufacturers of the ‘Peninsular’ Brand Pants, Shirts and Overalls, State agents for Celuloid Collars and Cuffs. 120 and 122 Jefferson, Ave., DETROIT, - MICHIGAN. GEO. F. OWEN, Grand Rapids; Western Michigan Salesmaa. NEAL’S CARRIAGE PAINTS Re-paint your old buggy and make it look like new for LESS THAN ONE DOLLAR. Eight beautiful shades. Prepared ready for use. They dry hard in a few hours, and have a beautiful and durable gloss. They are the ORIGINAL, all others are IMITATIONS. More of our brand sold than all the other brands on the market. GRANITE FLOOR PAINTS The Great Invention. Six Handsome Shades. Ready for use. DRY HARD OVER NIGHT, and are very durabie. Give them atrial, and you wiil be convinced that it does not pay to mix the palnt yourself. ACME WHITE LEAD & COLOR WORKS DETROIT, Dry Color Makers, Paint and Varnish Manufacturers. CUT.THIS ADVERTISEMENT OUT AND TAKE IT TO YOUR DEALER, IT WILL SECURE YOU A PRiZx. WOONSOCKET and RHODE ISLAND RUBBERS Write for Fall Prices and Diseounts G. R. MAYHEW, é Grand Rapids, Mich, Boston and hawrence Felt and Knit Boots. mnt Viee-President— Chambers, ae ‘Second Vice-President—C. Strong, espe Secretary—E. A. Th date Grand Rapids. Treasurer—L. W. Bet aon Fe Greenville. Executive Board— ident; C. L. Whitney, Muskegon; - +. Frank Hamilton, Seve, City; N.B. Blain, Chas. T. Bridgman, Flint; Hiram DeLano, ‘allegan; ee ttee 6n Insurance—Geo. B. Caldwell, Green- ville; W.S. Powers, Nashville; Oren Stone, Flint. “Co ittee on Legislation—S. E. Parkill, Owosso; H. Y a eae "Grand Rapids; H. H. apes , Allegan, Committee on Trade Interests—S arnes, Traverse City: Geo. Re Hoyt, Hast Raginaw; AA. B. Fargo, Mus- ‘kego' mittee on Transportation—J ames Osborn. Owosso; — Conklin, Grand Rapids; C. F. Bock, Battle Cevok. - Committee on Building and Loan Associations—Chaun- cey Strong, Kalamazoo; Will Emmert, Eaton Rapids; W. E. Crotty, Lansing, Local Seerctary= —P. J. Connell, nee Official Organ—THE MICHIGAN ‘TRADESMA The following auxiliary associations are op- erating under charters granted by the Michi- gan Business Men’s Association: No, 1—Traverse City B. M. A. President, Geo. E. Steele; Secretary, L. Roberts. No. 2—Lowell ss. M. A. President, N. B. Blain; Secretary, Frank T. King. No. 3—Sturgis B. M. A. President, H. 8. Church; Secretary, Wm. Jorn. No. 4—Grand Rapids M. A. President, ‘E. J. Herrick; Secretary, E. A. Stowe. No. 5—Muskegon B. M. A. President, H. B. Fargo; Secretary, Wm. Peer. '. No. 6—Alba HK. M. A. Preeident, = W. Sloat; Secretary, P. T. Baldwin. ‘oO. 7—Dimondale B. ae As BCU L Sloan; Secretary, } N. H. Widger. No. 8—Eastport rt B. M. A. President, ¥. H. ‘Thurston; Secretary, Geo. L. Thurston. No, 9—Lawrence B. M. A. President, H. M. Marshall; Secretary, J. H. Kelly. “No. 10—Harbor Springs B. M. A. President, Ww. J. Clark; Secretary, A. L. Thompson. No.11—Kingsley B. M. A. President, H. P. Whipple; Secretary, C. H. Camp. No. 12—Quincy B. M. A. President, C. McKay; Secretary, Thos. Lennon. : No. 13—Sherman B. M. A. President, H. B. Sturtevant; Secretary, W. J. Austin. No. 14—No. Muskegon B. M. A. President, 8S. A. Howey; Secretary, G. C. Havens. No. 15—Boyne City B. M. A. President, R. R. Perkins; Secretary, F. M. Chase. No. 16—Sand Lake B. M. A. President, J. V. Crandall: Secretary, W. Rasco. No. 127—Plainwell B. M. A. President, E. A. Owen, Secretary, J. A. Sidle. No. 18—Owosso B. M. A. President, H. W. Parker; Secretary, 8. Lamfrom. No. 19—Ada B. M. A President, D. F. Watfon; Secretary, E. E. “Chapel. No. 20—Saugatuck B. M. A. ; President, John F. Henry; Secretary, L. A. Phelps. No. 21—Wayland B. M.A. President, C. H. Wharton; Secretary, Mi V. Hoyt. No. 22—Grand Ledge B. - A.: Persident, A. B. Schumacher; Secretary, W. No. 23—Carson City B. M. — President, F. A. AE ookateliow; Secretary, C. G. Bailey. No. 24—Morley B. M. A. President, J. E. Thurkow; Secretary, W. H. Richmond. "No. 25—Palo B. M. A. President, Chas. B. Johnson; Secretary, H. D. Pew. ; No. 26—Greenville Is. M. A. President. 