New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-09
1IrrLY rIaHr In MICnIeAN.


STRENGTH OF THE NATIONALS IN THE LUMBER
DtsrRICrs-THEIR ACTIVITY AND THEIR EXPEC-
TAuONs.
f,pow A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRBUNEl
c.pr NAY. N. j., Aug. s.-"We are having a
..nuipe political sensation in our State said
s.refnl observer of Michigan politics yesterday.
aExSenator Chandler was chosen chairman of the
state Committee blythe Republican Convention this
rear. snd be has accepted the position and entered
mon the work of the campaign with all the zeal and
sarnestness of a young man-somcthing which he
has not done before In many years. do not need
a tell Won what that means, for you know that
wben Mr.. Chandler gets hold of the party crank
the old machine has to go or get smashed. You
NAV look for lively fight in Michigan"
This speech was followed by brief review of the
Dtcal history of the State for the past ten years.
Init as the readers of THE TRIBUNE are not likely at
this late day to be interested in the old Chandler
and Austin Blair rialries especially as the Republic
can party of Michigan is now once more united,
mass il over. The quarrels of those two factions
drove Governor Blair out of the Republican party
and publie life sent Mr. Christiancy TO the Senate
n the Mace of Mr. Chandler and Mr.. Ferry in the
plaee of Mr. Howard, and at one time threatened to
throw the Republicans into minority, in State
tbatouqht to have been one of their strOnghOds. 1t
is sucient to say that there now no serious dy-
sons in the party and that expecting no direct ana
nom the Administration the party leaders will ig-
nore the President and his policy and make the fight
in their own way. The Federal ofice.hOders OF the
State are generally friends and supporters Of Mr..
Chandler and there has been no disposition mani
tested by the Administration to interfere with them
on that account. One prominent appointment only
has beeu particularly dstasteful TO the ex-senator
and that the sending of Dr. Fish as consul TO one
Of the Mediterranean ports. As member OF the
legislature in former years, this gentleman had
been influential in defeating some of Mr.. Chambers
plans. and to reward him with appointment is
looked upon as act of hostility to the recognized
leader of the party in the State.
The unknown strength of the National party IN
Michigan alone makes the result of the November
election there doubtful. The Democrats have GER
tsinly made no gains within the last two years, and
the Republicans have lost from other cause than
by possible OBJECTIONS TO the Greenback organize
tons Each of the old parties has taken de-
cied stand in its platform in favor Of hard money
and each Is admitted to have furnished some re-
eruits to the Nationals. The Democrats say that
the decentralization in the Republican party that has
been caused by the efforts Of Sam Cary and bis CO.
workers is sufficient to destroy the Republican ma
iority of former years. and at least to make the
State very close this Fall. The Republicans admit
some losses but think that the Nationals have also
made so many proseytes among the Democrats as
TO leave the relative strength of the two old parties
Substantially unchanged.
I'm what portions of the State does the National
movement seem to have gained most footholdT
asked the gentleman already quoted in this letter.
sThe Greenbackers are strongest in the lumber
regions. and doubt if any intelligent estimate oil
their numbers can yet be made. If You draw line
across the lower peninsula of Michigan, from sagi-
nav to Muskegon the portion of the State north OF
that line will include the greater part OF the lumber
regions and will also comprise the counties (which
the Nationals have been most successful in making
converts"
Why should the lumbermen and those depend
en upon the lumber trade for living fall prey TO
these financial heresies so much more readily than
OthersP
"The lumber business in our State has suffered
very greatly during these years of business depres-
sion A few wears ago, when there was good mar
ket with high prices for all the lumber that could
be cut pine lands were purchased in great quanti-
aes and at extrayagant prices. Many OF them were
not paid for but were mortgaged, with high rates OF
Interest on the outstanding balances The purchas-
ems supposed that they would only have to cut off
The timber and get it to market within year OF two
to convert these lands into cash and realize great
profits. They did not suspect that the mortgages
ard notes would mature with the timber standing
and no market for it. And yet that has been their
experience and the load most Of them are carrying
Is too great for them"
Do they expect that Rreenbaek imitation VIII
help them out of their troubleP
Yes, they think that it would cause at least
temporary revival Of which they could take adyan-
taee One gentleman who does large business ID
tbe lumber regions in speaking with me on this
subject, remarked that he did not care where the
Hood came from il it only oated down his logs. He
drew his illustration from his business. They cut
the trees in the Winter you know and haul the
logs to the little streams, that when the Spring
Hoods come they are foated down TO the larger
streams and upon them to the mills. Now what
This man meant TO say was that he did not care
nom what source the relief from the present de-
Preston might come provided 1t gave him an oppor-
unity to straghten out his affairs and unload some
his heaviest obligations
Aud has there been no effort on the part OF
eherOf the old parties to conciliate the Nationalist
None. was at the Democratic Convention and
seere were not more than two OF three men OF any
pfominence in it who desired to adopt resolution
lust should be acceptable to tho Greenbackers. The
Democrats look rather cOmplacently on the new
movement thinking that it viii cripple the kepub-
means 20 such an extent that they can DO easily
oeien IN the election"
ne same gentleman told me that the Nationals
ave been actively at work in Michigan for two
months. They are putting candidates in nomi-
Astlon in all the Congressional districts, and
NAiy act though they expected to ac-
senplish something in November. ] have
ie'erIed to Sam cary's labors in the State
former letter. He has spent consId-
sIaele time making speeches at small places many
= Them remote from the railroads. and says that he
als been everywhere cordially received.
eeneral Cary told Senator Stanley Matthew'S