Everybody Likes Whiting

An Amusing Incident at the Cedar Springs Fair.

A republican Farmer Supposed He was Listening to Gov. Pingree, but When He Found it was the Silver Nominee Announced that He Would Support Him Just the Same.

Grand Rapids Democrat:

An amusing incident occurred when Justin R. Whiting, the Democratic candidate for governor, was speaking at Cedar Springs a few weeks ago, which only illustrates that Pingree's howling without the voters full understanding him is why many voters have pledged him their support. Governor Pingree was to appear at Cedar Springs the same day Whiting did, and while Mr. Whiting was talking an old farmer named Shaddock stepped up near the platform. He is a rock-plated Republican and believes Pingree is the god of politics and the Venus of purity. He mistook Whiting for Pingree and turning walked away with a pleasing look, when he said: "Boys, there is the smartest man in this State. Why, just listen to him. Every mother's son of you should vote for him. It's a shame for that man Burrows to turn down such a man. Why, he should be in the senate himself."

Those who caught onto the old man's mistake smiled loudly, and after the joke had passed around over the fair grounds as to how Father Shaddock, the oak of the Cedar Springs Republicans, had eulogized a Democratic candidate, he was introduced to Mr. Whiting, and then and there pledged him his support. From this it appears that Whiting's election is only a question of his getting acquainted with the people.