New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-21
MICHIGAN POLITICS.


FORM PARTY ON INITIATION.
IrRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRBUSE'I
LANSING, Mich, Aug. 12.-The Reform Con-
vention held here on Thursday. the 9Th Inst, was
highly respectable gathering and considering inc CHAR
acter of the elements composing 1t, the results accom-
plished entitled 1t TO attentive consideration ana 'he
Convention to nominate State Ticket called by It's STATE
Central Committee for the 9th OF September VIII 90 as
well in its way there is doubt but that the Reform
marty will play an important part In the present cam
pa,cn I'm Michigan. The Convention was called Dy
half dozen men, three Of whom were Democratic mem
bers Of the last Legislature, and the most sangune
friend Of reform has at time expected that conven
ton would assemble, formidable In numbers ana zeaous
even to enthusiasm for they knew full well the power
and extent of party discipline in the Peninsuar osato
The Republican party, under the leadership OF senate.
Chandler has kept its ranks closed though scores OF
its best men have either openly or quietly ieIt 'he VI
ganzation. The Democratic party, though IL mas poen
in a hopeless minority In Michigan since 1854 mas peeh
run or managed by Bourbon leaders, many OF "hom
have been in secret alliance with Mr.. Chandier' anu
could be relied on confidently by that gentleman 10
do his bidding as the devoted postmaster Ii all ne
State. -
Daring and for some after the close OF the war;
the Democratic party of Michigan has regularly ana
calmly built its Bourbon PLATFORM uninfuenced ana I'M
disturbed by the inevitable smashing it received every
campaign Its best abandoned the party, without
however going into any other They could not remain
where they were and they could not join the Republ-
party This the situation OF affairs two years
ago at the outset Of the Liberal campaign. The same
influences that the OConor movement on foot In the
and supplied 1t with the sinews OF war set on loot
"bolt" by Democrats from the Liberal Reform ticket
in Michigan, which was led by ex-Mayor Wheaton OF
Detroit soured aud disappointed politician, and COL
Ferry OF Grand Haven brother OF the present SENATOR
both leading and influential Democratic poltlciaus the
former being influenced by Chandler and revenge the
latter by Senator Ferry and family interests but ior
the detection OF these men-whch was made the most
of by the Republican press and had a somewhat
dispiritng influence the rank and file OF the DemOc-
racy-there is little doubt that the Liberal Reform
ticket would have accomplishments success, for that
was not possible but what would have paved the way
for it in this campagnt the complete disruption OF
the Democratic party Most Of the old leaders-ccr-
tlnly all the War Democratsjoned In the Liberal Re-
movement of 1872 in good faith aud that campaign
presented the sight Of the mon who organized the Re-
publican party Of Michigan working side by side
with their ancient enemies for genuine reform through
the election of Horace Greeley II was hoped until re-
Gently that the call for the formation Of Independent
National Reform party would receive the support and
cooperation of the Progressive Democrats, and so. In
fact did at least OF many Of them and 1t is now well
known that majority of the Democratic State Central
Committee less than three weeks ago were opposed to
calling distnctively Democratic State Convention this
year, and the call finally issued only week before
the meeting OF the Reform Convention and then mainly
upon the theory that necessity existed OF Keeping up
organic alton, that if it was deemed desirable to
dsband ii could be done regularly and by authority 1t
could not fail to be apparent two years ago to even the
most indifferent observer that the people of Michigan,
the honest men of both parties. were anxious for "a
change. They had become tired Of the domination OF
Zick Chandler and his greedy obce-h)lding gang ana
they had faith in the sincerity of the Democratic
leaders While the management OF State affairs had
been simply respectable since the war; with but few
exceptions there could not fail to be feeling OF diseon-
among intelligent men-a belief. in fact that the
OF the State subordinated too much to
national interests, to policy of Capitalization. or In
other words to the interests OF the Republican party
TIE CHANDLER INFLUENCE.
For years past Michigan the test Of Republican
orthodoxy been fealy to Zlck Chandler and prompt
obedience his edcts, and the large army or ohce'
holders, especially OF PosImasters whose appointment
he controlled all the State through the favor and
aid of his friend, Mr. Creswell, have long formed per-
nauent adva guard which always captured and held
the primaries in Cbandor's interest. Whenever Mr..
Chandler chose to go into any Congressman Distrct
and make unmake nomination, he did SO over the
protest OF the Representative and that of leading Re
pubcans OF the district This policy educated the Office
seeking element Of the Republican party to look to Mr.
Chandler as the from which they must expect
and receive helps and this Mr. Chandler was able TO
render in spite the fact that he the bitter oppo
nent OF Gen. Grant for the Republican nomination in
1867 and that up the SanO Domingo business he was
steadily hostile to President Grant From that date
change came Ger the spirit of his dream. and since
that time Senator Chandler has been the thickandthin
supporter OF the administration OF the "Great Silent
Man." aud in Michigan has illustrated what Grant mas
done for the nation the beauties OF personal gov
ernment These details necessary TO enable TRiB'
UsE reader outside OF Michigan to comprehend the stu
md
encountered in the organization OF Reform party In
the Peninsuar State.
STRENGTH OF THE REFORM PARTY.
Although Mr. Chandler at Jackson when the Re-
publican party was formed in 1854 he was there as
scoer aud only after discovering the strength OF the
movement did he "reman to pray" Just so was his
influence felt here Thursday last For weeks preced
ing the Convention Mr. Chandler or his agents had been
perambuatng the State sowing the seeds OF distrust
and discord and only necessary that the formal
call OF the Democratic State Central Committee for
regular Convention should appear, to understand that
Chambers work had brought forth its fruit AS already
stated the call was issued but week prior to the meet
ing of the Reform Convention aud Its effect was to Keep
away from the Reform Convention score or more of
leading progressive Democrats as we'll as few Liber
ais who lacked the faith or energy to make another
fight for Reform Still the Convention was strong one
IN many respects 1t contained men VINO were at Jack
son assisting in the formation Of the Republican party
as well as men who had grown gray as Democratic
wheel horses Looking the Convention it was easy
TO see that majority OF Its members were men who had
until recently affiliated with the Republican party,
OF the most active conspicuous members OF the Con-
venton being ex-state Senator WILDER of Aesan. who
two wears ago was earnest and active In support
OF Grants reelection, loudly asserting on the
stump in answer to the Liberal appeal for Reform,
that 1.-the Republican party would purify ana
reform ITSELF" Mr.. Wiber has changed his mind
since then and now leads the Reform movement
in Western Michigan. True, he urges expansion Of
tho az nne of the means OF relieving the wants