8. R. Stevens; Secretary, Geo. B. Caldwell. No. 27—Dorr B. M. A. President, E. S. Botsford; Secretary, L. N. Fisher. : No. 28—Cheboygan B. M.A President, Fred S. Frost; Secretary, H. G. Dozer. No. 29—Freeport B. M. A. President, Wm. Moore;. Secretary, A. J. Cheesebrough. No. 30—Oceana B. M. A. President, A.G. Avery; Secretary, E. 8S. Houghtaling. No. 31—Charlotte B. M. A. President, Thos. J. Green; Secretary, A. G. Fleury. No. 32—Coopersville B. M. A. ; President, W. G. Barnes; Secretary, J. B. Watson. No. 33—Charlevoix &. M. A. President, L. D. Bartholomew; Secretary, R. W. Kane. No. 34—Saranac B. M. A. President, H. T. Johnson; Secretary, P. T. Williams. No. 35—Bellaire B. M. A. President, Wm. J. Nixon; Secretary, C. E. Densmore. "Ne. 36—Ithaca B. M. A President, O. F. Jackson; Secretary, John. M. Everden. No. 3%7—Battle Creek B. M. A. President, Chas. F. Bock; Secretary, W. F. Baxter. No. 38—Scottville B. M. A. President, H. E. Symons: Secretary, D. W. Higgins. No. 39—Burr Oak B. M. A. President, W. 8. Willer; Secretary, F. W. Sheldon. No. 40—Eaton Rapids B. M. A. President, C. T. Hartson; Secretary, Chas. Coller. o. 41—Breckenridge B. M. A. President, W. O. Watson; Secretary, C. E. Scudder. No. 42—¥Fremont B. M. A. President. Jos. Gerber; Secretary Cc. J. Rathbun. No. 43—Tustin B. M. A. President, G. A. Estes; Secretary,W. M. Holmes. No. 44—Reed City B. M. A. President, E. B. Martin; Secretary, W. H. Smith. No. 45—Hoytville BB. M. A. President, D. E. Hallenbeck; Secretary, O. A. Halladay. No. 46—Leslie B. M. A. President, Wm. Hutchins; Secretary, B. M. Gould. No. 47—Flint M. U. President, G. R. Hoyt; Secretary, W. H. Graham. No. 48—Hubbardston B. M. A. President, Boyd Redner; Secretary, W. J. Tabor. No. 49—Leroy B. M. A. President, A Wenzell; Secretary. Frank Smith. No. 50—Manistee B. M. A. President, A. O. Wheeler; Secretary, J. P. O'Malley. No. 51—Cedar Springs B. M. A. President, L. M. Sellers; Secretary, W. C. Congdon. No. 52—Grand Haven B. M. A. President, F. D. Vos; Secretary, Wm. Mieras. No, 53—Bellevue B. M. A. - President, Frank Phelps; Secretary, John H. York. No. 54— Douglas B. M. A. President, Thomas B. Dutcher; Secretary, C. B. Waller. No, 55—Peteskey B. M. A. President, C. F. Hankey; Secretary, A. C. Bowman. No. 56—Bangor B. M. A. President, = W. Drake; Secretary, Geo. Chapman. 57—Rockford B. M. A. President, oa G. Tefft; Secretary. E. B. Lapham. No. 58—Fife Lake B. M. A. President, E. Hagadorn; Secretary, E. C. Brower. No. 59—Fennville B. M. A. President F. S. Raymond: Secretary, P. 8. Swarts. No. 60—South Boardman B. M. A. President, H. E. Hogan; Secretary, 8. E. Neihardt. No. 61—Hartford B. M. A. President, V. E. Manley; Secretary, I. B. Barnes. No. 62—East saginaw M. A. President, G. W. Meyer; Secretary, Theo. Kadish. No. 63—Evart B. M. A. President, W. M. Davis; Secretary, C. E. Bell. No, 64—Merrill B. M. A. President, C. W. * Robertson; Secretary, Wm. Horton. No. 65—Kalkaska B. M. A. President, Alf. G. Drake; Secretary, C. S. Blom. No. 66—Lansing B. M. A. President, Frank Wells; Secretary, Chas. Cowles. No. 67—Watervliet B. M. A. President, a Parsons; Secretary, J. M. Hall. o. 68—Allegan B. M. A President, A. oe ‘Calkins; Secretary, E. T. VanOstrand. No. 69—Scotts and Climax B. M. A. President, Lyman Clark; Secretary, F. 8. Willison. No. 70—Nashville B. M. A, President, H. M. Lee; Secretary, W. S. rowers. No, 71—Ashley B..M. President, M. Netzorg; Secretary, Geo. . Clutterbuck. No. 72—Edmore B. M. A. No, 73—Belding B. M. A. President, A. L. Spencer; Secretary, O. F. Webster. No. 74—Davison M. U. President, J. F. Cartwright; Secretary. L. Gifford. : No. 75—Tecumseh B. M. A. President, Oscar P. Bills; Secretary, F. Rosacraus. * No. 76—Kalamazoo B. M. A. President, 8. 8. McCamly; Secretary, Chauncey Strong. Special Enterprises Wanted, aHenor ten hands five years. Bonus, $1,000. 266 Om GAN—WANTS WOOD MANUFACTOR- seta improve the greatest ad- the State. kinds of timber of the finest Come and we will R. Clarke. Lowell; | _|THE BUSINESS MAN IN POLITICS. The following address, prepared by the late Congressman Moffatt, of Traverse City. was read at. the Cheboygan. convention by 10. F. Conklin: Mr. President and Gentlemen of the M. B. M. AS It was with great diffidence and after much hesitation that I accepted the invita- tion of your Association to prepare a paper to present to you on this occasion; but the subject suggested is one that, im my judg- ment, so vitally concerns the welfare of. our country and the purity of this administra- tion that I felt I could not, consistent with duty, decline, and I am here to invite your attention very briefly to my views of your duty as citizens. With the psalmist of old we, as a ane truthfully exclaim that our lines have fallen in pleasant places and that we have a good- ly heritage; by the blood, devotion and marvelous ability of the Fathers we have had bequeathed to us the most perfect sys- tem of government that exists or ever has existed on the globe. Here, in an almost unbroken wilderness, by men who were educated and developed in the hard, stern school of pioneer ex- perience—the majority of