The Political Sensation Of The Hour In The State

Severance of Political Relations between Wedemeyer and Judson

 

Interviews with Various People - How the State Press Are Treating the Matter

 

Mr. Wedemeyer's signed statement as to his political relations with Mr. Judson has created a state political sensatiou. It is generally believed to be the signal for an open war upon Judson. The Detroit Journal has the following Lansing dispatch:

 

"Lausing, Mich., March 10. - That the statement issued yesterday by W. W. Wedemeyer, announcing the severance of his allegiance to William Judson, is but the first shot of a general campaign against the oily statesman from Washtenaw, is indicated by the feeling in Lansing.

 

"Moreover, the movement against Judson is considered merely a second attack of the revolt against Senator Alger which startled the state week before last.

 

"Mr. Judson is slated for the loss of his job, it is said. Just what has been the offense of the state oil inspector is not told, but in a general way he is accused of having tied up too fast to Gen. Alger and William Alden Smith.

 

"The plans have been maturing to such a point that successor to Mr. Judson has been, if not actually selected, pretty well settled upon. Who this individual is remains a state secret for the present.

 

"Mr. Judson's term expires June 30 next, however, and it is probable that the hitherto prevailing expectation that he would be reappointed will be one of those expectations never realized."

 

The Journal also contains the following description of the previous political relations of the two men, which probably contains some truth and some poetry:

 

History of the Past.

 

"The repudiation of William Judson by W. W. Wedemeyer," says a republican, "must be peculiarly mortifying to the red-whiskered gentleman who controls the political destinies of Washtenaw county. Mr. Judson is firmly convinced that he made Wedemeyer, and it is a case of 'How sharper than a serpent's tooth to have a thankless child.'

 

"The career of Mysterious Bill, who once drove cattle and later herded votes, reads like a romance. Judson went into the office of sheriff of Washtenaw county on the landslide of a few years ago that turned over so many democratic counties in the state and elected every man on the Washtenaw county ticket by large majorities. He came through practically at the tail of the ticket. He quickly arrogated to himself the credit for landing the republican party in power in Washtenaw county, although as a matter of fact he had been a most uncomfortable candidate, ready to trade any of his colleagues for votes for himself, a fact well known to the county committee at that day.

 

"The following spring there was a contest for the nomination for county superintendent of schools. Judson went into it and landed the place for W. W. Wedemeyer, who was then barely out of college. Wedemeyer was thus elected to his first political office. Both Wedemeyer and Judson attached themselves to Pingree, and Judson became a personal representative of the late governor in Washtenaw. Wedemeyer pulled down a position as deputy railroad commissioner. Then came the congressional campaign when Henry C. Smith beat out Gen. Spalding of Monroe.

 

A Candidate for Congress.

 

"Wedemeyer was a candidate for congress from Washtenaw. So far as he was personally concerned, Wedemeyer was an honest candidate; so far as Judson was concerned, Wedemeyer was merely a stool-pigeon for the Washtenaw delegation to rally about, to be traded off at the right moment. The delegation was, in fact, definitely promised to Gen Spalding by Judson who, however, failed to deliver the goods.

 

"Wedemeyer suspected that something was doing. After the convention had begun its sessions, a mysterious telegram signed 'Pingree,' which the governor afterward repudiated, was circulated among the Washtenaw delegates by a nephew of Judson's. This telegram demanded that the Washtenaw delegation stick to Wedemeyer and do its best for him. Whether this was sent by some friend of Wedemeyer's who knew Judson and was trying to hold him in line, or whether It was a trick of Judson' s t hold the Washtenaw delegation in hand until the right moment, was never known. The nomination of Smith was effected in spite of Judson, by a combination in the convention between Lenawee and Jackson counties. Judson knew nothing of what was coming until the trap was sprung, and the Washtenaw manipulator did nothin but show his marked incapacity for dealing with a critical situation advantageously.

 

"Wedemeyer was again a congressional candidate in the Second district last fall when Townsend landed. Here again Judson manifested incapacity or bad faith in the handling of Wedemeyer's campaign; and when it came Ito the convention itself, his blundering tactics nearly ruined Wedemeyer's chance of ever again being a candidate. However, Senator Glazier took the case in hand and compelled Judson to form an alliance with Townsend of Jackson and to throw the Washtenaw vote to Townsend in such a way as to place Wedemeyer in line to succeed him at the end of four years. Wedemeyer owes this arrangement to Glazier and one of two other men. Judson's program was altogether different.

 

County Goes Democratic.

 

"Meanwhile Judson's methods of dealing with republicans in Washtenaw - for he knows nothing of soothing down ruffled feelings, or forming healing alliances - have driven the county again into the hands of the democrats. It is as hopelessly democratic as it was before the landslide. Judson, when he came up for re-election for sheriff, ran hundreds of votes behind his ticket and barely squeezed in. He had 30 majority in a county that gave Pingree 1,200 majority at the same time. That was the last time he has ventured to be a candidate for an elective office. He could not be elected to anything in his home county, and it is generally said there that he holds his power by manipulation and the command of the campaign funds.

