The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-27
PINGREE's STIR WANING.
Opposition to Him Growing since Ee became
Governor or SSichIgnn.

NEGAUNEE, Mich, Juno 25.-Thc present
status OF Gov. Hazon s. Pingree Is a matter OF
much interest, not only to party leaders and
residents Of his own State, but also to citizens
Of other commonwealth, who have witnessed
the apothcosis Of the potato and tho gloriication
Of its champion. Mr.. Pingrce captured the lie
publican nomination for Governor at the Grand
Rapids convention last fall at the point of tho
bayonet. He opened the campaign by cheorfully
expressing his opinion Of tho Michigan leaders Of
his party and the State Central Committee. His
opinion was not n favorable one, and relations
between the candidate and his nominal hackers
became strained. Mr.. Pinsree also took occa-
sion to voice his sentiments on the silver Qucs-
ton. which were not those of the st. Louis plat
form. After each silver outbreak he was cor
rallied by the State Central Committee and
made to sign q statement or give an interview
favorable to the yellow metal; but, once outside
the committee room, the Republican nominee
for Governor continued to damn tho gold bugs,
Senator Mcmillan. Chairman Ferry OF the State
Central Committee, and all others not Of the
Pingree cult. As he travelled much and spoke
freely. his political guardians suffered greatly,
but as silently as possible, while the Republi-
can leaders who swallowed tho bolus "for the
good of the party" became resolved into the tail
Of tho Pingrce comet, greatly to their distasto.
There is little doubt that Mr.. Pingrce has had
the Presidential bee buZzing in his bonnet for
several years. His political career has, until
this year, been n prolonged. series of victories
won az ainst heavy o Ids and with a total d sre.
gard OF all accepted rules OF poitica, strategy.
An immense personal following has r Llie 10
his support in Detroit, where he was NJ ,yor Tor
eight Years, and throu shout the State won by
his personal honesty, his cham pionship OF re.
forms. his vigorous war upon corruption. and
last, but by no means Toast, by his vigorous de-
ntnciation. in language that was picturesque
and painful and free. OF corporations. Accord
no In thA mora n n 4IRI nj nnA IA r
alike; all are bad. the measure OF the atrocity
of each being dcterminei by the amount Of its
capitalization. But while he has thrummcd AS
siduously on the anti orporation string Tor
several. years past. since his elevation to tho
plish the many reforms prom sed in the h Mt
OF the campaign. The Michigan railroads IRE
to convince !" rccaleitran, LesisistGre o. the JUS.
tice OF increasing the State taxation of railroads
by the mo est sum OF two millions, a year. All
Then the Governor has aIienatcd many OF his
stan. hest friends since his ,lovat on to the OF
the Offices Of both Mayor OF Detroit and Gov:
ernor OF Michigan was not Rener lily Regarded
Was feit with him When he was ousiel from
the Mayoralty. But Ior the fear o. making a
martyr OF hun and adding to his strength; an
friends were also maize by his distribution Of
ton with the manner OF distributing the plums,
and charges OF bad faith have been maze. In
the upper peninsula Ul MI DlEiu lie ONtEHO
has succeeded In alternating ne ,riy all the load
ers who ought for his nomination and election.
ami some OF them. notably James Russell OF
Marquette, editor o. the leading daily OF the
district, and formerly distributor OF the Fe cral
patronage of Cleveland under the famous
IRE. cree" system. IRE openly seeking the
Governors scalp. The gold standard m n
Of both parties are unalterably opposed Ia
him by re son OF his pro silver leanlngs. while
the silver men are bitter towGrd h m because OF
his shutting. Every corporation in tn State is
bitterly opposed 10 him.. because OF his many de
nunciations OF corpor ,tions. At the spec al
spring election held In Detroit to I'LL the vacancy
caused by the prying of the Nayor-Governor Out
of his cherished seat, the Pingree candidate
Capt. Stewart, was whippe by a Democrat, in q
strongly Republican city. The Governor has un'
qucstIouably lost prestige and strength In the
few months he has been administering the ar
fairs OF the State.
The old-line leaders Of the Republican party
arc determined 1 10 Gust Pingree next year. They
bility to two years more OF Pingree. Thous.nd'
OF them voted against him last fail. but for fe
Of damage to the national ticket kept their teeth
closed on their grievances against Pingree
The next election falls on. the. off year
and it will be surprising II it Is not al
up with Pingrce.. so far as The Michigan
Republican party is concerned. There are in
dications that Pingrce would not be averse I,
nomination next = ar by the anti Republican
fusion. which includes remnants and o lids ant
ends OF all political parties that have fourishet
since the anti Masonic agitation, but there ar
Indications even more pronoun ed that the fu
sionists want none OF him. The political star o
Pingree has wsned rapidly in the last six months