The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-02
4 ZIG JOB FOE JOHN DONOVAN.
He VIII Comprise the Democratic Party
In the Next Michigan Legislature.

IN N Next AHtchtshh l<tkiblntuFe.
Lots of people think that John Donovan is
going to have heaps OF fun this winter. He's
the only Democrat elected to the next Michigan
Legislature. and he halls from Bay City. Those
two things combined. some folks seem to think,
ought to make his life pretty nearly all skittles
and beer. But they're wrong. It's mighty
serious business, being the whole minority in
Michigan. II John Donovan doesn't give up
the struggle at Lansing and go home to peace
and quiet at Bay City long before the Republi-
can factions begin to get through their quarrel
ling, It will be because of the giant heart of him,
that inexhaustible reservoir OF grit and sand
In the first place there are the committees,
thirty-1ve or forty Of them. The law Of Michi-
gan commands that the minority shall be repre-
sented on every one Of them. Is that fun for
Donovan. or misery and troubled It'll be fun
pocketing all the jackknives and paper cut
tiers that come his way. one for each committee.
He'll have nearly enough to start a shop. But
how It will make him p~erspire, even In cold
weather. hopping around from room to room.
watching the Republican majorities in the COM
mittees and standing msnfully in the forefront
OF the opposition when their schemes of Chi
canery and corruption are proposed.
It's true the minority won't have to waste
much time attending caucuses, and there's not
much likelihood OF a serious division of opinion
s ssr 70 b %s,.eTs OF aRS ss,y p samGi taere a Is no chance
The election provided for that. His work is ali
cut out; there's the trouble of IL. Unless he's
got more appetite for work than a pot-bellied
bronco has for hay, Donovan OF Bay City is GO
ing 70 have an unusually lively time in Lansing
this winter.
The committee work is only the beginning.
There are all the sessions to attend. He must
watch the passage of every bill. alert and eager
lican frauds. His Is the only Democratic voice
that can be raised In Lansing TO denounce the
iniQuity OF an unfair and partisan gerrymander.
And while he stands on, the floor of the House
OF the majority he must also be in all OF his COM
mittee rooms, his eager eye wide open. quick To
detect the first sign OF lurking, hidden Repub-
lican treachery. Does anybody think that will
But he's equal TO II all. He is the only Demo-
crat on guard at Lansing and he's faithful 10 his
trust. He's Horatius at the Bridge and Sparta
Gus TO the Gladiators: he's Regulus to the
Pass OF ThermOpylR, Richard CRur de Lion and
all the rest. He's the whole crew Of the Demo
cratic Ship OF State Michigan. and his fayorite
song is the song OF the Nancy brig:
Oh. I am The Cool and the Captain bold.
And the Bos'n tight and the Midshipmite.
And the crew OF the Captains gig.
He's not only the crew. hut the ship as well.
the mainstay and the mizzenstAy, the forestry
and the bacKstay. the bobstay and the jackstay,
the peak hAlliards and the miZZen-u
lant-starboard stu'n'sailboOm-tricing line all in
one. His cardboard strakes are sCarphed verti-
cAlly. His planking Is soundest Democratic
timber. His hooks and knees are natural crooks.
His cants are tenoned into ~deadwOod He's all
sound and true as a triyet, shipshape and Bris-
doesn't register as much as the majority. when
he goes cruising through the legislative waters
OF Lansing. every Republican craft ia the capt
tai will dip It's nag or wet three whistles.