The Detroit times., 1914-04-21
GOVERNOR NOW
AT ODDS WITH
WOOD MACHINE
Refusal to Support Behrendt May
Mean Parting of Their Politi-
cal Ways
LANSING CROWD SORE
OVER MCCLELLAN FIGHT
WoOd-Shields Gang ResOrting to
Every Means to Beat "Origi-
nal Candidate

LANSING, Mich, April 2l.-l spe
cial.)-Democrauc National Commit
teeman f. o. Woods recent announce
ment that the state organization
would not indorse Chief OF Police
Henry Behrendt. OF Lansing, for the
Office OF United States marshal loI
the eastern district OF Michigan Il
the cruelest blow OF the many the
machine has deslt Gov. Woodbridge
n Ferris. The governor has In
dorsed several candidates for post
ofices In the state that have been
overridden BY the Wood-Shlelds
crowd, but he made his big hght TOT
Behrendt
The governor made one trip "a
Washington In Behrendts behalf, and
told the leaders he would forget all
OF his other Endorsements II they
would but land Behrendt. The gov
ernor and the chief OF police are bo
som friends, and are constantly TO-
gether when the executive is in the
city.
Behrendts friends are not taking
kindly TO the Wood announcement.
They gay that the Democratic gov
ernor Of the state should at least DE
able TO name one. friend, ~
- " uUu LtGEy-.sse i44+.4.1-akak 51sz1seoft@ts
:. that there was no question OF Beh'
rendts fitness for the place over rhe
other candidates. but that a man
should be named for the place who
had served the party long and. faith
fully.
II is said that the governor does
not take kindly 10 Behrendts turn
down, and say 1t may be the parting
OF the ways between the governor and
the machine II is known that Fer
rfs, Shields and Wood had long
conference over the matter In the
executive office several days ago, and
the governor made strong plea in
Behrendt's behalf.
The tactics OF Shields and Wood
In regard TO the Lansing postofti ce
hght. are also creating lot OF adj
verse comment. The leading candi-
date for the place is John Mcclellan,
chairman OF the county committee.
Mcclellan has the support of both
the city and county organization to a
man. and most of the Democrats OF
the city are back OF him.
However. Shields and Wood do not
like Mcclellan because he was instru.
mental in lining up the sixth con-
gressional district for Wilson two
years ago, although both Wood and
Shields live in the. district and were
for anybody to beat Wilson. Wood
Is said to oppose Mcclellan. for the
further reason that he was a dry" In
the recent local option campaign.
AT first. the machine trotted out
several candidates OF their own in an
effort TO beat Mcclellan, but none OF
the candidates could get even enough
support 10 permit the machine 10 in
dorse him for postmaster
Wood and Shields then attempted
to divide McClellans support by dan
Cling the Office before several OF his
most ardent supporters. They offered
1t TO Harris Thomas treasurer OF the
Democratic state central committee.
Harris refused and continued TO sup
port Mcclellan. Nevertheless, Thorn.
as was appointed and his name sent
10 the senate for confirmation. lie
was forced TO send his resignation 20
the postmastergeneral.
The Job was then offered TO Alva
Cummins, one OF Woods bltterest en-.
tmies. Cummins makes about $4,000
year in his law business and, OF
course, refused. He Is now in Wash,
ington in McClellan's behalf Cum
Minis says the ONCE was rendered
Thomas and himself merely TO hatteI
them. the machine we'll knowing they
couldn't AFFORD TO accept.
The Office was then rendered Aid
Bert Baker He turned the gang
down fiat and remained loyal 20 Nc
Clellan. City Clerk Gray was then
urged 10 get into the race
To win over Mayor Reuter-. regard
ed as the most popular Democrat In
the county. Wood told the mayor thai
Il was impossible to name Mcclellan
giving the impression that the Wash
iagton officials we're against him
When the mayor found out the gang
was trying to double-cross him, he an
nounced HIS loyalty to Mcclellan
The gang is still trying to find sons
one strong enough to beat Mcclellan
who worked night and day during tn,
campaign two years ago 70 elect VIII
son and Ferris. The latter has com,
cut for Mcclellan although he ha'
not indoTsed anyone officially Loca
henchmen or the machine are circu
lsting petitions for City Clerk Gray
bnt Gray says he is for Mcclellan nm
less the Washington officials turn tn