Politics In Michigan

The Chicago Herald of last Monday contained a review of politics in this state and detailing at length republican plans. The Alger boom is the topic of the article. This boom is being industriously nursed. Alger clubs are being formed in various cities and villages. The republican press is also rallying to his support. On the other hand many republicans like Harrison, of Indiana, and it would not be very surprising to see the Michigan delegation in the republican convention eventually throvv their strength for him. The Herald says: The Republican politicians re by no means certain just now of being able to carry the state for Alger or anybody else. They have learned a lesson - or ralher they have been given a very unpleasant warning- by the recent Congressional election up North. It is now plainly seen that the RepubKcan is the minority party above the straits. Mr. Seymour'i majorily was about 400; but he would have been beaten by 200 Totes had not the only county of his district in the Lower Península given him a plurality of 600. Visions of 1884, too, came before the faithful, when the 7,000 plurality of the Upper Península ws al' that overéame the 4,000 Democratie majority of the Lower Península and electtd Alger and the Blaine electors by about three thousand. The Republicans, however. are seeking an old remedy to apply to the political sore this fall. They express hope that the democrats will have trouble in acquiring the support of the Greenback element, without which most Republicans are confident their opponents cannot win, and the Alger managers are doing their utmost to walen the breach already existing. The lack ot fusión in 1887 may make trouble this summer; slill, the dissolution of the Greenback party may result favorably to the democracy. Slrong faith is placed by Republicans in the united state league established. With branches in every township, which is the ultimate intention, the orgamzation it ominious to the enemy. Last, but not least, is the doctrine oi protection. Republicanism in Michigan is wedded to this god. They exultantly cry that it will win. Before the election in the Upper Península, their lead ing organs urged that the battle be waged on that line. "Talk a protective tarift!" was the watchword. Since the terrible defeat - for the result amounts to that in its import and prestige - the same organs and individuals have attributed the result entirely to the labor strength which the Democracy secured. Chairman Weston, of the Democratie State Committee, said the other day explicitly: "Mr. Breen and every speaker controlled by the State Committee stood squarely on the President's message. There was no dodging of that issue sought or allowed. The victory was not for free trade, but it was for the principies laid down by President Cleveland. The tariffwas the main issue in the fight." The Alger forces expect to shelve Luce this year and to push the millionaire [ames McMillan for the governorship. Senator Pai.mek is the leading republican senator from this state. General Cutcheon is the leading republican representative. Both of them favor the putting of a prohibí tioa plank into the republican platform. It seems that our republican friends are no longer able to straddle the liquor question and are getting down from the fence. The elections held in several Michigan towns to bond the towns to obtain a certain plow company are so Ilegal that no respectable constitutional lawyer can be found to say that they are. not so. Trouble will be found to float the bonds or raise the money by taxation. AJfew vears ao many towns became crazy to bond themselves to build railroads. Many of them are now groaning under heavy debts, but no city in Michigan has authority to raise bonuses for manufacturing establishments by taxation. That is a well settled principie of law. Every farmer who wishes to make improvements in his buildings wiil certainly appreciate the removal of the duty on lumber. Just why the farmer or any man who wishes to build a home for himself should be required to pay $2 a thousand feet extra for lumber in order to make a few more millionaires in this state passes comprehension. The destruction of the forests is greatly deplored. Yet we place a premium on such destruction. It causes the rivers to dry up yet we pay for having them dried up. Out upon such government. Vote for Cleveland and táriff reform. Our friends of the Courier are getting a little reckless of late. The have made many statements which carried their own refutation. For instance, last week they said that congress had been democratie for some years. We called attention to the fact that the senate was and had been republican. This week the Courier essays to make a correct ion. It says it is folly for the Argus to think that the senate is a part of congress when the house and the President are democratie. An exceedingly logical conclusión! Since when did the Courier so alter the constitution of the United States that the President became a part of congress and the senate droppcd out? We always were aware that the republicans were fond of voting, but rarely have we found one who developed such a perfect passion for it as our esteemed friend of the Courier. Fall and spring elections couldn't satisfy him nor yet a special election, which availed nothing except to spend some of the city's money. Nor did the vote upon the liquor question last spring, but he needs must urge a special county election on the same subject, which cost the city alone over $400. What next will he want to vote upon.' There is some danger that there may be a surplus left in the city or county treasuries unless his mania for votintr isgratified. And hedoesn't wishtaxation reduced. Tuis talk of large manufactories removing their locations is getting to be a good deal of a chestnut. A couple of years ago a Connecticut clock company got a yast deal of free adrertising and proposals from nearly every town in the United States but didn't move and never expected to. Then several other factories tried the same advertising dodge. The Smith purifier works, of Jackson wanted more room and the city didn't wish to condemn a public street for their use. So they got up a furor about moving, induced several towns to lie awake nights planning to capture the big plant, and now bid fair to get all they want out of Jackson. Lately the Gale plow works of Albion have been trying the same oíd game. Like the other factories mentioned have large works now in operation, but they gave out that they wanted to move. Adrián went wild over the prospect and proposed to vote avvay more money to get the works than St. Paul would. Monrot; caught the fevei and all along the line propositions poured In. Now Albion proposes to tax heiself $30,000 to keep the plow works there probably what the company was after in the first place. Cenainly this is the easiet method of earning $30,000 that we know of.