The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-10-05

G.s,,s.on. october 1.--(stan Correspond
/ y rbe news that Russell A. Aiger had
Assl "a the ad interim senstorship ten.
a'Ses rim BY Governor Bliss OF Michigan
eesss sn received with an unusual amount
,n,erest in Washington. up 20 few
20 comparatively few people thought
o.' nsd even chance Of being appointed
coed the late senator Mcmillan.
sr,h,nr seemed to be against him and
t,er that be won in spite of nll the at.
'nY made to defeat him is particularly
s.,ti,ylng to his friends.
80 rss Michigan situation seems TO have
N unusal one. In the days imme.
Ds ~ ,olowing senator McMnlan's death
4. consensus OF opinion was that he would
.rceeeded by his son, W. {. Mcmillan,
~ with General Alger and john T. kicn,
@rs the only persons prominently men
.aa a that time. No one seriously con
,a.,sa Ayers candidacy and no one
.san.bt he would be successful In a let.
4 me Post from New York something
~ mouth ago wrote that ut may
,,,d at the outset that Alger IS not In
r,,n,nr and that he stands absolutely
~ .hance Of being sent to the senate un,
~ sonne compromise which Is not even
,eonent Of now, Is entered into by the OPP
,eslng factions.
.-sre hased on talk with a Michigan gem
,smsn who was we'll informed concerning
ssnstions IN his state and who had no axe
y, Grind. He said frankly that AlSer had
NJ ebanee Of winning the victory and ne
ssnnened III this case, as In many others,
XXI now Alger has formally accepted the
4 ,snder Of Governor Bliss and his commits
Nm As eenutor has been signed.
4 n was not exactly a compromise that
4 ,esrited In the success of the eX-secretnry
4, war. II was simply n succession of sur
nrisss snch as are frequently met with In
q pelltlcs-surprises that changed the whole
4 ssoect Of the ngnt for ttN senatorshlp anu
4 brought success where nothing but failure
y MA been thought Of.
For some time prior to the death or
" senator Mcmillan General Alger had been
n PERSONA non grata with the Mcmillan ma.
81 nine which had long controlled the poll
r IN Of the Peninsula state and which was
Fl txpected 10 retain control even after the
n5ssing away OF its leader. In the late SUs
n Ager broke q political compact with Nc
. MILAN and the latter and his friends fought
"a him from that time on. When the senator
"A dlqd and Ayers name was found IN the
81 isl OF those who wished to succeed him,
Ell the Mcmillan machine, to the management
IA OF which the son of the dead man had sue
teeded let 1t be known that it would dc
"a everything IN It's power to defeat Alger
W ghefe was every reason TO believe, for q
W time that young Mcmillan would be Sc
lected 10 I'll the unexpired term OF his
father. But the Mcmillan mahclne was q
costly adair and for that reason and others
not 10 be an applicant for the honor. lie
continued to Identify himself win the ma.
chine. however, and to lend all his Efforts
to the defeat OF Alser
~
Later the situation was further compn
Gated by d, NJ. Ferry, the millionaire seed
man who announced in opposition to AlgcI
and for time was thought TO be prob
r. ability But by making new ftiends, re
pewing reiatlo.. with old ones, ana gen
i. stally entetlm lnto these deals" so wei
known to the average politician, Alger sue
eeeded in breaking the strength OF the op
position, taT.o assuring his own success
The country was prepared for this result
scme time before 1t was finally and official
u announced, Of course, but in view Of the
situation as 1t existed Immediately after
the death Of Senator Mcmillan the Algei
}R victory was a decided surprise
4 u would be foolish to seek to create the
Impression that Alger is popular or thai
4any number Of people are elated by this
fact that he is again to he a temporary
fesdent Of Washington. Aiger never wa,
particularly well liked, and after the ven
flllatlon Of the embalmed beef scandals
pnring the Spanish war his stock wen
fown even lower than 1t was before. II
pas thought that he did not stand wen at
ome, especially in political circles, bu
he most recent developments in his case
teem to disproye this, although OF course
Is quite possible that his selection Il:
fenator BY no means reflects the sentiments
Y the people Of Michigan, who had prac
: caly nothing TO do with the matter. The
elluelans did It all
Inc term to which Alcer has just beer
at4 pointed does not expire until March 3
H&gs The exsecretary of war, therefore
9 II have plenty Of time In which TO formu
e and put into effect plans tor the de
" 4at q his political enemies Even at thl'
VI III ny date 1t is being predicted that Atgeri
ht4 eeess may mean tho political ruin Of sen
III OF bulrows, whose term expires in 1904
K ~ major butroWs and his followers wer,
" III tluned With the Mcmillan machine anC
VI 4Nsr,e nenlnd young Mcmillan until It wa
n ~ Siued mat he should not make the race
IL pen rerry announced, the allegiance o
Burrows forces was transferred 10 hin
, M#I tne senator was prominent In the ngh
n unsl Aieef at all times. Congressman
Y, lnam Alden Smith, one Of the most am