Helber Vs. Judson

HELBER VS. JUDSON

The rise of a new boss in Washtenaw.

MCMILLAN VS. ALGER

The Senatorial fight enters into the contest.

The appointment of thirty-two census enumerators in this county is the bone on which the split takes place.

A new ruler has sprung up in Washtenaw county who threatens to dethrone the almost omnipotent Billy Judson and it all arises over the McMillan-Alger senatorial contest. Heretofore it was supposed that the redoubtable Billy held a sway over Washtenaw republicans like Rockefeller in the Standard Oil trust or similar to the power of a first class cook in a suburban home, but the entrance of the new feature in Michigan's politics has caused a sudden change which accounts for the great activity of the present state oil inspector.

Pingree is for Alger. Judson is for Pingree and Pingree is for Judson. That makes Judson and all his appointive power for Alger, and he is at present working the appointments of deputyships under his office to that degree of perfection that none who cannot repeat the lecture of the first degree will be admitted to the anointed list of Pingree officeholders. Up to date and including Lieut. Green's selection as assistant inspector-general, Judson has just 18 of the greatest hustlers of Washtenaw who have, or who are, milking the state treasury in return for adequate services performed.

It is a pretty good machine for one county, but Judson was not content and desired to add the 32 census enumerators to his list. That is the number who will be appointed to count the woes of the county and if he could secure the right men it would grease up the cogs of the machine in wonderful shape. He tackled Congressman Hank Smith. Smith said he was in the wholesale business only and that Committeeman Eugene Helber was his authorized agent for this county. Then Judson went to Helber to see if things could not be arranged all right and everything work harmonious.

And right here is where he banged up against a brick wall. Helber was going to do a little dictating himself. Judson reminded him of all the battles they had gone through and won, but Helber conveyed the impression that he had been advanced from a lieutenancy to at least a colonelcy and that he was commanding a regiment that would be as strong on the next line-up as Judson's rough riders. Then Judson resorted to more plain talk as to what might be done to Smith if he didn't get what he wanted. Helber announced that if he started to fight Smith there could be only one loser and his name wouldn't commence with "H" or "S".

Judson wanted to know why all this was and was told that he (Judson) was simply representing Alger-Pingree, while Mr. McMillan was entitled to some recognition.

In other words, if the actions of Committeeman Helber are any criterion, McMillan can count on the support of Congressman Smith. Helber is an editor of a German paper with a large circulation and is feared more than the whole bunch of newspaper men of Washtenaw county combined. He has practically announced his choice as McMillan for senator and to off-set Judson's machine, will see that none but McMillan men are appointed for census enumerators. Besides this there is the postmastership of Ypsilanti to be filled this fall, and that will cut as much of a figure as any appointment Judson has received from the governor.

All efforts of Judson to get a piece of the game flying around from the Washington preserves seem to be without avail, while anybody outside of Judson cannot ring up the governor's private telephone. It looks like a merry war between Judson and Helber for the supremacy of Washtenaw republicanism. If Billy can bury the German editor at the outset and cut his career short, nobody will doubt that he will try and accomplish it. If Helber can cast into oblivion the radiantly whiskered present boss he will be a bigger man than Judson himself and that means a good deal especially to those who have so unsuccessfully but constantly fought the ex-sheriff for two years.

It is Judson vs Helber and Helber vs Judson. - Detroit Evening News