Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-16
SOLDIERS HOME VOTERS.
Interesting Decision Of the Michigan
Supreme Court.
to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch TO The Evening Star.
GRAND RAPIDS. Mich, Nov. 16.-The
supreme court has affirmed the decision of
the Kent circuit that under the state con-
stitution the inmates of the Soldiers Home
cannot vote in the home precinct, but If
they would exercise the right of franchise
they must go to their former homes to do
it.
The constitution provides that an Inmate
of any charitable institution, hospital, or
asylum does not gain or lose a residence
thereby. This constitutional provision has
been observed in regard 20 all other state
institutions, but a bond Of patriotism sur
rounded the Soldiers Home and ever since
Its establishment the veterans have exer-
cised all the rights of citizens, voting for
township and county officers as though
they were bona fide residents. This has
1een of great advantage to the republicans
as the Soldiers Home votes were cast al
most sclidly for the republican ticket. The
question as the validity of the vote was
raised last summer by a candidate for JUS
tice of the peace. who. on the face of the
returns. was defeated. He contested the
case in the local courts and was given the
office. The supreme court affirms the find
ings of the lower courts.
Justice Grant wrote the decision and JUS
tees Montgomery and McGrath concurrei
while Justices Long and Hooker dissente1
The most important result of the decis-
ion at the present :ime will bc its bearing
on the contest of Chas +. Belknap for the
seat in congress held by George F. Rich
ardSon. Mr.. Belknap received over 30l Sol
diers' Home votes, while Mr.. Richa ri son
received about sixty. and If these were
thrown out, as they ought to have been I'M
der the decision of the supreme court Mr.
Richardson's title to his seat would have
been beyond question.
In his contest Mr.. Belknap depends upon
a decision of the supreme court that the
recount by which MIR. Richardson was
shown to have plurality was irregular and
ordering a certificate of election to be is
sued to him instead. Mr.. Richardson will
defend the contest with this latest ieclsica
of the same supreme court, which noIis
that 300 of the votes counted for Mr.. Bc;k-
nap were Illegally cast.
The last legislature provided for the sub.
mission to the people of a constitutional
amendment exemDting the inmates of 'he
home from the present restrictions and al
lowing them to vote IN the home precinct
1t was a rankly partisan move. but then
the last legislature was a rankly partisan
body of law makers.
Pinsree Formidable for Governor.
The reelection of Maj. Pingree by a plu-
rality of 5000 against the united democracy
of Detroit makes him a formidable candi-
N.
and already his name is being canvassed
in many parts of the state. The interest
in his fate was manifested the day of his
election by the kilograms and letters which
poured upon him from all parts of Michi.
gan. 1t is tradition that public officers
shall be given the compliment of a second
term. Cows. Blair. Grape, Baldwin, Bagley
and Creswell each served two terms, cover
N narind Of
was nominated for a second term, in ac-
cordance with the tradition, but was de-
feated by Gov. Begole. Gov. Alger served
only one term. refusing a denomination be-
cause he knew he would be defeated at the
polls, and he was succeeded by Gov. Luce
for two terms. Since 1860 Gov. Alger has
been the only one who has not received al
least a denomination, and next year, in all
probabi Gov. Rich will join Gov. Alger
as an exception to the rule. 1t Is claimed
that If Gov. Rich is renominated the party
will be on the defensive throughout the
next campaign. With Pingree as the can
didate no apologies would be necessary, and
the fight would be aggressive throughout.
Mr.. Pingree's career as mayor has been
thoroughly spectacular, but at the same
time of a character well calculated to catch
votes. In the last state campaign Mr.. Pin
gree received 210 votes in the convention
and when it is remembered that he had
been in the field only three months and
that Rich had all the state and federal ma.
chinery working Tor MIN the record may be
considered remarkable. In a longer time
in which to prepare himself for the con.
test with a wider acquaintance in the
state, with greater experience in the ways
of politicians. with the prestige of having
thrice been elected mayor of Detroit and
with his anti-monopoly, anti-corporatior
record, he will cut n much wider swath In
state politics, and will, II he desires It, be
the next republican nominee for governor
If Gov. Rich does not retire gracefully Mr.
Pingree will go in to beat him for the nom
nation and will succeed.