them compara- tively unlettered—was formed a govern- ment guaranteeing its citizens the largest liberty of action, the most glorious oppor- tunity for achievement, the most ample protection in all the great ends of govern- ment—“‘life, liberty and the pursuit of hap- piness.” This government, so formed, has been protected and defended by the sons, this tree of liberty so planted has been freely watered by the blood of the best and noblest of the land, whose true lives went up in the smoke of battle, until to-day our nation stands forth the wonder and admira- tion of the whole world, while under its overshadowing branches sit sixty million of the most contented, happy and prosper- ous people of the earth. Such is our government, our nation, our home. Of it we are a part—the nation is but the incarnation of the highest aspira- tions, the best thought and noblest concep- tions of its people. It is the echo of their voice, it is the reflection of their wishes, the sum total of popular wisdom and de- sire. Our system of government excels any other, justin degree as it responds to the popular pulse, as it results in the greatest good to the greatest number. The highest duty of man, next only to that he owes his God, is to his country—if it is perfect, to defend it and keep it so; if not, to bring it as near perfection as possi- ble. Patriotism, love of country, devotion to fatherland are the noblest traits of char- acter recorded in history or celebrated in song; their story has made luminous the pages of the one and inspired the sweetest and most soul-stirring strains of the other, recounting the tales of martial valor, the heroic deeds of arms and camp. Still **peace has her victories no less renowned than war,” and as great and as important victories for the cause of freedom have been achieved by the peaceable political action of the government, and in these conflicts have been heroes as life sacrificing, as de- voted, as brave and as noble as Leonidas at the Pass or: Horatius atthe Bridge. In peace, as in war, the nation has aright to demand the best efforts of all its citizens; and we all oweto the government these efforts as a holy debt; as a duty to ourselves, that we may get the greatest possible need of good government; as a duty to posterity, that they may receive the sacred trust from our hands not only unimpaired but greater, broader, grander, better that we received it. It is as to my views of your political duty in this regard, business men of Michigan, that I address you through the ballot, , Which falls as lightly as snow-flakes on the sod ‘And executes a freeman’s will As lightning does the will of God.” The theory of our government is that the will of the governed is to determine the policy to be pursued, that the majority of the people shall dictate, subject only to the organic law that every man properly quali- fied shall have his voice heard in the de- termination of public questions and that among voters there shall be no distinction, no class, no privilege—every one is a law giver, the peer of every other. Itis this inestimable privilege the elective franchise, that crowns American citizenship; it is its richest decoration, its proudest boast. Do you value it as you ought? Do you ap- preciate it? Do you realize fully its great responsibility? Are you active to the duty it imposes? Theoretically, yes, practically, I fear not. If it were proposed to deprive you of this priceless privilege, if an effort were made to take from you the right of suffrage, there is not a man of you who would not spend every dollar of his prop- erty, aye, would sacrifice life itself, before he would consent to disfranchisement, for it would not only dishonor his American manhood, but would strike a fatal blow at our boasted freedom and at the institu- tions of our country. Still, when an oppor- tunity arrives for you to exercise this privi- lege, to cast your vote and thereby indicate your wishes as to policy and men, behold what a small excuse will suffice to prevent a small business transaction, whereby a few dollars may be added. to your purse; and the highest privilege and duty of an Ameri- can citizen is neglected, your vote not counted, your voice not heard, your influence not felt in deciding a question of vital interest to you and the country and that which could never be wrested from you by others. You voluntarily relinquish a bau- ble for which you care not. I have not many statistics at hand, but it has been determined that in Massachusetts over 42 per cent. of the vote of that State is not