Evening star., 1900-10-11
MICHIGAN Is IN LINE
Will Give Mckinley Not Less Than
$4,000 Majority.
DEMOCRATS ARE DISHEARTENED
They Are Without Funds or an
Organization.
REPUBLICANS CON FIDEN T
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. October 10. 1900.
The result in Michigan is merely a ques-
| ton Of majority. Mckinley will carry the
| state by at least $4,000; his plurality is
more likely to reach $4,000, and few would
| be surprised If it mounted to 10000. Four
| years ago McKinleys' majority over Bryan
| was 56.170. Two years ago in the state
| election the average republican plurality
| was 65OOO The conditions for republican
| success are more favorable this year than
| they were two or four years ago.
In the campaign Of 1896 the democrats,
populists and silver republicans were gath
| cred into single fold Many democrats
| of the old school refused to recognize or
| affiliate with this amalgamAt ton, and either
supported the Palmer and Buckner ticket
or voted for Mckinley straight. The fu-
| sion, however, was harmonious, and what
| the democracy lost through the sound
money detection 1t more than made good
| from its silver republican and populst re-
| cruitS. The total Bryan vote was g3I, 1876,
while in 1892 Cleveland received but 202, 29G.
| This year the silver republican party does
not exist: a few of its members are still
| with the Bryanites, but a great majority
have returned to the republican party, and
especially is this true among the farmers
and laboring classes. Some of the populists
are for Bryan, but the populists have
ticket of their own in the field this year
and some Of them have openly come out
for the republican ticket. Some of the
sound money democrats who bolted Bryan
fou1 years ago, will vote for Bryan, but
where one has gone back ten are doing all
they can to promote the reelection Of Nc
Kinley, and are doing it openly instead of
under a third-ticket hat.
Democrats Worse Of Than in 1896:
Four years ago the Bryan combine in
this state was short of funds. but 1t had
enthusiasm. confidence and harmony, and
this went far toward making up for the
financial strngency. This year the democ-
racy is also short Of funds. but it has no
confidence, totally lacks organization. sees
no hope for success and the different ele-
ments hopeessly by the ears. Chair
man Campan and w c. Maybury, the can
didate for governor, are at outs. Mr.. May
bury is making a campaign independent
of the state organization, and there Is no
harmony of action between Mr. Maybury
and his associates on the state ticket. 1t is
race in which every man is for himself
The republican campaign is not so well
framed as 1t was four years ago, and Is
not receiving the assistance it did then
But there is discord in the ranks, eX-
cept, perhaps. for an occasional bomb that
Governor Pingree may drop. The party has
all sorts of confidence, has the advantage
of perfect organization, and the further ad-
vantage of having high-grade local talent
to put the stump in lieu of speakers of
national prominence, whom the national
committee is sending into states more
doubtful than this.
The republican confidence in carrying the
state is based on careful canvasses made In
every district. and very often in individual
counties. The canvass reveals that the
changes are all one way. Any number of
men are found who voted for Bryan four
years ago but are for Mckinley this year,
| but the reverse proposition is seldom en-
countered. This is especially true among
the farmers. In some sections the can
vasser began by asking the mans politics.
but before going far changed the form to
inquire for whom he intended to vote.
Party lines did not count-it was all Nc
kinley.
Mr.. Campau's ManifestO.
Chairman Campau Of the democratic state
committee issued a manifesto a few days
ago to the effect that the democrats would
carry the state for national and state tick
ct. most Of the representatives and major
ity of the legislature. The democrats have
no organization in the state worth speakin:
about, and have made no canvass. Mr..
Campau's manifesto was simply the express
sion of a hope without statistics or facts
for foundation.
The republican state ticket, with Col.
Aaron T. Bliss, will be elected, though by
a majority less than that which Mckinley
will receive. In the congressional districts
the democrats will make fight in the first,
fifth, seventh and eighth districts. In the
other districts they have no hope and.
month before election, have practically
ceased trying. In the first, or Detroit dis
trict the nominations have not yet been
made. John B. Coriss will be renominated
by the republicans, and Is very confident,
with the preliminary work he has already
DONE that he will be we'll able to hold his
own in the short hurrah campaign the DEM
ocrats will put up against him. In the fifth
district the democrats have hoped to make
headway by cultivating disaffection among
ba William Alden n,
however, will be reelected by majority
of 1900 and upward.
In the eighth district Well!ngham r. Burt
is spending lots of money to defeat Joseph
w. Fordney, but from all accounts Ford
ney need have no apprehensons as to the
results. Justin r. Whiting is the democratic
candidate in the seventh against Edgar
Weeks for reelection, and this Will be one
of the close districts, but Weeks is very
confident as to results. Aside from these
four districts. none of which are counted
very doubtful the republicans will have
ma ajorities ranging from 1900 to 12,OOO
Legislature VIII Be Republican,.
The next legislature viii be republican,
which will insure the reelection of Senator
Mcmillan but it is probable the republican
majority will be somewhat reduced. The
republican nominations this year are OF
higher and better grade than In recent
years, but Governor Pingree, with his spe-
cial session. Is trying to raise a row. The
legislature in special session will probably
decide to submit the constitutional amend
ment providing for the taxation Of railroads
on an ad valorem instead of on specific
basis, and may enact the repeal of the old
special charter. Gov. Pingree may have
other business to hold the lawmakers in
Lansing. The members, however, Will have
little patience with Gov. Pingree, and, al
ter acting on these two questions. will ad-
journ. The republicans will be able to use
the session to their own advantage, and
thereby will disappOint Gov. Pingree.