Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-04
No Caucus Until the Serious Charges
Are Investigated.
CANDIDATE FOR ALGER's SEAT
Governor on His Sick Bed Heard of
Combination to Elect Arthur
Hill and Protested.

LANSING, Mich, January 4.-Because
of charges made by Gov. Fred NJ. Warner
from his sick bed, the republican legislative
caucus last night postponed action on the
contest for the United States senatorship
Gov. Warner pointed out that Arthur Hill
Of Saginaw had been accused of employing
improper methods to advance his candidacy
and protested against immediate action.
Mr.. Hill, Representative Charles E. Town
send Of Jackson. Representative William
Alden Smith Of Grand Rapids and William
c. Mcmillan Of Detroit, son of ex-senator
James Mcmillan, have been waging strong
campaign for election Senator Alger' 9
successor. Rumors of improper influences
being used among legislators have been
coming to the surface for several days.
A report was circulated, apparently
with authority that combination had
been effected between Mr.. Hill and State
Railroad Commissioner T. w. Atwood. one
Of the prominent republican leaders Of the
state.
Gov Warner. who is sick in bed at his
home in Pennington, learned of this COM
bination and issued signed statement de-
claring that he was unalterably opposed to
the election of Mr.. Hill. The governor in
his statement said
Rumors Of Improper Methods.
For some time there have been rumors
some of which at least deserve careful in
vestigation before they are dismissed, that
there have been improper methods used in
advancing his candidacy. 1 have heard
more of these rumors from Mr.. Atwood
than from any other person. / believe that
the people of this state would. if given an
opportunity, unite with me in my desire to
rebuke such alleged methods.
Il cannot understand why Mr. Atwood
can be for Mr. Hill. when at his last inter
view with me. less than week ago, he
emphatically and unqualifiedly stated to me
that the methods employed to advance Mr.
Hills candidacy have been such that he
could not support him under any circum-
stances. And at that time he agreed with
me in my opposition to such methods.
have heard nothing since that time to
change my mind or that should change the
mind Of Mr.. Atwood
Il exceedingly regret my inability to be
at the capitol tonight If I could be there
and there should be any danger of Mr.
Hills election under the circumstances, l
should plead with every member of the leg
islature to at least delay the matter for
one week for further consideration. and
above all, that the members might talk the
matter over with their constituents. No
honest man would suffer by such adjourn
ment and no others need any protection at
the hands of the republican party"
May Have Misunderstood.
Arthur Hill of Saginaw, when shown
GOV. warner 9 statement, QeCldTeu tIdl lie
had never used any improper methods to
secure votes, and called upon the legislators
and people of the state to defend him
against such an imputation.
Il have discussed with the governor
some rumors regarding the methods said to
have been used to advance Mr.. Hills can
didacy" said Railroad Commissioner At
wood, in reply to the statement The gov
ernor and l agreed that should there be any
evidence of any improper use of money that
the matter should be investigated; that 1t
would be the duty of the governor to pro-
coed with the investigation and that l was
willing to assist him.
1.-The governor must have misunderstood
our conversation if he reached the conclu-
sion that l had stated to him that I could
not support Mr.. Hills candidacy under any
circumstances. The impression that I de-
sired to convey to him was that I would not
under any circumstances support Mr.. Hill S
candidacy if it developed that he was i'm
properly using money in his campaign.
lin reply to the statements that the
governor has heard nothing from me re-
Gently to change his mind, I wish to en-
pha size the fact that he has been sick
and that there has been no opportunity to
cation of the rumors referred to l was
founded
Gov. Warmers statement caused a great
deal Of excitement among the scores Of
politicians and friends of the various can
didates who are assembled here. The re-
publican caucus met last night held very
brief session and adjourned for one week
without balloting