cast, andin our own State over 30 per cent., a majority of whom are business men. This is a startling fact which should attract the attention and thought of every lover of his country. In practical politics, policies are deter- mined through the medium of parties; they are the necessary and inevitable outgrowth of our system of government; men holding similiar views necessarily associate them- selves together in order to endeavor to secure the adoption of these views by the nation. Every voter is supposed to have an opinion as to the questions which from time to time engage the attention and are submitted to the decision of the country through the ballot; every voter’s duty is to have a positive, intelligent opinien upon every such question, and to give his vote and influence to that party which‘is: the repetition of his opinions and views. There isno time when there is not a living, vital issue before the American people, cham- -pioned and represented by parties; all of mill pre-| these issues are important to the welfare of the country and to each citizen personally. .| No question of government policy can arise | that does not affect for weal or woe every pal. 1 ely a \ bainene machine. | ie pace which’ represents ‘them—you should be a partisan. I am aware that with many this word is considered a reproach, a stigma by some, and I fear that itis so ‘viewed by a large number of that class of citizens whose representatives I have the honor to address to-night. But I submit that if your opinions are worth anything they are worth ascertaining. If you deem certain policies best for our country, you should aid in securing their adoption through the only possible medium, to wit, **the party,” and to that end you should be outspoken, active, energetic in advancing the interests of that party. I have no patience with a man of intelligence and capacity who does not ally himself with a political party and become active in its interests, for it is either because he has no opinion upon great public questions, or, if he has, he is shamefully shirking his public ‘duty and abdicating the noblest right of citizenship. I have the highest respect for those whose, judgment leads them to differ from me on questions of public interest; I honor them if they are aggressive’ in defense of their views and of their party, but, as a man who loves his country, has pride in her form of government, I am ashamed of the man who has no opinion en vital political. issues, or, if he has, does not care enough for them to give any evidence of his faith. My friends, the best indication, the surest symptom of political healthfulness is posi- tive, aggressive, determined party spirit abroad in the land. It is in political con- flict that the rich value of our government appears; it is as the polish that causes the brilliancy of the diamond. No, the word partisan is not a reproach— it is an honor, a decoration, an evidence of high duty performed. The reproach is for the man who has not patriotism, public spirit and energy enough to be one. Of no class of citizens should more be expected in this regard than of the business men of our State and nation. The ability, the capacity, the energy, the intelligence and experience which have enabled you to succeed as business men to develep our great industries, establish our great marts of trade, cveate our great commerce indus- tries, in short, to make our country to-day the commercial equal of any on the earth, are characteristics valuable to party and to country. The nation which guards and protects your life, your property, your hap- piness has a right to demand the active em- ployment in behalf of those elements of character by which you have produced such results, hasa right to demand your best thoughts and judgment on the questions of national importance which are constantly arising, that you shall make that judgment manifest by active efforts through political party, in short, has a right to demand that you be a partisan. There are now engaging the public at- tention questions of the greatest importance, pressing for decision, every one of which challenges the attention, the best thought and the soundest judgment of the country, and should particularly interest the business men of Michigan, as they are all economic business propositions. ‘The great question of transportation—how the commerce of the country be best afforded; the cheapest, quickest and impartial carriage consistent with the legal and equitable rights of the railroads; the improvement of the water ways—all these closely