Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-17
WILL SEEK MEDICATION.
Mr.. Belknap, Who Was Refused a Sea,
in Congress.
The Condition of Things I'm His Dis
trict and Something About
Michigan State Politfcs.


opec1ai corresponding oil The Evening Star
GRAND RAPIDS. Mich, August II. 1889.
The rumor comes from Washington that
Capt Chas. Z. Belknap, defeated in his
contest for the seat given George f. Rich
ardson as Representative from the fifth
district, will return and seek vindication
at the polls a year hence. The news has
all the earmarks OF authenticity because
Capt. Belknap himself is the fountain from
which IL flows. He will find, however.
when the time comes. that there is a DIFF
ference between seeking a vindication and
getting it. He will run against a snag
when he goes before the convention asking
tor another nomination. William Alden
Smith stepped aside in his favor last year.
BUT VIII not do IT again. and VIM. Aldrich
Iatum. speaker of the house Of the last
legislature. is in the field, and neither has
enough love for Mr.. Belknap 10 play the
lamb act on the party altar for his bene-
fit
Mr.. Belknap was first elected in Congress
In 1855, running against Melbourne u
ford The republicans nominated him to
nope, but 1t proved to be a landslide v..r
ana ne was elected by a plurality OF 25Oo
he ascribed his victory, not to the virtue
OF republican policy and principle. TUT 10
his own personal popularity, and antag-
onized all the most influential members OF
his party in distributing the patronage In
z j.
Montgomery. now of the Supreme Court,
John Patton, jr., then president of the
Wesleyan league republican clubs. Chas.
w; Wattain Fred s Clarke, sybrant wes-
selius. Col. Z. S. Pierce and many others
were arrayed against him and are vet.
In 1880 he declined a denomination. ana
as the landslide was in the other direction
that year the republicans were badly snow
ed under. w. II. Ford, who was elected
died few weeks after the term began
and Belknap came out as candidate for
he 10
split by a populist faction. and again Bel
KNAPP was elected by plurality of Z 1N ant,
again attributed IT to his personal popular
fly.
The Third Nomination.
Last year Belknap sought a third nomi-
nation. and by rallying his former friends
received II and ran against Geo F. Rich
ardson. the nominee Of the populists and
democrats. The election resulted in a plu-
rality of II for Belknap on the face OF the
returns. The ballots We're recounted in two
counties. and on the recounted and revised
returns Richardson was declared elected,
and the state canvassing board gave him a
certificate. Belknap appealed to the So
preme court in January after the original
canvassing board had gone out of office
claiming irregularities in the recount. and
the court ordered the first certificate re-
called. and directed that a certificate be IS
as first handed In. Congress has refused 70
recognize the Supreme Courts authority In
the premises, and Richardson holds the
seat Belknap assures his friends that
many democrats nave telegraphed him their
sympathy and urged upon him the neces-
sity Of again being a candidate. that the
wrong. did him might be righted at the
polls. but this is probably not so extrava-
gantiy true as II might be. Belknap viii
have a much stronger opposition this year
than he has had before. and although he
as ain nominated.
Possible Trouble for Gov. Rich.
In the next campaign Governor Rich vii
undoubtedly come forward with a demand
for a second term, but his policy thus ia,
has not met with universal approval. and
there may be trouble for him in the future
The latest phase OF dissatisfaction develop
ed in the encampment. last week. OF tn.
Wesleyan National Guard In making hi.
military appointments the governor is &C
cused OF consulting his political obligation
books, rather than the welfare of the ser
vice, His small officers throughout are re
publicans in politics, and some of then
have much better ideas of how to run 9
farm, or ward canvass. than an eucamp
ment In camp last week II was openly
charged that the militia had been made 9
part of the machine. and that the appoint
ments had been made use of to pay of
political debts. The brigade officers and
the higher regimental officers in camp or
ganized a state military association 20 sd
vance the interest of the service in the leg
islature and otherwise. At the meeting
when the organization was framed several
spirited speeches We're made in favor al
keeping the militia out of politics but nc
direct reference was made TO Governor
Rich. He is commander-in-chtef of tbs
state troops by right Of his Office, and Il
would have been a bad example TO set for
the rank and file of the officers to CRITICS.
the officer highest in command. At many
quiet meetings deiicacy in this regard was
forgotten or laid aside. and the governor
was briefly and sharply criticised for l,is
military policy. When IL is Remembered
that ten years ago Gen. David H. Jerome
was defeated for reelection chiefly because
of the animosity Of the state troops the
significance of the feeling among the sol.
diers against Rich will be seen