The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-31
CLOSE in MICHIGAN.
Gubernatorial Race Likely to Be Won
by a Marrow Margin.


Chicago. July 31.-The Times-Herald
publishes the following from its Ian
sing (AIich) correspondent:
If the Democrats of Michigan could
keep national politics. principally Is to 1,
out of the gubernatorial race, this year.
they would feel much more hopeful
about results. Likewise. if the Repub-
licans could conveniently lose all trace
of Pingreeism where it could not be dug
up until after the ballots are counted,
they would be CORRESPONDENCE happy.
Both sides hope to make the contest
chiefly on state issues. of which there
seem to be an abundance. Unless party
lines are drawn closely on account of ma
tional issues. the race between the two
candidates for governor will be one in
which neither candidate will have much
the lead at the finish
Pingreeism, which has hourished in
Michigan for several years like a pig
weed in a radish bed, is almost entirely
eliminated from politics, although the
Republicans will have to stand for the
record of extravangance which has been
made to a certain extent While Pingree
announces that Col. Aaron T. Bliss, the
Republican nominee, is entirely SatiSfac-
tory to him, it is well known that the
opponents of Michigan's eccentric COVER
nor were chiefly responsible for the
nomination of the candidate of 1900. Col.
Bliss will, therefore, have the support,
as rule, of both factions, the party act
ing with more of harmony than it has
since the advent of Pingree into state
politics
William c. Maybury, the Democratic
mayor of Detroit. who is the standard
bearer of his party. is an excellent cam
paigner. He has twice doWned the Pin
gree machine in Detroit. and has proved
himself vote-getter. Indeed, it was out
of respect for this quality rather than
for his steadfastness to Democratic prin-
cipleS than the party chose him for the
fight this year. for be it known Mr..
Maybury has always been Iukewarm in
his support of the sacred ratio of 16 to l,
and with the PopuliStic portion of the
party he is not in high favor. However.
he will probably sohdify his party better
than any other man who could have been
named. He has chosen hustle and har-
mony" for his campaign cry. and will
no doubt make a. strong canvass. His
personal popularity is unquestioned, his
strength in the city of Detroit, where
he has machine of respectable proper
lions. is not to be ignored and his abil-
ity is conceded even by his opponents.
He wants a campaign free from the ar
ticle known to the politician as dirt.
Col. Bliss, while personally a clean
man: and having a natural majority of
10000 to start with. is handicapped by
the record of the present state admins
tration, which has spent money freely
and has materially increased the state
tax levy. The Democrats are prepared
to make the most of the cry of extrava-
gance. although it is difficult to tell how
much of a figure it will cut in view of
the fact that Col. Bliss is not generally
! considered a Pingree man, and has q
record of being careful business man
The action of the grand jury in find
ing indictments against Pingree's mill
tary board and several other Republican
I officials will be employed by the Demo-
Gratis as an argument in favor of a
change in the administration but it is
doubtful, in view of the fact that the
| Republicans themselves were instrument
| tai in securing the indictments whether
| this attempt will be productive of re-
Suits
The failure of the last two legislatures
| TO submit a constitutional amendment
| providing for the direct taxation of rail-
| road property in obedience to a clamor
started by Governor Pingree, is quite
| likely to produce results of a more SER
| ious nature, since Col. Bliss is being
| strongly supported by the Immortal
| nineteen" senators who were chiefly in
| strumental in securing the defeat of the
measure.
| The Democrats will endeavor to make
the tight on state issues but it is be-
1eyed that they will be unable to keep
the free silver question out of the cam
pa1gn. and the election of Col Bliss will
| probably result by majority somewhat
less than that obtained by Governor
| F1ngree two years ago.