Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-10
MICHIGAN DEMOCRATS ROUTED.
They Paid Little Attention to Campaign
Work and Let the Electinn Go BY Default

They Paid Little Attention to Campaign
Work and Let the Election Go by Default.
Correspondence Of The Evening sta-.
GRAND RAPIDS. MIcH., April z, 1898.
The Michigan democrats have a large and
varied assortment Of vain regrets on hand as a
result of the Judicial election The republicans
carried the state by a plurality that will run
considerably over &c, 600 and made clean sweeps
in several Of the old-time democratic strong
holds.
The city of Detroit the home Of Don NJ
Dickinson, Private Secretary Thurber and Of
Henry A. Robinson, elected full bench Of re-
publican circuit judges and this city, the home
of Judge A. b. Morse, recently appointed
consul at Glasgow, and OF j. NJ Weston,
elected republican mayor by q plurality Of
200. the largest plurality the republicans have
had in this city for more than decade
The democrats reclaimed Jackson and Bay
City and gained two or three minor republican
cities, but the losses far more than balance the
gains and 1t will be with poor grace that
Michigan democrats go to Washington seeking
federal appointments that carry with them
honors as we'll as emoluments.
The campaign which resulted SO disas-
terously for the democracy was apathetic on
both sides, and especially so with the democrats.
With the encouraging hope of immediate re-
ward from Washington the democrats would
be expected to hustle to redeem the state; but
that is just exactly what they didn't do. They
lay down and the republicans had everything
their own way. They were too busy arranging
states for the division of party plumber to keep
the machine creased and the republicans had o
walk away, even in the mightiest of the demo-
cratic strongholds-the city Of Detroit, the
home Of Dickinson, of Robinson, Of Thurber
and Of Dan ]. Campau.
THE ELECTION WENT BY DEFAULT IA
The state went republican by default. Z The
democrats had neither laborers in the vineyard
nor even literary bureau. The republican
legislature now in session has made a record
thus far which, if properly brought out, would
cost the party hundreds of votes. but never a
democratic stone was thrown at it, and none of
the legislative shortcomings were held up to
public view.
The democratic party in Michigan is badly
demorallZed and is divided into factions The
factional feeling in Detroit is especially bitter
and deep seated. and the same condition exists
here. The distribution Of the federal patronage
will complete the wreck, and the democrats will
make a sorry spectacle III "a. when another
state election will be held.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS CARRIED.
Four constitutional amendments were sub
mitted to the popular vote in the judicial
election and two of these are of general i'm
portance. one Increasing the salaries OF the
principal state Ulcers to n respectable point
and the other looking to an Improvement of
the public highways. The election returns on
the constitutional questions are still very
meager, bat it is believed that all have been
carried.
CASE OF UNUSUAL INTEREST.
In the supreme court Tuesday and wednes-
day the argument was heard on the order to
show cause directed against the presiding Off
Ger OF the two houses of the legislature WHY a
mandamus should not issue compelling the
receiving CT protest filed By members against
certain acts OF the majority. The officers were
reDrssentea by Judge Thomas Nj. Cooley, who
spoke with keen sarcasm of the courts taking
cognizarce OF the case at ALL
Briefly stated. the case originated with a res
olutiol precen:ed by Representative Furgeson,
the first cO!ored member the Michigan legisla-
ture has ever had. arraigning the southern
method OF dealing with cclorsd criminals. The
resolution was adopted by partisan vote.
Representative Bartwo-th filed protest against
the action, and not oaly was the protest re-
jsc.ed. but all reference 90 it in the legislative
Journal was ordered stricken ont. even to the
vote by which this action was taken. The state
constitution distinctly preserves the RICH. Of
renonstrance and petition to members as well
citizens and Representative Bariworth APP
pe2ied to tine supreme court for mandamus
to compel the receipt of his protest ard to have
it appear the records. The court issued an
order to show cause. Judge Cooley in his argu-
ment held that the legislature was a coordinate
branch of the state government. and that the
court had no jurisdiction over Its acts.
The other side. represented by Attorney Cen
eral Ellis and Mr.. Bartwocth. held that the pre-
siding officers were amenable to the const;tu-
ton and could be forced to observe its pro-
Visions and that even though the speaker and
lieutenant governor were beyond the reach of
the court Yet the clerks were not, the law
which prescribed their duties requires them to
keep a full and accurate report of all that is
done and they have no right TO strike out any
part of the records.
The case was submitted and the decision Of
the court will be handed down later.