 

"There is no question that to a large degree Judson made Wedemeyer a political factor of importance in Washtenaw politics. But Wedemeyer is a man of talent and education, and since the day Judson picked him up he has acquired experience and judgment and made friends of his own, and is recognized as ten time the man that Judson ever was. He is not content now to travel as a tail to Judson's kite."

 

The Detroit Evening News says:

 

"Charley Townsend and Gov. Bliss will take no stock in Mr. Wedemeyer's theory that Bill Judson has developed into a thirty-second degree hoodoo."

 

The News also advises that

 

Judson File a Cross-Bill.

 

Our sympathies go out to the Hon. Bill Judson. We respond to the demand for condolences which is contained in the news that the Hon. W. W. Wedemeyer has filed a bill for divorce and that, pending the judicial determination of the question, he has separated himself from the sphere of he Judsonian influence. The sphere isn't saying anything about it, but gave two characteristic grunts when informed that papers would be served in the morning.

 

"When the decree of divorce is given, as it must be because no court could withstand such a tearful complaint of non-support, cruelty and incompatibility, Mr. Judson will be obliged to change his ways, his means, his manners and his methods. Henceforth he will have to speak in something besides monosyllables twice a year, and give monthly demonstrations that his silence is that of wisdom rather than ignorance. His wise look will be amputated and ever and anon ie will peep into his vest pocket to make sure that the partner of his former endeavors has not surreptitiously abstracted Washtenaw county.

 

"But the really serious aspect of the affair - and the one that calls for sympathy - is the covert stab at the Hon. Bill's reputation. Heretofore he has enjoyed the suspicion cast upon him and found delight in being credited with performing remarkable feats of ground and lofty political tumbling. When a plot was hatched the Hon. Bill delivered a proprietary smile. He never denied that he was accessory before the fact, and, by refusing to claim credit for Napoleonic coups, got it, and thus he has grown wondrously in the public mind as a manipulator of men and a molder of events. But he has now been discovered, exposed as false alarm, his reputation blasted, his good name filched - even honor is gone.

 

Gone like the soul from a ruptured bassoon,

 

Gone like the gas from a busted balloon.

 

"Mr. Wedemeyer is a cruel, cruel man and we feel sure that a cross-bill will bring the necessary vindication."

 

The Detroit Times, formerly To-Day, in its only editorial yesterday, thought some of the bouquets belonged to the

 

Voters of Washtenaw.

 

The first impulse that will come to those who read of W. W. Wedemeyer's refusal longer to follow the political leadership of "Silent Bill" Judson will doubtless be commendation of fr. Wedemeyer's personal declaration of independence of the Washtenaw county boss.

 

But he, who permits his commendation to go no farther than that, fails to catch the full significance of Mr. Wedemeyer's announcement.

 

Mr. Wedemeyer, long a faithful follower of Judson, makes no apology for his past affiliations and, so far as his statement goes, there is nothing to indicate that he does not still consider Judson all that he believed him to be when he first gave him his support. In fact, Mr. Wedemeyer's statement leaves the inference that his political relations with Judson might be indefinitely continued were it not for one fact.

 

Break Because of the Voter

 

That fact, of paramount importance, seems to be that whatever Mr. Wedemeyer may think of Judson, the rest of the people, not only In Washtenaw county, but throughout the state, think so little of him that it needs only to be known that a candidate for office bears the Judson mark to insure his emphatic defeat at the polls.

 

In corroboration of this statement, Mr. Wedemeyer cites numerous instances.

 

With an understanding of these facts, it becomes plain that there should be a division of the commendation, part of it going to Mr. Wedemeyer and the rest of it to the voters of Washtenaw county and to the people of the state generally.

 

For it appears to have been Mr. Judson's failure to "make good" that first opened Mr. Wedemeyer's eyes to the undesirability of his leadership.

 

And the voters, who have so persistently prevented Mr. Judson's candidates from landing, either in convention, or at the polls, are the ones who have really caused Mr. Wedemeyer to sever his political relations with his former chief.

 

Judson's political unpopularity is one of the encouraging signs of the times. The rebuffs that he has lately received indicate only too plainly that the people of Michigan are trying to shake off boss rule.

 

The unsuccessful boss has ever been an object of loathing among politicians and will remain so as long as bosses exist. The boss who would keep his followers close to his bosom must form the habit of winning more frequently than he loses.

 

The only surprising thing about Mr. Wedemeyer's political relations with Judson is not that they have ended, but that they ever began. He is a young man of good purposes and ought never to have been a part of any boss' machine.

