Omaha daily bee., 1898-03-26
POLITICAL DRIFT.

John Leedy." says the Atchson Globe,
us good governor, but he is not popular
with the populists because he doesn't con-
suit them every time he wants to change his
shirt"
Brooklyn ex-coroner has been convicted
and heavily sentenced for collecting 81 200
In bogus fees while in Office 1t serves him
right; but were there no bigger fish in these
waters?
George B. Mcclellan. son of the famous
general, Is the youngest man in congress
He Is chunky little man and generally he
can be seen Wren the house is In session
standing In front OF the reporters desks with
both hands manned down In his trousers
pockets, like Newlands Of Nevada. He Is a
moderately good speaker and Is regarded as
capable, leyel-headed man.
All the state officers from governor down
TO land commissioner become vacant in
Michigan at the close of this year, and a
lively fight seems certain in the Wolverine
state. Parties are rather mixed in Michigan.
In the spring of 1897 the republicans polled
10000. the silver democrats 10000, the
gold democrats 10000. the prohibitionists
5000, the middle Of -the-road pops 1000 and
the socialists 2,1O0 votes.
Benjamin F. Marsh of Illinois is one of the
distinguished looking men in congress. Full
six feet tall and symmetrically built, erect
as grenadier and independent as viking
he would attract attention in any assembly.
He is one OF the most successful farmers in
America and one of the most extensive
Whatever he does he does with his whole
soul. During the war he rose from a private
to a colonel and was shot four times. He
soldiered In nine states.
The democratic state convention In Mis-
souri, has been, called for August 10, in
Springfield, for the nomination of several
candidates. more particularly Judge OF the
supreme court, , The present Judge OF the
N souri, supreme court (hs salary is 81, 5000
YVES chosen in 1855 The term is ton years
and the present incumbent of the post had,
when elected, a majority OF only 1000 votes
over his republican opponent. In the same
election Cleveland's majority over General
Harrison in Missouri was 25 000 and that
contest may be said to have marked (Cleve-
land was nominated for his second term in
st. Louis in 1883 the low water mark OF the
democratic party in that state. for Bryan'o
majority. 1896, was IS. 900 and outside OF the
city of st. Louis his lead was $4,000. The
term OF the present governor OF Missouri
does not expire rntn 1901.
The propensity of Texas statesmen when
in session in Austin to establish new and
unnecessary counties has been carried to an
almost absurd extreme. The Lone Star etate
has 246 counties, and some of them are
couuties Sin name only" In Brlscoe county,
so-ealled. there were only ninety-seven
voters in the presidential election OF 1892,
ninety-six OF them voting the democratic
and one the republican ticket. In the ccn-
test OF 1896 the republican voter OF Briscoe
got recruit, and the republican vote was
two In what Is known as King county.
Texas. the republicans made even greater
headway. In the election OF 1892 there were
eighty-one voters in King. seventy-six demo-
Gratis and FIVE populists. In 1896. as the
result. perhaps, OF the educational campaign,
there appeared one republican. 1t has never
been authortatvely stated whether this re-
publican was former democrat or a former
Dopulist. but at all events he voted for
William Mckinley in 1896. and he enjoys the
Droud distinction of being the only man in
his county who did.