communicate with the foregoing, also the tariff upon imports, disposition of the surplus in the Treasury, the restriction of immigration, pensions to the soldiers of the late war, temperance, the many important matters relating to the sober interests of our country. All these questions must be specially settled, and if you each do your duty to your country and to yourself, your voice will be heard, your influence felt, your vote counted in secrecy according to such a determination as your judgment shall dictate. Do not understaud me as saying that everything is all wrong in the body politic —there is no way of judging of the situa- tion of public affairs but by sweeping all the dirt that can be found throughout the whole into one heap and then judging each part by the aggregate; nor amI of that class of people who believe in the political or personal degeneracy of our times, who sing the praises of the past and bewail the present. Weknow that men and events seen through the vista of years stand out surmounted by a hold of story that time, ‘““Makes Helens of plain Ann Elizas, and the goose of to-day is memoring swan.” But every year our nation is growing stronger and better and broader and grand- er; and the more interest you take in shap- ing its policy, the more active you are in enforcing your views of public affairs, the more progress will be made. I have the most implicit faith in the cool, collected judgment of the people. Mistakes tempo- rary in character they make when time has not allowed thought and discussion; but when a proposed policy or question has passed through the fiery furnace of cam- paigning and party discussion, when the issue has been clearly made and thoroughly presented to the greatest, wisest, most powerful tribune, the mature, intelligent conscience of the American people, the ver- dict is always right. We may not see it in that light at the time and it may be against our judgment, but I firmly believe that the voice of the American people is the voice of God; but it must be the popular voice of the whole people, not of a part, not of a class, not of a faction alone—it must be the voice of all expressing their views, however diversified, blending into the harmony of perfection. But if the result, as announced, does not express the voice of the voters, then is the election a farce and our government a mockery. All crimes against the purity of the ballot, by whatever person or party committed—whether by violence and intim- idation the voter is prevented from casting his ballot or forced to vote contrary to his wishes, by bribery when money and boodle vote instead of the citizen, by stuffing the ballot box, by false count or returns, whether it be in Mississippi, New York, Il]- inois or Michigan—should be declared treason and be punished as such. It is more danger- ous to the nation than levying war against it, for that can be fairly and squarely met, overthrown and punished; but crimes against the purity of the ballot box, by their slow. and insidious poison, sap the very life ‘principle, and before we-are aware the nation will be past. recovery. This needs no: argument—it: isa political axiom; yet how apt. we are to give this crime of crimes but a ‘passing thought or applaud it as a sharp political trick and condone the crime when we should protect our election as the -apple of our eye. The effects of carelessness and negligence -of the business men as a class, relating to their politica] matters, are most clearly seen in. ‘tunicipal politics in the cities of our country. It is here that mismanagement, corruption and theft often run riot and are ‘in many cases backed up with brazen ents are effron -Muniet cake phronen them gov: the cities are polloed. lighted nar provided with water, the highways constructed and regulated, etc., ete.—all purely business matters, national and state politics not! involved, and solemn necessarily being party nominations are made more for the purpose of organization than otherwise. Here is a wide field for action—a correct, honest, economical, and yet broad and lib- eral policy in municipal affairs should be the desire of every good citizen; yet these matters are too often given the ‘‘go by” unless under the statement of some great local excitement brought about by the ex- posure of startling corruption or misman- agement. ‘The vote at our municipal elec- tions is very meager, and here it is that the disreputable, dishonest and criminal class, who only disgrace the name of politics, reap their harvest, obtain control of the public affairs