The Causes

THE CAUSES

The throw-down of Congressman Smith of the second district was due to several causes. Among others the federal push was against him. He had dared to show some little independence and a bit of individuality in his votes in congress. This of course was an unpardonable sin. What right has a congressman to have any ideas or principles not the common property of the party? For this reason he was marked tor slaughter by Senator McMillan. Then, in his disposition to jolly and for the advantage to be temporarily gained thereby, he seems to have made promises right and left with reckless abandon. These, like chickens, came home to roost, By this duplicity he alienated many former supporters. Then he seems to have taken it for granted that Washtenaw was for him, her support of Wedemeyer being only for complimentary purposes. He appears to have depended on Washtenaw to nominate him, yet he made no effort for himself here. There was some Smith sentiment on the Washtenaw delegation, but no such amount as he supposed. Farthermore, the delegation was for Wedemeyer In a far different sense than "Hank" supposed. There was much Smith sentiment on the rural delivery routes of Washtenaw, but it was not represented to any considerable extent on the delegation. He should have known it would not be when Wedemey-er named the delegation. His notion that Washtenaw would bring him the votes to renominate him was a fatal weakness in his plan of campaign, a foolish weakness, in fact, under all the circumstances. Had he been posted on actual conditions in the Washtenaw delegation, as he should have been and as he might have been, he would have gotten out of the way the first day and he might thereby have saved some of his prestige by helping to name the winner. But why dwell upon the political dead, who are not supposed to have any virtues worthy of commemorating?

A prominent local republican remarked Saturday evening that he had so little regard for Governor Bliss that he would not give a "whoop in hell" for such gubernatorial timber. "But," he remarked farther on, "I shall probably vote for him because I desire to keep in good standing with  the party In local affairs and so must be regular in all respects." It is in just such reasoning as this that the danger of the Bliss infliction for two more years lies. Republicans in all sections of the state condemn him in the most unmeasured terms for his sins of commission and omission, but many do these will vote for him again tor reasons similar to those expressed by the before mentioned local republicans. These kickers acknowledge that Bliss debauched the primaries as they were never corrupted before, in fact it is known of all men that he bought his nomination out and out. He never appears in any public function without shaming every intelligent citizen by his murder of English. He lacks knowledge of state affairs. He is a weakling in the hands of the great corporations. He is managed by the worst political corruptionists and jobbers in the state, he has but one qualification for the office, his barrel, and yet thousands, in spite of all these lacks and his unsatisfactory record, will vote for him to be regular. Those voters who thus account for their stewardship deserve no better administration of state affairs than they get at the hands of Bliss.

"Doc" Smith speaks of Henry C. as his neighbor, but not his friend. He intimates that having evened up the old score with "Hank," he now has no disposition to jump on him while he is down. It must be admitted that there is exquisite pleasure in politics in evening up scores like that between "Doc" and "'Hank."