Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-14

Ex-Gov. Luce the FiGurehead in the Fight
Against stockbrfdge.

! Corre.pond.nc. q The Evening Sta
GRAND RaPrps, Mich. Dec. IS, 1892.
The fight between Stockbridge and ex-Gov
Luce is becoming more bitter as the day ap-
proaches for the Legislature TO assemble, and the
contest gives every promise Of being as interest
ing as the famous Ferry fight ten years ago
Senator Thomas W. Ferry. ii will be remem-
bered. was n candidate for . third term. he
had a substantial majority Of the republican
members, but lacked few Votes of enough tc
elect in joint session. Eighteen republican
members refused to go into the caucus or to
have anything to do with it as long as Ferry was
in the field For three months the republican
factions fought. the democrats standing TO one
side to see the fun The Ferry forces finally
broke and Thomas W. Palmer was elected. A
| repetition Of the Ferry episode as applied TO
stockbridge will require twenty-five republi-
l can members instead of eighteen, and in certain
quarters the willingness to resort to any meas
ure that will defeat Stockbridge is not lacking.
Mr.. Stockbridge has been in Washington
since Congress convened, but he has not left
his field unprotected from the enemy by any
means. His private secretary, s. ). Odds. is,
has been and will be in Michigan, and when
be Is around trespassing on the old man s
preserves il prohibited strictly it is in
I the power OF one man to do it. MIR. Odds is
an astute politician, thoroughly acquainted
with all the short cuts In politics and knows
pretty nearly everybody in the state. He is q
keen judge of human nature. is familiar with
Mr.. Stockbridge's plans and arrangements en-
I tered into before election and since and knows
Just how to approach mon and bring them in.
He was busily engaged three months before
election travelling over the state getting ac-
quainted with the republican candidates and dis
tributing to such of them needed assistance
the help that would go farthest. Since election
he has been buster than ever, and there is not q
memeer-elect whom he has not seen and whom
he does not thoroughly know. Mr.. Odds is very
confident that MIR. Stockbridgs Will be reelected
and 1lr. Odds is not a rainbow chaser. When
he says the prospects are good he has substan-
tial grounds FOR sayingit
Ex-Gov. LUCE THE CHIEF OPPONENT.
Mr.. Luce is the chief opponent to Mr.. Stock
bridge in the senatorial race, but a matter Of
fact he is only the fgurehead for the anti
Stockbridge forces. He really thinks he is
cutting . wide swath in the field with his far
msr record aud career as governor of the state,
but he 10 mistaken. Ex-senator Thos. ". Pal
mer Is bitterly opposed to StockbridSe because
of a difficulty that arose between them over the
Brule river and Ontanagou railroad grant, and
is sxsrting himself to the utmost to encompass
Mr.. Stockbridges defeat. Beios A. Biodgett of
this city 10 opposed to the Senator because the
latter was broug against his will, into the Grand
Rapid post Office fight four wears ago. New
comb McGrath of Mu.kegon Is against Stock
bridge because be Is a partner in lumber
enterprise with Palmer. Ezra Rust of Sagi-
nav does not like Shockbridge because of o
business deal that did not result satisfactorily
TO him MIR. Luce 10 the fgurehead in the OPP
position TO Stocsbridge and Palmer. Blodgett,
NcGrath and Rust form the substance. The
substance has no particular admiration for the
hgurehead, does not consider Luce ADLER
statesman. any more intelligent any better
qualified. but Luce has an ambition. is the only
man IN Michigan whose ambition has become
outspoken against kalamaZoo's favorite son.
and Luce answers the purpose just well
some other better man. II Luce is unable to
break Stockbridge's line, but can control
enough votes TO prevent a reelection. he will be
dropped as promptly rs would be hot griddle,
and II will be hurrsh, boys, for somebody else.
Luce will be given a great show of warm sup
port, but while supporting him his hackers will
have weather eve open for somebody else. In
nut shell. the fight is for anybody to beat
Stockbridge. and if 1t requires a bolt to bring
about this end there will be a bolt, and il must
be taken BY at least twenty-five republican
members-elect OF il will not be effective.
THE LUCE HEADQUARTERS.
Luce has established campaign headquarters
in this city. John W. Blodgett, who can con-
troll almost many millions as Stockbridge, is
chairman Of the campaign committee. Milo ID.
Campbell. who was Luces private secretary as
governor. and who will continue in that capacity
if Luce becomes Senator, is second in charge
and secretary, and almost daily conferences
are held In Blodgetts Office between the man.
ayers and their friends outside. The anti
millionaire sentiment Is being pushed as vigor-
ously and extensively as possible, notwithstand-
ing the millionaire element that is backing
Luce. and il is understood that this agitation Is
directed as much against Senator Mcmillan,
whose turn will come two years hence, as against
Senator Stockbridge. When the legislature as
sembles and the republicans go into caucus the
AaIl 4
their best to bluff the members from the rural
districts to array themselves against Stock
\ bridge. Petitions are being circulated in every
district that returned republican members urg-
| ing the members TO vote for Luce instead OF
/ for Stockbridge, and the Luce people expect in
this manner TO gather volume Of in
/ huence upon the members that will be
overwhelming The managers of the Luce
/ campaign protest that they are not in
/ the petition business personally, but that the
work is being done by loyal citizens who
have the Interest of the state at heart and see
the importance of "a change. The petition will
not have any great weight upon the Legislature
bee t1se many OF the si,,ners will be in Lansing
4 doing all they Can on the quiet for Stock1ridge.
/ The petition game has never before been
worked IN Michigan senatorial campaigns. but
nearly everybody has had more less expert
ence with petitions.
Mess StOckbridge can command the reQui-
site pumber of republican ballots to elect him In
/ JOINT session very early in the season il is
| doubtful II be Will be chosen for a second term
and the hunt for En available dark horse candi-
date VIII begin at once Congres,man James
y Donnell of Jackson is most prominently men
/ toned IN this connection now and Gen L. NJ
| Cutcheon is also possibility. with j. C. Fitz-
/ gerald, Congressman j. C.. Burrows and jay
/ hubbel In the background. 1t was Hub
bell who led the fight against Ferry.
HOW THE NEWSPAPERS STAND,
| The papers In the state are not BIZ anv means
all Of one mind on the senatorial question.
! The Detroit Journal, owned by Palmer and
the Grand Rapids Eagle. over which Blodgett
exerts great influence, are the leaders in behalf
| OF Luce The kalamazoo Teieqrdph Stock
bridges home paper, and the Grand Rapids
| Herald are the most outspoken Cor Stockbridge
4 OF the weekly papers the Holland City Ne,rs.
the South Haven Messenger, the Whitehall
! Forum. the Paw Paw True Northey-ner, the
! Hili.dale Leader, the Allegan Gdzete, the
Hastings Banner and the Allegan Journal are
all for Stockbridge, and it is significant
that these papers circulate chiefly in
agricultural communities and in strong
| republican districts and 60 far toward
| shaping the rural sentiment. A confidential
circular letter just issued to the republican edi-
| tors from the Luce headquarters here has come
| 10 light and IL Is very interesting In it Mr..
| Campbell saws. among other things: "Ex-Gov.
\ Luce. as you are aware. has surplus means
but his friends are willing to provide for the
I expenses incidental In bringing the attention "a