A Very Stormy Air

N. D. Corbin, a etaff correspondent of the Detroit Tribune and au nut and out repnblican, formerly editor of the Ann Arbor Register, bad the following interesting article on tbe congressional situation in this district froto bis point of view in Mouday's issue of the Detroit Tribune: "Among tbe republioans of olrl Washtenaw thepolitioal atraosphere has become stormy to the last degree, and those Jooal seers most skilled by experienoe in interpretins tbe signs of the times most heartily disagreo as to what strange events the lowering skies portend. "Tbe oentral figure in Washtenaw politics today is Hon. Andrew J. Sawyer, now representing the nortbern district in the state legislatnre. It is the universal belief tbat he is going to enter the raoe for the congressional nomination in the second district against Gen. George Spalding, the present incumbent, althoogh he has not as yet announced bis intentions in tbat matter. Whatever he conoludes to do ís going to ent a big figure with the solution of tbe knotty prohlems the rejublicans of Washtenaw are now con'ronting. it is believed by some tbat je bas the power to bind and loose in Washtenaw today, and by others that ie is abont to enter a oonflict that will nvolve himself and bis friends in poitioal ruin. "How Mr. Sawyer reaohed his present prominence in Washtenaw politius is a history well worth repeating. The story begins with his first attempt to win oougressional honors nearly Q years ago. JEIe and E, P. Allen, of Ypsilanti, entered the politioal arena together, and in 1877 both were in the state legislature as the representativas of Wasbtenaw connty. In 1882 the twg of thein with Edwin Willets as a third starter made a raoe for the Wasbtenaw delegatiou to tbe seoond distriot oongressionai convention. Mr. Sawyer was tbe winner, having a inajority of three votes over tbe combiued foroes nf his rivals. Mr. Sawyer took a solid delegation witb him to the eongressional convention bot was beaten tbere by J. K. Boice, who was iu turn beaten at tbe polls by the demooratio eandidate Eldridge. Two years later E. P. Allen aDd A. J. Sawyer made a corupaot of some kind so that tbe former rivals were fonnd working side by side to seonre the noniination for E. P. Allen The combination was successfnl, Mr. Alïeu was nominated and then beaten at the polls by Eldridge. Twn years later the oornbination was again able to secure for Mr. Allen the nomiuaiion, and the people finally conolnded to return a republioan congressman from that district. Then oaine Mr. Allen's seoond term, and in the midst of it the misunderstanding that made Allen and Sawyer politioal enemies of the most bitter kind. It is olaiirted by . Mr Sawyer's friends that Mr. Allen had pledged himself to do all in bis power to give to Mr. Sawyer the position of United States district attorney in return for bis continued assistance in Mr. Allen's oampaigDS. They furtber claim that in Mi. Allen's seciond term of office, when it oame time for him to deliver the goods, he utterly betiayed the trust, repudiated the agreemeut aud knocked Mr. Sawyer out of the appointmeut after Senator McMillan had practically decided to give it to him. "No two people teil the story of this time alike, and the versión given by Mr. Allon's friends sounds utterly different from that told by the frieuds of Mr. Sawyer. A bitter factional fight resulted. Mr. Sawyer set ont to prevent Mr. Alleu from being re-elected to oongress and notified bis rival of wbafc he intended to do. Mr. Allen was sucoeeded in congress by James Gorman, wbo held the office two terms, defeating James O'Donnell in his second campaigu. Tben came the campaigu in which Gen. Spalding was flrst elected. Messrs. Sawyer and Allen again raced for the Washtenaw delegation to the congressional convention, the former winning. He believes that he would now be in congress had he not been betrayed by some one at Adrián but he does not in any way blame Mr. Allen, who was on the delegation. "But siuce this last contest a series of events have occurred that might almost seem providential to Mr. Sawyer to heal tbe old sores, and to enable him to place his old eneinies under such obligations to him that they are bonnd in honor to staud by him sbould be conclude to enter the field again this year for the congressional notnination. He holds personal pledges of assistance in the most nnexpeoted places. Washtenaw has never been so united in his favor as at the present moment. And yet never before in its history has the repnblican party in Washtenaw county been so reut and torn witn dissension. Tbe leaders regard eaoh other witn snspioion. There ia fear of treachery in every oombination and revenge seems to be the inspiring motive of half of the visible politioal activity. "But with the way apparently, so clear before bim within his.own county it now appears that Mr. Sawyer bas an ambition nearer to his beart thau a trip to congress, and that is, to be a promineDt factor in a coutest a l'ont ranee against Hazen S. Pingree. He seems to have turned his back on the arnbition of 16 years, now possibly within his attainment, to flgbt nnder the standard of O'Donnell agaiust the Oíd Man. A oombination bas certainly been made between Sawyer and O'Donnell, and Sawyer will, if possible, give the Washtenaw delegation to the Jackson man at the next state oonvention. In return O'Donnell will doubtedly aid Sawyer in every way vithin bis power to seoure the congres sional nomination, shoníd láawyer flnally oonolude that he wants it. Meanwbile Mr. O'Donnell has announced Col. Vio De Land as a caudidate for congress, thns constituting bim the active agent in holding Jaokson oonnty or Sawyer. Ifc is oertain that Sawyer will not thrust hie oongressional aspirations into O'Dounell's campaign in a way to injure tbe Jackson man 's ohanoes for striking a deadly blow at Pingree. "Mr. Sawyer's hostility bas been well known to tbe governor for a loug time. Therefore bas W. V. Wederueyer entered tbe race for the congressional nomination in tbe second district. The Pingree push propose to hit Sawyer bard and strike bim where tbey snppnse tbey will hurt him most, in bis oongressional aspiartions. They believe tbat Wedemeyer, coached by Sheriff Judson, will be able to take the Washtenaw delegation away from Sawyer, tbus closing him ont of thu raoe in his own couuty. Tbe move bas bnrt Piugree in Washtenaw, where Wedemeyer is very popular. He represents the Germán element, but tbat people do Dot like to see too young men in positions of snch difficulty and respousibility thrust forward over older and wiser heads. So even Mr. Wede iueyer's fiiends are pvotesting agaicat what looks to tbem to be a delibérate saciifloe by Pingree of one of his most faitbfnl adherents to his dislike for Sawyer. Tbat Mr. Wedemeyer can come out of tbe strnggle withont incnrring enrnities tbat will take him years to overeóme, no one believes, and no one regarás his candidaoy as sorions, ruerely as a war measnre, piobably suggested by Judson. "From tbe republican banquet in Ann Arbor of last Thnrsday evening bas arisen the impression tbat the Washtenaw republioans are already in line for O'Donnell. To him was aocorded the ovation of the evening. No such applanse was given to Col. Atkinsonn, himself a favorite in Washtenaw, during bis marvelously skillfnl reply to Sawyer at tbe banquet. The oolonel was frequently applauded but never warmly, never with that spontaneous general ontburst tbat was given to O'Donnell when he announced himself as willing to be tbe next governor. But this conolusion is said by the oldtimers to be most superficial. Pingree has a hold on the farmers, so -strong that were he running alone on an inde pendent ticket he would carry tbe county. "There isa manifest fear in the second district tbat there will be a democratie oongressman sent to Washington next fall fiom that región; and tbis fear will nndoubtedly opérate to seoure to Gen. Spalding bis renomination for a tbird term."