Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-07
MICHIGAN.
If Republicans Succeed 1t Will BE by a Dan
gerously Close Plurality.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Nov. Tomorrow.
will end the agony. The last campaign oratiuns
will be delivered tonight. and in the morning
the enlightened American citizens will step into
the voting booths and record their sentiments
and convictions upon the issues Election day
will be quiet one throughout the state. 1t is
possible that there NAV be some disturbances
in Detroit, where the republicans con-
troll the municipal election machinery
and are disposed to run things with
not be serious. In this city. the second in size
in the state. the election will be as quiet as {.
Sunday. Most of the factories will shut down
half if not all day. business will practically be
suspended and the saloons viii be closed.
Under the provisions of the Australian ballot
law there will be no crowds around the polling
places. no buttonhoIing and strikers and heel
ers will be out of jobs. The vote will be Sc
cret as can be. and absolutely no estimate can
be made of the result until the count is made
In all the other cities in the state the same quet
and propriety will prevail, and in the rural dis
tricts it would be quiet anyway. The polls will
be open from am. to pm. and the count
will begin Immediately. The returns will begin
to come in about o'clock. and probably by 10
enough will be received to form some estimate
as to the result. and about that time the howl
ing will begin.
The STATE WILL BE CLOSE.
On the eve of election day, taking an impair
tial view of the situation, the prediction is
made that if the republicans carry the state at
all it will be by dangerously close plurality.
Four years ago they carried the state for Harri-
son by plurality of "a, 900. In that campaign
they had an unlimited campaign fund. ample
assistance from the national committee in the
way Of speakers and literature, harmony in
their own ranks, tremendous appetite for the
federal offices and the old-fashioned way of
voting. In addition to these advantages Cleve-
land and his position the tariff was as fright
ful bogie as the bloody shirt ever was. and
among the veterans of the war the feeling
against him for his pension vetOes bitter
These are some of the elements which carried
Michigan four years ago for the republicans.
In the campaign which will close with the
ballot boxes tomorrow night the conditions
have been radically different. The passage of
the Miner electoral law discouraged tine repub-
lican national committee from putting much
money or many speakers into Michigan. The
enactment of the Australian ballot law will pro-
duce marked effec. in the mining and lumber
ing districts and also in the cities. For four
years The farmers and working classes have
been studying and discussing the tariff ard its
effects upon themselves. In addition to these
circumstances. all adverse to the republicans.
wheat is only GA cents a bushel and wool IS and
% cents pound, the lowest prices
known in Michigan for thirty years
Four years ago the republicans were united
on the national ticket and the state ticket was
generally satisfactory This year there is more
or less division among the republicans upon the
national ticket. chiefly growing out of disap-
poiutment over the distribution of the patron
age and the support given John L. Rich for
governor is far from unanimous and cordial
In this campaign the republicans have been OH the
defensive throughout. and their presentation of
the benefits to be derived from protection has
been neither forcible, convincing nor con-
sistent
On the democratic side four years ago found
the brethren split up into factions over the dis
tribution of the Offices just as the republicans
are today, and the tariff question. as repre-
sented by Cleveland, was new. novel and start
ling. They were at that time on the defensive
on the tariff and also on the pension question.
and their campaign was not conducted with
vigor that deserved much success. This wear
the democrats are heartily united both on ma
tional and state tickets. and they have a conf
dence in the result which goes far toward car
rying them to success.
GROWTH OF THE PoPULIsTs
-Four years ago the industrials or populists
did not amount to much, but what votes they
did get came chiefly from the democratic ranks
The populists will this year poll comparatively
a large vote, 10000 or $4,000 perhaps. and OF
these the republicans will lose more than the
democrats.
These are the conditions as they exist in
Michigan the day before election. and upon
these conditions the prediction Is made that if
the republicans carry the state ticket it will be
by very narrow plurality. II there is land
slide to upset calculations the landslide will be
in favor OF the democracy. The tendency has
been strongly In that direction for four years
and upon this tendency the democratic brethren
base their chief hopes for success.
THE CONGRESSIONAL orrrroou
In the congressional districts the situation
has changed somewhat during the past week.
In the first district the democrats are nervous
over the prospect of losing Congressman J.
Logan Chapman. If he is elected it will be by
very small plurality Notwithstanding his plu-
railty OF about 1000 two years ago. The cleo
tor will be democratic without doubt
In the second district both the democrats and
republicans are hopeful, but the district is
naturally democratic and the democratic hopes
both on Congressman and eiector have the
best foundation. Congressman German will
probably be elected and the prospects are good
for the democratic elector
The third district will return Congressman
Burrows and elect the republican electors
The republicans are claiming everything in
the fourth, but private advices from various
quarters give the combined democrats and pop-
ulists On George L. Yaple for Congress and a
Weaver elector a decided preference.
The fifth district is doubtful The demo-
Gratis and populists have combined on a farmer
candidate for Congress, while the republicans
have renominated Chas. E. Belknap. who knows
pretty nearly everybody in the district and who
win cut down the big democratic plurality in
this city. The result will probably be close,
with Belknap leading. The elector will prob
ably be republican.
The sixth is also doubtful. Congressman
Byron g. Shouts views on the silver question
do not harmonic with the farmers and the
populists are making stiff fight against him.
ID. D. Athens. the republican candidate. 10 OPP
posed at his own home by his party organ and
has other difficulties to contend with Both
party managers mark the district as doubtful ON
Congressman, and private advicea do not throw
Light ON the situation, % neither side h hope
ful. The elector viii probably h Democrats
In the seventh Justin r. Whiting will b re-
elected and Cleveland elector win bs ohosep-