The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-08-03
JOE FoRDNEY's STILL HUNTER
The Willy Zip" Beating the Bushes
For the Saginaw Man.

Gossip among the delegates to the
republican state convention has dealt
largely with Zip" Atwood's attitude
towards senatorial candidates McMil-
Ian and Hill land there are few wise
ones who pretend to be able to de-
fine that attitude and the reasons
therefor. The gossip goes that If At
wood, as railroad commissioner, is
holding aloof from actively support
ing William G. Mcmillan, it may be
because the railroads regard McMil-
Ian as Independent and q little hard
in the bit. But a different reason
is given for Atwood's aloofness from
the Hill boom.
The News has it from a prominent
politician of the Saginaw valley,
whose name must remain confiden-
tial for the present, that some of
Hills friends made an attempt to
secure Atwood's support and failed.
"Some of Hills friends who were
very anxious to line up Atwood for
their candidate made a pilgrimage to
Caro- to tell Zip" all about it," says
The News informant. "The induce
ment they were going to offer At
wood was, according to their notions,
strong one. They had agreed to
be mighty diplomatic about it and
had their plan of attack on Atwood
pretty well outlined, but they didn't
figure on the thirst that was going to
strike one of them on the trip. In
other words he filled up" and in
that condition made a break which
it is said, Atwood resented indig-
nantly.
Atwood has talked about it some
and ,has made pretty good story
out of his refusal to consider the Of
fer. 1t didn't sit we'll on his dignity
to know the estimate Hills friends
had placed upon him
'Now, as to Atwood's plans, think
I know as much about them as any
one on the outside. Atwood would
like mighty well to see Congressman
Joe Fordney in the senate, and was
for Fordney all the time. I think
Fordney knew this, because when
Arthur Hill asked Fordney to go to
Caro- and secure Atwood's support
for the Hill boom, Fordney declined,
saying he would willingly ask At
wood whom he intended to support,
but would not solicit his aid for Hill
or any other candidate. When Ford
ic hn nj
Hill that all that could be learned
was that the railroad comissioner was
not for him.
''It is believed that Atwood has
been working silently for Fordney
for a long time in lining up the leg
islators he controlled to write to the
congressman asking him to make the
run and pledging their support. An
other sign of Atwood's influence was
seeing to it that Fordney was select
ed as temporary chairman for the con-
vention, and thereby hangs another
little tale. Atwood is said have en-
gineered it so that State Banking
Commissioner Moore would suggest
IL OlNhCy Nhe'ii mum w aiiiij
and asking that Hill himself request
the state central committee to name
Fordney for the gavel. Hill couldn't
afford to turn down the request, and
thus it is that Fordney is chairman
ostensibly at Hills request, but real
ly through Atwood's tactics. The At
wood crowd hopes that Fordney will
create such an impression on the con-
vention that it will be the beginning
of a Fordney senatorial boom.
cts pretty well believed that Ford
ney himself believes he could easily
land the senatorship, but feels that
his business relations with Hill is
sufficient reason for him to hold off
until Hill himself gives up the con-
test as hopeless. Atwood will switch
to McMorran as second choice If Hill
does not give up and If there is no
boom for Fordney.
"Of one thing am morally certain,
however, and that Is that Atwood has
been a Fordney man from the first
and will stick to Fordney until he
sees there is no chance.-Detroit
News.