Evening star., 1902-08-12
MICHIGAN POLITICS.
Prospect Of Light Vote in
Off Year.
BLISS NOT POPULAR
BUT HIS ELECTION Is GENERAL
LIZ CONCEDED.
Democrats Disorganized and the Bry-
ante Leaders Have Been Rel
egated to Rear.
OF The Evening Star.

special Correspondence OF The Evening Star.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. August o, 1902
For an off year the campaign in Michigan
promises to be interesting. The chief ele-
ment Of uncertainty as to the results prob
ably lies in getting out the vote. The re-
publican and democratic state tickets are
In the field, and the prohibitionists, the So
cialists and one or two other parties have
made nominations. The real contest Is be-
TWEEN the two old parties, while the side
issues will attract no particular attention
and not enough votes to affect the results
one way or another.
AT the head of the republican ticket is
Gov. Aaron T. Bliss, renominated for a
second term. His associates on the ticket
are, with two exceptions, the incum-
bents. also renominated for second terms.
In the executive Office Gov. Bliss has not
been strong or popular. His intentions
have been good; he has been respectable
and decent and has given more personal
attention to the affairs of the state than
many of his predecessors, but the impress
sion is strong that he has been too suscepti-
Bile to corporate and other influences; that
he has permitted the railroads to dictate
appointments and policies. He was not re-
nominated without a contest. Justus S.
Stearins. millionaire lumberman, who
spent money with great freedom in the
hope of securing the nomination two years
ago, was again a candidate. and the literary
bureau he established issued a series of
letters and addresses in which the charge
was reiterated that Gov. Bliss was the tool
of the Michigan Central railroad. These
letters were widely circulated. and in the
campaign will be freely used by the demo-
Gratis
Governor Bliss was elected by a plurality
of 10000 two years ago, while President
Mckinley received a plurality of about 1O0,-
600. He Is very confident that he will be
reelected. but admits his majority will be
materially reduced.
The Democrats Nominee.
Judge George X. Durand Of Flint is the
democratic nominee for governor. He is an
old line democrat, believes in sound money
and admires Grover Cleveland. He took no
part in the campaigns of '96. '9S nor 1900,
when silver was the issue, and just before
the state convention which nominated him
he wrote letter stating that he was not
candidate and would not accept the nomi-
nation il rendered him. Then he went fish
ing, and returning to civilization the very
day of his nomination he said he would ac
cept. In the convention the silver and pop
ulist element opposed him and Dan j. Cam
pau and Justin r. Whiting exerted them
selves to the utmost to throw the nomina-
ton to some other candidate. The old line
democrats were out in force, however, and
aided by those who were tired of Bryanism
and those who wished to administer pun
ishment to the Campau clique, they nomi-
mated Durand on the fourth ballot. The
other offices went to men who are better
known and stand higher than the average
candidates put up by the democrats In re-
cent years. The rival candidates for COVER
nor have given in their allegiance, and Du-
rand and the party leaders in different
parts Of the state are better satisfied than
they have been In recent years. Durand
will bring out of retirement the many DEM
ocrats who have been in the woods since
1896, and his campaign will be fairly well
financed. The party is sadly deficient in
organization and discipline. however, and
when the most enthusiastic democrat takes
sober view of the situation he admits that
while the coming campaign will promote
the reorganization of the party and pave
the way for future usefulness and activity.
couraging. The republican majority will un-
doubtedly be greatly reduced, but plurali-
ty Of 10000 is appalling.
Purpose of the Democrats.
It is the democrats desire to confine
the campaign to state issues, with Gov
ernor Bliss alleged subservience to the
Michigan Central railroad, corruption and
boodleism, In securing the nomination, boss
rule rtperism and extravaganza as the
indictments against the present administra-
tion. To permit a purely state issue cam
paign would put the republicans on the de-
fensive from the start, and they will do
for the double purpose Of subordinating
state affairs and to arouse the interest of
the voters. President Roosevelt will make
several speeches In this state during his
swing around the circle, and it is expected
several other speakers of national fame will
be brought into the state.
The republicans will open campaign head
quarters in Detroit early in September, and
the special state convention in this city
September 25. called to nominate a sue
cessor to Justice Long of the supreme court,
who died the day the state nominating con-
vention was held, will be the first large
meeting.
The republican congressional nominations
have been made in all the districts except
in the first, where under a local law the
convention cannot be held until October.
Mr.. Corliss will undoubtedly be renominated
by the republicans, while Alfred Licking
will probably be his opponent. Several of
the democrat congressional conventions
have been called, but none has yet been held.
The party will find 1t difficult to secure
candidates in several of the districts. From
present Indications, while the democrats
may win in the first district, there is little
hope for them in any of the others.
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