The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-05-06

500 Man Looks to Be Winner
For Governor.

followers of politics that Chase s. Os-
born will win in the gubernatorial pri.
mary by more than $4,000. Enthusi.
astic Osborn supporters declare that
it will be nearer $4,000, while none
of the seers in the states metropolis
put the 500 mans plurality at less
than $4,000.
1t is conceded by everyone who fol-
lows politics here that never has there
been such switch in public senti-
ment in such a short length of time
as has been witnessed in the present
fight for the Republican nomination
for governor of Michigan.
Even the most loyal Osborn man
will acknowledge that if the primary
had been held about Jan l that Lieu
tenant Governor Kelley would have
been the winner.
But with the opening of the ban
quet circuit" Chase Osborn literally
gained thousands of votes daily.
When Mr.. Osborn took up the active
end of the campaign he was unknown
to the bulk of the people in the state.
But with his first speech he became
almost a popular idol. His campaign
was opened at Greenville, where he
was unknown, but within month the
result of that speech had been to
5hatter the Eleventh district, acknowl-
edged previous to that speech as a
Kelley stronghold, and to make that
district an even chance. And so it
was with cry speech.
Osborn was an even money PROPOSE
ton by Feb. l, but from then on he
gained by leaps and bounds. At st.
| Johns he was given an ovation only
| equalled ty those given to presiden-
! tial candidates. In two speeches 1t
Detroit he made tremendous impress
sion, and Il. , Kelley. workers practical
| ly gave up in Wayne county.
Probably the greatest indication OF
| how Mr.. O. born las turned over the
state is shown by Bay county. Here
State LaL r Commissioner "Dick"
Fletcher reigned supreme, and there
was betting by the Kelley adherents
that the lieutenant governor would
carry this county to / over Osborn.
But the Osborn sentiment reached
point in March where, on direct Os
born-Kelley issue, Fletcher was beat
en- in county convention, something
that hadn't happened in years before.
Many reasons are responsible for
the Osborn sentiment. First Of all
comes the personality Of the man. He
Is the most magnetic speaker in Mich
igan, and he makes votes with every
word he utters during a speech. But
coupled with this is the feeling against
the present state administration,
which is typified by Mr.. Kelley, and
the fact that the entire state machine
is laboring with might and main to
elect Mr. Kelley, or at least to nomi-
nate him, for there is a growing feel
ing in the state that If Mr.. Kelley is
nominated he has but Slight chance of
being elected
This very fact has lost him great
deal of support, county delegates feel
ing that he will weaken the ticket and
hurt their own campaign if he should
head the ticket.
Getting down to the matter of fig
ures, the Republican enrolment in
the upper peninsula was $4,000, which
means that Osborn will come to tie
straits with a plurality in excess OF
$4,000 This is tremendous vote for
any candidate to overcome. and there
is not one chance in 500 that Mr.
Kelley can accomplish this.
Wayne county is solid for Osborn,
and q number Of bets Lave been made
here that Osborn will have $1,000
plurality in the county. This goes as
we'll for SAGINAW, Jackson. Ann Ar
Dor, Kalamazoo, Pert Huron, Benton
Harbor, Muskegon Manistee and Lud-
ington.
He will Gerry TIE Tenth district by
big majority, and also the Eleventh,
although the latter will be closer. The
Fourth district is apparently tie clos
est in the lower peninsula, with Mr.
Kelley having a shade but Osborn
will Offset this by his vote in the
Third district and in the Second. The
Fifth is also conceded to Osborn, with
the Ninth, and the Seventh will offset
any Kelley gains in the Sixth. The
development OF the congressional fight
in the Sixth may work to Osborns
advantage. Congressman Sam Smith
is likely to be opposed by Senator
Frank J. Shields of Howell. If Sen
ator Shields gets In he will keep the
Pontiac man SO busy with his own
nomination that he VIII not have time
to aid Mr.. Kelley very much.
Mr.. Musselman will play but small
part in the race. II he had stood firm.
ly by his original declaration for pro-
hibition he might have become a fac
tor through the straight "dry" votes
he would have secured in addition to
the support he was sure of in any
event But his later straddling of the
liquor question has disguised all fac.
tions.
Sizing II up from all sides. the claim
OF the Osborn people that Mr.. Osborn
will be nominated for governor Of
Michigan by $4,000 looks like q Der.
iectly reasonable one.