Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-04-08
REPUBLICANS WIN.



The campaign just ended by the
spring election was unusually spirited
throughout the state, and while the
vote polled was not extraordinary II
was quite generally larger than was
expected. Party lines were not closely
drawn except in few local instances
where the financial question was still
a cause for political differences. The
returns from townships to the county
seats were very slow in coming in, but
it was early apparent that Charles ID.
Long had been reelected to the state
supreme court bench, and the figures
shown in later returns give him a
plurality of about $4,000. William j.
Cocker and Charles ID. Lawton were
elected regents of the University of
Michigan by smaller margin, by
pluralities of about %, 200.
The constitutional amendments did
not receive the same amount of atten-
ton that the candidates did and con-
sequently the vote on them was not so
large, but they were safely carried.
While the Republicans are able to
rejoice over their candidates being
elected the Silver democrat Populist
ticket made a showing in some coun-
ties which appear to greatly please the
leaders of the fusionists For instance
in jackson county Yaple received a
plurality of about 1000; in Saginaw
1,200; in Ingham 500; st. Joseph 700;
Calhoun $50; Eaton 600; Arenac 200:
Branch $50; Gratiot 200; and several
other counties are claimed by small
margins.
On the ether hand it is shown that
for the total vote polled and for the
issues at stake the Republicans can be
well contented with their victory, for,
it is claimed, had the vote been as large
as last fall and the percentage of votes
to the parties the same as is given in
these returns the Republican victory
would be still more apparent.
The National Democrats in some
localities voted conscientiously for
their ticket without any prospect of
victory, and in Washtenaw county Re-
gent Barbour received plurality on
that ticket of over 1000.
The most notable local contests were
the mayoralty election in Detroit and
the special contest for the seat in the
house of representatives. belonging to
the Second district of Saginaw county.
In Detroit, Gov. Pingree having been
ousted from the mayors chair and a
special election called by the supreme
court, the Republicans placed before
the people Capt A. f. Stewart, we'll
known vessel man and a member of
the present state legislature. In OPP
position VIM May a lawyer and
an eX-congresSman, was entered by
the Democrats The Pingree power
was behind Capt. Stewart, while the
Democrats Doth Silver and NationaD,
Populists and 6isgruntled Republicans
backed Maybury. The campaign was
short and hot and the result very close,
the face of the returns showing Mr..
Maybury to be elected by majority of
SOL votes. 1t is said that the Repubi-
cans are not satisfied and will contest
Mr.. Maybury's claim to the mayoralty.
The contest in Saginaw county was
caused by Kerr, Democrat, having
been declared elected last fall by -four
votes, over Baird, Republican. a spe.
cial committee of the house of repre-.
sentatives investigated and recon-
mended that Kerr be unseated and
Baird seated, but the house preferred a
| special election, which has resulted in
Kerr being elected, this time by ma
| jority large enough to give him the
seat beyond question.