and steal and prey upon the community until, emboldened by their suc- cess and the listlessness of the citizens, they commit some act of such a flagrant character as to arouse the indignation of the people, when a full vote is cast and they are driven from power. Then the city will relapse into its normal condition of interesting in- difference—and once more *‘History repeats itself.” Eternal vigilance is not only the price of liberty but also of good, honest, efficient municipal government, and no citi- zen, particularly no business man, should allow a local election to pass without cast- ing his vote so that it shall count in favor of a business-like municipal government. In my judgment, every election day— national, state or municipal—should be made by statute a legal holiday, and all business should be suspended to the end that every elector may, in a deliberate, thoughtful manner, exercise the most im- portant and precious privilege of citizen- ship. The laborers should come from their toil, the professional men from their studies and offices, the business men of all callings from the busy marts of trade and commerce and devote one day to this high duty and sacred right. It is not on election days that you are often derelict in duty. At the ballot box you are limited in your choice to the nom- ination of the various parties. Whatever may have been the theories and ideas of the parties, the practical working of the politi- cal machine restricts the real choice of the voter. Of course, you can cast your vote for whom you wish, but if it be for some one who has not been nominated by the people, the convention or cause of some great party, the vote is lost or, as some one has well expressed it, you have ‘‘voted in the air.” It follows that any citizen who has a choice (and all should have) as to who shall occupy the various offices and admin- ister the affairs of government must attend and interest himself in the primaries of his party, the fountain-head of all political ac- tion, the very source of good or evil. It is here that the influence of the citizen is most di- rectly felt, itis here that the individuality of the voter is preserved; the primaries elect the delegates, the deiegates nominate candidates, and for them you must vote. ‘Now, how many of the business men of Michigan who give me audience to-night, as a rule, attend the primaries of their party? How many of you have any voice in saying who shall be President of the nation, Governor of the State, Representa- tive in Congress, etc., except to choose be- tween those nominated at conventions of parties. The real choice is at the caucus and convention, and here the business man is generally conspicuous by his absence. This has been my observation. The gen- tleman who has for the past year so ably served this Association ‘as its' President I have known for years as a fellow towns- man, a gentleman of great intelligence and ability, of energy and marvelous business capacity, a man of great public spirit and of party political views, and yet I have never seen him present at a primary of his party, and he is a fair type of the majority of business men—too apt to say, ‘‘Oh, let the politicians run it—I am too busy.” And, then, perchance, if the action of the primary (composed of men who are alive to their rights and duties in this regard) is not in accordance with your views, or the can- didates nominated distasteful, in the popu- lar phrase of the day. you ‘‘kick.” Refus- ing or neglecting to aid with your voice and influence in endeavoring to secure the result yeu may desire, you become disgruntled because the result is not to your liking, and you vote for the nominee of a party to whose principles you are opposed and whose can- didate is no better than, if as good as, the nominee of your own party, who has been nominated by methods fully as objection- | P. able as those you would condemn. And what have you gained? Nothing, except, perhaps, to have fastened upon the country a policy which you consider detrimental to its best interests and to have elected a can- didate with whom you have no sympathy and to have endorsed a caucus action no better than your own. But, you often say that the word ‘‘caucus” and ‘‘primary” is a dirty pool run by rings and politicians for revenue only. If it be so, it is the fault of the people, and you are responsible for your full share. The people are all right, their motive correct; they desire the best, the highest and purest in politics as in everything else, and if you would wake upto a full con- ception