Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-06-12

end class matter.
IN speaking of the recent re-districting
of the state the Detroit Journal COM
menled as follows;
"THE supposed ambitions of a number
of men are also involved in the transfer
of counties. For example, II IS thought
possible that Senator Burt ID. Cady,
though only first termer may not wish
TO return to the senate. In that case
Rep. Nank of Macomb who was marked
as the successor Of Thaddeus Seeley in
the twelfth district, had Oakland and
Macomb chung to each other, may be
senator TO succeed Mr.. Cady.
"But there is story Of ambition, and
a brilliant fight coming, between Senator
Harry J. Kane of Mt. Pleasant and Sena-
to Townsend A. Ely Of Gratiot. Both
are second termers. and both naturally
would be expected to retire at the close
of this term. But Senator Kane desired
TO return. and he desired an apportion-
ment bill which would so altar his dis
trict that he might not have TO yield his
brodered toga to some one from the
neighboring counties in the usual custom
of RAISING the honors around. lie
wanted a chance TO fight his way back TO
the senate from district with a different
county organization He gets the oppor-
tunity. as his district, the twenty-hfth,
comprising Isabella, Mecosta, Osceola
Newaygo, was changed so that only
Isabella and Mecosta were joined to
Gratiot, Senator Ely's county. Clinton.
the other county in Senator Ely's dis
trict, was joined &c Barry and Eaton,
Senator Keyes district. Thus Senator
Elv's district vanshes. Therefore per
haps there appears a chance for Senator
Kane to appear third term in the sen
ate.
"But instead Of removing danger from
him this has brought it nearer. Senator
Townsend A. Ely will be a candidate
from the twenty-ffth district TO succeed
himself as senator from the present
been twice senator from the twenty-fifth
district and from Isabella. Now Mecosta.
one of the counties waiting for its turn in
the old twenty-fifth, will not be expected
to support Senator Kane against Senator
Ely, and the people of the county of
Gratiot, whose senatorial district has
been eliminated, will naturally rally to
their home man until the rotation of SEN
ators is arranged. 1t looks as if, whether
his opponent be Senator Ely or some
other, Senator Kane will come back only
after bitter fight to conquer the new
world.
Both men are farmers, but different.
Kane is immensely tall and broad in
proportion, Ely not so large, with a
patriarchal beard and steady calm re-
gard Kane was born in Ontario and is
of Irish ancestry. Ely was porn in Wa
bash, Ind, and earned a second lieuten-
ancy of infantry in the Civil war in a
Michigan regiment.
Speaking Of Ely's district reminds
one OF another senatorial struggle. for
this new arrangement of districts will
create score of new senatorial ambitions.
Senator Keyes, now representing Barry
and Eaton. is likely TO have some coupe
tition from the county of Clinton added
to his district. Rep. w a. Norton of St
Johns has been spoken Of as a candidate
to succeed Senator Ely But Ely has
been rapt away into the twenty fifth
heaven and now the friends of Norton
say, Why not succeed Senator Keycs'
though it is true that Karl has had bu,
one term This does not mean that Mr..
Keyes will not be renominated-it means
only that new counties are troublesome
things and precocious.
"Some members OF the legislature
have been looking further into legal
decisions on apportionments. still dissat-
isfed with the bill, but the matter is
regarded by most as about settled as far
as the session is concerned. whatever
may be attempted with the courts after
ward