 

The Detroit Journal editorially pays the following

 

Tribute to Washtenaw:

 

Washtenaw is a community distinguished by a particular independence of thought. In Washtenaw they do not hesitate to sacrifice friendship for principle. It is a sturdy, self-reliant community and hard to keep in line. Of late the Judson influence has been reactionary. He has endorsed desirable candidates and his endorsement has had a blighting effect, unexpected and distressing. The blows that are being aimed at the Judson influence have been missing the mark and bowling over good men. Naturally the republicans of Washtenaw are resentful of this, and with characteristic acumen they are going straight to the seat of the trouble, the waning leadership of the silent one. The element that seeks his downfall is young, progressive and aggressive, the friends of primary reform, sturdy champions of the people. Certain it is that the elimination of the Judson influence and politicians of that school would mean good to the state and the party.

 

Canfield's Reply.

 

Referring to the prominence given the article of W. W. Wedemeyer in Detroit papers, Lester Canfield, one of Judson's friends in this city says:

 

"While Wedemeyer gives no reasons in his article that should cause either a break in political or personal friendship, I know a few reasons why Wedemeyer should declare himself hostile to Judson.

 

"First - Because Judson made Wedemeyer school commissioner of Washtenaw county in 1895.

 

"Second - Because Judson secured Wedemeyer's appointment as deputy railroad commissioner in 1896.

 

"Third - Because Judson secured the Washtenaw delegation for Wedemeyer for congress in 1808 and came within three votes of securing his nomination in the district convention.

 

"Fourth - Because Judson secured Washtenaw delegation in 1902 which voted for Wedemeyer 801 times in district convention.

 

"In all these fights Judson also secured a nice lot of enemies for himself both in county and district, and it seems Mr. Wedemeyer very naturally bowing to this sentiment feels it his duty to declare his hostility to Judson.

 

"The fact that Judson bas paid Mr Wedemeyer's expenses at various state conventions and Michigan Club banquets, even including the banquet held at Detroit, March 6th this year, is perhaps another reason why Wedemeyer cannot go Judson's methods.

 

"Another reason why Wedemeyer should be eternally disgusted with Judson is that Judson as a member of the state central committee used his influence and secured Wedemeyer's appointment as chairman of the state convention recently held at Detroit, certainly the first and probably the last time Wedemeyer will ever be honored in this capacity.

 

Inasmuch as Wedemeyer attended neither ward, county or district caucuses held during the Kinne campaign it is wonderful how he discovered hostility to Judson, who was present at all of them.

 

"I know how delegations for Mr. Wedemeyer were secured in various congressional campaigns, having worked the wards and rode the town -  but I now think that a man false to his friend would also be falso to his constituents should their interests conflict with his own selfish interest."

 

Wilkinson's Interview.

 

Referring to the communication of W. W. Wedemeyer, A. V. Wilkinson, deputy oil inspector, one of Mr. Judson's friends, says:

 

"I see Wedemeyer has concluded to dissolve partnership with Wm. Judson, giving as his reason therefore the hostility that is felt for Mr. Judson's leadership in county and state. It is true Judson made enemies in Washtenaw county when he made Wedemeyer, then a youth of 22, nominee of the party for school commissioner in 1895; but Wedemeyer was not worrying about these enemies then.

 

"Another crop of enemies ripened in 1898, when Judson secured the Washtenaw delegation for Wedemeyer for congress, and came within three votes of nominating him in the district convention. Still Wedemeyer's conscience did not then make it necessary for him to declare he could not longer work with Judson in his efforts to build up Wedemeyer.

 

"In 1902 the hostility to Judson, Wedemeyer refers to, was again increased when Judson the second time secured Washtenaw's delegation for Wedemeyer for congress and still Wedemeyer bore up under Judson's load.

 

"But now with primary election in the near future, when every man is a leader and no one can trace the source of public sentiment and with no campaign. Mr. Wedemeyer's conscience eggs him on in a three-quarter column article to explain a two-line incidental reference to himself.

 

"It is true Mr. Wedemeyer has nobly assisted Judson in all matters pertaining to Wedemeyer's welfare, and outside of this his manifestation neither hurts nor helps Wm. Judson."

 

Wedemeyer's Reply.

 

"I have read the interview coming from A. W. Wilkinson. who is Judson's nephew and deputy.

 

"The interview is so unfair that I was at first disposed to answer it. But it requires no answer with the Republicans of Washtenaw, who know the facts. Resides, I shall not descend to personalities oven if others do so. My statement was fair and truthful and requires no bitter attacks upon anyone to bolster it up.

 

That statement of facts contains all I have to say. The whole matter now rests with the Washtshenaw republicans. I cannot believe that they wish to follow leadership which means continued and certain defeat. But whatever their verdict. I have done what I know to be right. If to do the right means political annihilation, then I am ready to be politically annihilated.  W. W. Wedemeyer.

 

What Judson Says.

 

Mr. Judson, when seen by the Argus this morning, repeated his surprise at Mr. Wedemeyer's letter. He also said that he had been in receipt of more letters and telegrams standing by him, not only from this county, but all over the state, than he could answer in two weeks. He had discovered that his friends were not going to desert him at this juncture. The incident had indeed surprised him by the proof it had brought of how many friends he really had.