of the importance of the primary and your duties in this regard and would exercise one-tenth part of the ability, ener- gy and intent you display when yoti ‘‘kick and bolt,” the faults to which you object would vanish at once. But, I wish to say here in this presence that many of the ob- jections to the proceedings at the primaries and caucuses are visions and extravagances, as a further acquaintance will convince you: but whatever is wrong you should help to right; whatever objectionable, you should help to remedy; whatever unseemly and of ill report, you should help to correct. If there be any dirt or corruption in the spring from which flows the great stream of American politics, who should be more intent in -having it cleansed than the busi- ness men? Another count in the indictment which can be justly found against the business man in this behalf is the shirking and evad- ing of the duty of taking office. In the early days of the republic, the holding of office was considered a burden and its ac- eeptance a duty which citizens were expect- ed to bear and perform; it:was a sacrifice which they were called upon to make for. the public good. Toa great extent that is true to-day. There is no money to be made in public office for the capable business man. There may possibly be a livelihood but |. nothing more, and for this reason it is diffi- cult to obtain capable men of affairs to be candidates for office; consequently, the office necessarily falls to the lot of men who wish it merely for the purpose of livelihood and are sometimes incapable, or it falls to that class of citizens whose wealth enables them to devote the time and attention necessary to execute the trust committed to them, and it is unfortunate when our choice of officials is imited to ether, Eo Now, you all recognize your duty, but when called upon you begin with one accord to make excuses. and then find fault with the official who is chosen. If you desiré a good governmert, if you desire pure admin- istration, if you desire business-like execu- tion of public trusts, then you must consent to bear your part of the public burden. The disineclination of business men of all classes to assume their share of the responsibility | y, of office is a large stone in our political shoe. But I wish in this connection to give my testimony to the pure public character of men whom the people of this State have honored with high office. I have had op- portunity to know and to judge, and with- out hesitation or reservation I would state that itis my candid opinion that no man ever occupied the office of Governor of Michigan and with one exception a State office and with one exception a member of the Legislature but who was perfectly pure and incorruptible in his office and who exe- cuted itsfened attentively, now said: “Sir, your voice is kind, and I feel sure “you areagentleman. We are not beggars, ‘hut, God help us, we have not had a mouth- ful since yesterday noon. Iam blind, or smearly so, and hearing of a skillful oculist sin Chicago, my wife sold what we had and “raised what money she could and we are on sour way to Chicago, hoping to have my sight restored. We have relatives there, and will be taken care of, once in Chicago. Through some misunderstanding, we erred in estimating the amount it would cost to Sransport us, and find that we will have to Heave the train at Kalamazoo. God help us, 31 don’t know what we’ll do.” The woman was softly crying, and the ~@hildren—well, they were eating the lunch. The red-faced man did not long hesitate. ‘He took off his hat, and, going to the front of the car, turned and faced the passengers, «and said in a loud voice: *‘My friends, excuse me, but I want your attention just a moment.” Then he went on and related the story as told him by the blind man. ‘‘Now,” he concluded, ‘‘I am mot rich myself, but here’s my mite,” and the threw a five-dollar bill into hishat. He assed down the aisle and nearly every one contributed something. Then he went to the next car, and the next, until the train ‘was canvassed and, coming back, his face sredder than ever, followed by three or four others, he emptied his hat into the woman’s lap, and said : “‘Madam, God—if there is one—helps the worthy poor, they say—you look like a good woman and your act of giving those apples to the children and your husband, ‘and eating none yourself, while actually starving, shows your build. You area full dhand on aces. Don’t thank me. Who am 1 ?—-you’re better off not to know—well, if you insist, they call me Canada Bill.” —_—_—>_2