Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-19
ON Mr.. BRYAN'S TRAIL
Sound Money Speakers viii Follow Him
Through Michigan.
Conditions In the Wolverine State
Where Both Sides Seem to BE
ConaAent of Victory.
Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Correspondence VI The Evening Star.
GRAND RAPIDS. Mich October Is. 1885,
The political combine in this state has a
Lively row on its hands. Fred. A. Baker of
Detroit. chairman OF the democratic end of
1t, was made chairman Of the Joint execu-
tive committee and manager of the cam
paign. He is still nominally at the head of
affairs. but George F. Richardson, secre-
tary of the silver committee, is the man
really In charge. Mr.. Baker gives as the
reason for his virtual retirement the press
of legal Business but a row with the popu-
lists and silverites is the real reason. Chair
man Dan. T. Campau Of the national exec
utive committee recently sent some money
into the state TO relieve the stringency. but
instead Of lettering conditions, it aggra-
waited the unhappy situation in which Mr.
Baker was. The allies were modest in their
demands for sustenance and encourage
ment, knowing that funds were low; but as
soon as 1t became known that some money
had been received from the national COM
mittee everybody jumped for a share of it.
and none more emphatically than the pop-
ullsts who had not contributed a picayune
Mr.. Baker, aside from this, was in an I'M
pleasant position. owing to the constant
Criticisms and fault-hndings OF the allies,
ana ne hnally threw up his job in disgust
at least the active management of the cam
paign.
MIR. Richardson's Political Record,
Mr.. Richardson, who succeeds him. was
former republican. then a greenbacker, and
finally democrat He early embraced the
populfst faith as leader in the Patrons Of
Industry movement, and was elected to
Congress by the democrats and populis,s
combined He has been at the head of the
free silver movement since his retirement
from Congress, and 1t is thought his former
afhliations with the populists will harmo-
nize dimculties which Mr.. Baker found it
impossible to overcome.
Bryan's Trip Through the State.
Mr.. Bryan made his tour through the
state this week. He was favored with good
weather. and big crowds turned out every
where to nee and hear him The combine il
hopeful that his tour will stir I'd the en-
thusiasm of the people. but the republi-
cans are not at all apprehensive of the eff
, rect, In none OF his speeches did he ad-
vance any argument for silver, but con-
nned himself to ringing the changes on his
Iater-day speeches given in Minnesota
ana Dakota Lest some voters should be
carried away. however, the republicans and
sound money democrats will put speakers
on his trail to counteract any influence he
may nave exeEted- The combine will also
send out speakers to make longer speeches
tnan Bryan was able to make, and going
more into detail. Williams of Massachu-
sets. Vice President Adlaf Stevenson and
Coin Harvey will be the heavy-weights
In Bryan's wake.
FfnEree AMI the Campaign.
The republicans claim to have the cleo
ton already. safely: won for the national
election. and are now concentrat ting efforts
upon the doubtful Congressional districts
The state committee is not wasting any
time or energy in behalf of Mayor Pingree.
ana the course he has pursued in the cam
pa1sn: mas been such that the COMMITTEES
could hardly be expected To hustle x,ar,,
hard Mr.. Pingree has not once called at
republican state headquarters, and in his
campaigning tours has repeatedly made in
olscreet remarks on the financial question
as Wen as written letters that handicapped
the republican sound money Campaign. Mr..
snsree WIN De extensively cut on election
!,on should prove at all close, 1t is more
man probable he will fall by the wayside.
II rs needless to say. perhaps, that there
would not be much grief among many
prominent republicans If he should fail of
election. Aan VI