Evening star., 1898-10-19
MICHlGAN'S QUIET CAMPAIGN
Politicians Find It Difficult to Arouse In
terest Among Farmers.
Democrats short of Funds-The PIN
grec-Burrovs Fight Goes
on With Vfgor.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Il
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich, October Is, 1875
| The campaign is supposed to be on all
| along the line but there are no outward
| manifestations of any unusual excitement I'm
| any part of the state The farmers per
| sistently refuse to break away from their
| fall work to attend campaign meetings and
| In the cities and villages 1t is impossible to
| get out a crowd for the best speakers 1t
| is in fact, the "offest" off season that has
ever been known in Michigan politics. The
politicians are as yet unable to figure cut
whether it is due to convictions already
| formed or genuine indifference.
| The republicans are eXerting themselves
| to the utmost to bring about a differea;
state of affairs. They have fifty or more
/ speakers on the stump under the direction
| of the state central committee and In ad-
dition many local speakers and candidates
are at work.
| The democrats are doing very little 20
| work up an interest in the campaign. In
| this congressional district. ior instance. not
| a single campaign meeting has yet been
| held, and none are booked. in the third
and fourth districts there is more activity,
but not enough to count.
The democrats are suffering severely from
| financial troubles. They have no money
and do not know where 20 get "ny. 1t is
| authoritatively stated that the total con-
| tributions to the state central committee
will not exceed 81 500, not including what
Chairman Dan. J. Campau has put in. This
amount will not go far toward making the
| mare go, even in an off year, and in other
| campaigns would not have been enough to
pay the postage and telegraph bills alone.
Shortage Due to Silver Question.
| The shortage in funds is due almost en-
| tirely to the sound money bolt. The silver
| issue was inserted into the state platform,
and it is the issue that Candidate Whiting
| and all the congressional candidates are
drumming on. The sound money demo-
| Gratis will not "ante" under such circum-
stances, nor will they lend helping hand
| in the campaign work. 1t is possible the
democrats may attempt hurrah finish dur
| ing the last two weeks of the campaign,
but, aside from the lack of funds, the con-
ditions are not favorable for this
On the financial question Michigan is de-
cidedly sound money, and, besides, this Is
not good year for calamity arguments.
The war atrocity issue which promised
we'll month ago, has completely collapsed
| in this state, and the orator who tries TO
work 1t is in danger of being laughed at.
Governor Ptngree's extravagance IN other
seasons might be used with effect, but his
glory war governor is safe refuge
| from such criticisms now. The democrats
are promising various state reforms, es-
pecially in regard to taxation, but they are
dealing in glittering generalities, while Gov
ernor Pingree is outlining definite policies,
which are well understood and have been
| indorsed in many of the democratic conVen-
tions
Pingree Still Fighting Burrows.
Governor Pingree is still continuing MS
onslaughts upon Senator Burrows, and it
is probable will continue to do so until
election day. He is giving him broadsides
upon his tariff record and his interest in
lumber, leather and sugar schedules. and
is also charging him with using his intiu-
ence to defeat the railroad taxation bill
before the special session of the leg1sla-
ture last winter. Burrows has made
show of fighting back, but the effort was
not very energetic nor long sustained. lie
is booked for Stumping engagements up
to election day, and the managers of the
campaign are careful that he and Pingree
do not come together. The Pingree infiu-
ence is being exerted to defeat the candi-
dates for the legislature nominated in the
interest of Burrows. even though this may
result in landing several democratic MEM
berS He feels that the state VIII go SO
overwhelmingly republican this year, how
ever that there need be no apprehension
as to the political complexion of the next
law-making body. He would, In fact, pre-
fer to have a good, substantial democratic
minority than Legislature all republican,
because then there would be a better
chance to defeat Burrows and his tax
measures would go through just the same
Burrows friends are very much incensed,
of course, at the attitude Governor PIN
gree has taken, and it is certain that he
will be extensively cut on election day.
for Whiting to make their opposition count
to the fullest, while others will simply
scratch his name from the ballot. 1t is
upon this bolt that Whiting bases his
hopes of election, but he assumes that all
the voters who voted the Bryan ticket two
years ago will do again. But Pingree
will receive a tremendous democratic vote
this fall, and it is probable this will more
than make good the loss in his own party
Two years ago he ran 10000 ahead of Nc
kinley, and his managers are confident
that his majority this year will be above
loo, 900.
Claims of the Democrats.
The democrats are still claiming the
eighth and tenth congressional districts,
and profess to have hopes in some of the
other districts. In nearly every district in
the state middle-of-the-road populist can
didates have been nominated, which will
draw from the democratic strength and
the lack of ginger in the democratic cam
paigns will help the republicans win. The
republicans are very confident of electing
a solid delegation this year and an i'm
partial view of the situation seems to in
dicate that the confidence is well placed
A light vote may make some difference In
some OF the districts, but the republicans
are doing much more to arouse interest
and get out the vote than the democrats