The sun., 1896-10-04
MICHIGAN Politics.
a Popular Mckinley Tide, with Som,
Humorouu Featured.

unadulteratcd fun to the square inch In politics
| in tho situation in this State than anywhere
else in the Union, Mt least, since John Boyd
Thacher ceased to bo formal candidate for
Governor Of New York and George Fred Will
lnms was nominated by several rival and
antagonistic conventions for the post of Gov
ernor of Massachusetts,, a place held by John
Hancock, Samuel Adams. Levi Lincoln. Ed
ward Everett. John a. Andrew, and William L.
Russell. Never before have politics In the State
of Michigan been so mixed as they are thisyear,
and never have there been in Presidential
election so many unknown quantities.
1t Is. perhaps. paradoxical thing to say so,
but the tide here in Michigan has for many
months been distinctively against the various
things which William Mckinley stands for. and
distlnctively in favor Of William McKinley's
candidature. That is. there are no party lines
drawn in the former accoptation of what was
meant by party lines There is no division OF
the voters on tho money question, as in other
States, with the defenders of an honest dollar
on the one side and the upholders or extenuators
OF deprecated dollar on the other. The voters
of the State arc arranging themselves on the
lines which suit tho conditions OF each OF the
counties into which Michigan is divided, and
occasionally an ardent Republican is seen pre-
siding at Democratic meeting. an ardent Pro-
hibitionist is at the head of the sound-money
Democratic movement. or lifelong Democrat
is the Chairman Of protection and prosperi-
ty" Republican mass meeting. To under
stand these peculiar conditions, 1t is neces-
sary to know that for many years the soft
money Populists of Michigan, under various
designations. have been uniting off and on,
with the Democrats. and occasionally, as in
1882, when the late John w. Begole was
chosen Governor. and again in 1890. when the
Democrats carried the State for Gov. Winans
such unions have been successful.
Though Michigan has been uniformly Re-
publican State in national elections since the
establishment OF the Republican party. It's plu-
ralities in consequence Of these occasional fu-
sions have not usually been as large in
other and neighboring States. Mr.. Blaine's
plurality in 1884 against n fusion was only
$500, and in 1883, year of Republican sue
cess. Gen. Harrison poled less than one-half Of
the vote OF the State. AS il It's politics had not
already been sufficiently confused by series
OF Illusions, some Of the Democratic
leaders prior to the Presidential election
OF 1892 hit on the device of choosing
electors by Congressional districts. This Is a
plan which is distinctively not Democratic. and
under Its terms, though Michigan was carried
by the Republicans the popular vote by
10000 (Weaver, the Populist, had 10000. the
electoral vote in 1892 was divided thus: Har-
TlbOn, b. SloVolbhu, AS SOON us praCtlCaUie,
the Republicans repealed this district electors
law, but It had the effect, while in force, of de-
moralizing both OF tho party organizations, and
particularly the Democratic organization. In
the State contest of 1894 the uncertainty Of
party lines was shown by the fact that the
Democrats. the gold men concurring tacitly. de-
clared In favor of free and unlimited silver
coinage. and the Republicans left to Congress
any other body which thought fit to take 1t
up all Questions upon which there may be diff
ferences of Individual opinion" the mone-
tary standard OF the United States in
cluded in this vague description. The
fight here was made on other questions than tho
currency, and one result of it an over
whelming Republican victory and q Legislature
with only one Democratic member in 1t In
either branch. Then the honest money Demo-
Gratis went to work. and, under skilful manage
ment, gained control of the party machinery
and Of the delegates to tho Chicago Convention.
and 1t was the only hard money Victory of the
kind where there fight in any state. But
the Convention Of the Democrats of Michigan
who had established the district electors sys-
tenn took high ground for the unit rule at Chi
cago. The slverites contested. and enough Of
the silverite contestants were admitted to throw
Michigan into support of the Popocratic plat
form and the nomration Of Popocratic candi-
date. The twenty eight votes of Michigan were
cast on the decisive ballot for Bryan.
Meanwhile the Republicans. heartily for
haa continued here to be in favor OF
leaving the financial platform to be settled by |
opinion, and Michigan's representa-
tive on the Repu blican Platform Committee, Mr.. |
Brewer, stood up for an amendment qualifying !
the declaration for gold. The Michigan Repub- |
licans were satisfied, good many of them. to |
leave tho financial question to take care of |
we're for silver conditionaly: a good many did |
not care, and others, and no donbt the larger |
number. were for gold uncondltionally. In this
city the Republicans and the Labor men. so
called. have been coquettinG for some time. |
and the intermediary in their proceedings and |
negotiations has been the remarkable Hazen |
S. Pingree. the many sided. to whom has been |
ascribed lingering longing for free silver; and |
the Tribune of Detroit. long the Republican
organ. has gone over to the silver cause en-
tirely and makes no secret of the fact. Pingree
Is the Republican nominee for Governor, put in
the field against the protest OF the machine
Republicans. and. admittedly. from $4,000 to
25. 900 votes stronger than his ticket. All the
opponents OF the Republican party in Michigan.
Popocrats. Populists, the Industrials the sill
rerite Republicans, the Nationalists. the So
cialsts. the Grangers, and even some of the
have united In a com posite all
round. round-robin go-as- you please fusion"
ticket. the purpose OF which is primarily to get
The fourteen electoral votes of Michigan for
Bryan without much care whether Pngrce
wins Pingree loses. There is an all round
fusion on electors. eleven for Sewall and three
Tor Watson and the title of the fusionsts ia
the Democratic Peoples Union Silver party"
It's a high sounding name for an organization of
with mighty few Democrats of
character or prominence included. Some of
hese fusionists in their Indifference In State
Affairs were for nominating Pingree outright,
but other counsels prevailed.
The character of the political contest now
going on is truly diverting. TO start with, the
'opocrats have no funds, and the result OF this
s that their canvass is OF a sporadic character.
n Grand Rapids. the other night. there was to
20 joint discussion between "A Mckinley and
3Syan orator. The Bryan orator failed to ap-
,ear; he sent word that he waiting for his
emittance No remittance came. so one of the
audience got up and answered for the Democ-
acy. letter from that city says she kept the
ill., 4, a..