New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-13
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
THE SENATORIAL CONTEST IN MICHIGAN
SENATOR FERRY CoNFIDENT-THE RESULT SAID BIZ
Mr.. HUBBELL TO BE IN DoUBT-cHARGEs AM
COUNTER CHARGES
IBY TELEGRAPH To THE rRlBUsEI

SENATOR FERRY coNFIDENr-THE RESULT SAID BIZ
Mr.. HUBBELL TO BE IN DoUBT-cHARGEs AMI
COUNTER CHARGES.
IBY TELEGRAPH THE rRiBUsg.i
WASHINGTON, Dec Blowing to the presence in
Washington of the two principal candidates for the
Michigan Senatorship and of three or four othcf
gentlemen whose friends have them in training a.
dark horses" much gossip respecting the canvass
is afoat. Ex-Governor and ex-senator Baldwin, OF
Michigan who is also in Washington, says the re-
suit is doubtful and thinks it probable that suf'
fcient number of the Repu olican members OF the
Legislature will at first decline to go into a caucus
to prevent one until opportunity has been given for
all to show their preferences by open balloting
Senator Ferry on the contrary processes 10 regard
the whole matter as virtually settled in advance
and his own reelection as assured. The National
Republican reports him as saying that Mr.. Hubbeli
had attacked him "venomousy" and employed
methods dsreputable in the extreme " to break h m
down. He would not degrade" himself by
"entering upon any such warfare n Mr. Hub5ell
invited He wOud let his record of eighteen years
in Congress, twelve of them in the Senate, answer
any charges The charge that he had
traded off votes for Governor etc, for votes for
the Legislative ticket. as 10 insure his own
reelection. he pronounced "a pure fabrication. q
base lie without the fantest shadow of foundation
in fact" and added: Il have made no charges
II.
lief amounting almost to a positive conviction, Is
entertained in many parts of the State that stanch
Republican candidates for the Legislature in DIS
tricts heretofore supposed to be absolutely safe owe
their defeat to the hostile of Republican money.
| do not pretend to say where this money came
from, or who is responsible for its introduction
into the campaign. | merely state the facts, and
the facts can speak for themselves"
Mr. Hubbell, who reached Washington to-day,
said TO a TRIBUNE correspondent: 1T Is now pretty
generally conceded in Michigan that the campaign
carried on in that State was from the outset a
Ferry campaign, and that its man supporters and
augelmen were employees OF the Government. To
such an extent did these gentlemen interfere with
the free expression of public sentiment IN nominat-
ing conventions, that there Is now a widespread
feeling among the more conservative men in the
State that 1t is doubtful whether not the Refub-
lican party can recover III time for 1854"
Being asked what he meant by official interfer-
ence in the campaign. Mr.. Hubbell replied; =" 1
to say that every special agent Of the several
departments of the Government in Michigan was at
the command of Tom Ferry, travelling all through
the State putting up conventions, and when impos-
sible TO control them securing proxies IN one way or
another by questionable methods. We had in
Michigan the spectacle of nominating conventions
instructng the nominees for the State Legslaturs
to vote for Tom Ferry for Senator. This was done
wherever IL would do to force such resolutons-
thing which never before happened in the history
of the State. made an effort unsuccessful how
ever Ito have the Administration put stop to this
not because | desired 1t to aid either party, but
because might appear to be taking sides II 1t in
terfered. This thing is well known and under
stood in Michigan to-day that it is common talk
and comment among Republicans of all shades OF
opinion and is regretted on all sides"
n Ia Cap Vi.l fast
ically settled ~
| Certainly not. There is great Indignation
| growing daily In Michigan against the methods
| of Tom Ferry and his oflice-hOdng henchmen in
| the management of the campaign The feelingis
expressed upOn ali sides that it simply Ferry
campaign, and that every consideration OF success
| was bJrduated to that of securing Ferry ma
| jorlty in the Legislature Let me particularize.
| Mr. Seaman was nominated for the Legislature at
Wyandotte, n Republican district 1t would not
do instruct him in the convention. but after his
nomination lie approached by the Ferry strikers
to know how lie stood on tho Senatorial question,
and was plainly told that if he would come out
for Ferry be would he aided IN his election, and
that if he refused he woald be defeated. He do
clined to make terms and he was defeated, and
Democrat was elected insteId'
Mr.. Hubbel made other charges OF the same
kind - 1t is openly charged In Detroit" he said,
" and throughout the State, that the money of tho
State Central Committee used to help in elect
ing Ferry men TO the Legislature, and that not q
dollar was used to help elect any man VINO would
not pledge himself to support Tom Ferry
for Senator The Collector of Customs at
Detroit was Ferry's chief lugeman. He could we'll
afford to spend freely for the reelection of his chief
His office s a lucrative one; he not only receives
ten or twelve thousand dollars year for the sa 10
of bllnks as Collector, but while supposed 10 be
loOln after the interests OF the Government / n
that regard. is known TO be under the pay OF two or
| three railroads which come from Canada into the
State"
How is that'"
why he receives salary. much per
year or month, from those corporations,
while at tho same time he is acting as
Collector of Customs and while those
corporations are bringing dutable goods into Mich
igau. | know it is asserted in Michigan that there
was always money enough to keep Special Agent
Gavit of the Treasury Department, who s stationed
at Detroit; Special Agent Van Alstine Special
Agent Spaudog, and every other Olic al In the Gov
ernment service in the state, down to postal agents,
or the run whenever or wherever 1t was necessary
for them to go aud fix Up convention or determine
whether or not "a nominee for The Legislature ought
to be- assisted.
"As for Ferry's charges against me-" continued
Mr. Hubbell. IL have this 10 say: | never
used one dollar III money IN Michigan IN trying TO
defeat any candidate for the Legislature While
the State Central Committee did use money to help
elect members to the Legislature, they never used
single dollar to elect any man who was not pro-
nounoed Ferry man. There is no doubt that there
was money used IN Michigan 70 defeat staneh he
publican candidates for the Legislature III strong
Republican districts and that Tom Ferry knows
| where it came from. Tom Ferry seems 70 thlnk
| that the Uuted States Senatorship from Michigan
| belongs 10 him, so that ii any one else even
...i,.,. n h. nnrnSsnrlX resOrIs 10 all sorts