Evening star., 1932-10-27
DEMOCRATS WAGE
|. FIGHT IN MICHIGAN
TraditionaIIy Republican an
State Scene of Hot Po-
IitiCaI Battle.
BY the Associated Press.

DETROIT. October 27-Habitually
Republican Michigan is witnessing ir
the presidential election campaign this
year forensic activity unique in its
political history. Just 80 years age
the States electoral vote was cast
for Franklin Pierce Democrat Never
since has a Democratic candidate fcr
times since have the Democrats elected
a Governor
Because Republicans always have
considered Michigan safe" and Demo-
Gratis most frequently have been in the
minority in the counting OF votes, the
State ordinarily has seen only a nomi-
nal campaign by both ma jor parties. AT
times the Democrats have had tc
draft" candidates.
In the current campaign both Repub-
lican and Democratic National Com
mittees have sent speakers into the
State in numbers as great as in any
'dcubtful' territory IN the North, East
South and West. The Republican drive
for votes which the party heretofore
has regarded as practically assured was
climaxed by the visit of President
Hoover
Democrats Enter Ticket.
Previously the Democrats, declining
to concede the State to their oppo-
rents, brought their presidential nomi-
nee. Gov. Roosevelt, to Detroit.
For the first time in years the DEM
ocrats are challenging the Republicans
in each congressional district, and in
every State Office, with the exception
of one or two legislative seats.
TV
igan cast a total of 1,372,082 votes for
presidential candidates. Of this total
Hoover received 965 1896, carrying every
county in the State, although one OF
them by a margin of only one vote
The vote for Alfred E. Smith was
396,762 and for Norman Thomas, So
cialist candidate 3,516.
Estimating total of 100000 regis
tered and qualified voters in the State
Secretary of State Frank D. Fitzgerald
expects the total popular vote this year
will be approximately that of four years
ago.
Democratic enthusiasm was given
considerable impetus when Michael J.
Hart. a Democrat, overthrew Republi-
can dominance in the eighth congress
sional district and was elected to Con-
gress in special election to fill a
vacancy.
COmstOck Heads State.
Spurred by their success in this dis
trlct the party nominated candidates for
every office on the ballot. Heading
the Democratic State ticket is William
A. Comstock, three times unsuccess-
ful in his efforts to win the governor
ship.
Opposing Comstock is Michigans Re-
publican Governor, Wilbur NJ Brucker.
seeking his second term The issues
OF the campaign SO far as Comstock and
Brucker are concerned nave had to do
largely with matters of taxation. The
Republican administration has claimed
various economies. while the Demo-
Gratis have charged the administration
with creating deficit in State funds.
Sharing interest with the campaign
Tor State offices are group of seven
proposed constitutional amendments
and one regulatory proposal to be voted
upon. One of the proposed amend
ments in behalf of which a vigorous
campaign has been waged by repeal
and modification advocates would elimi-
nate the States prohibition law and
set up in its stead a regulatory COM
mission.
Four New Representatives.
Comstock is credited with having
taken leading part in the drafting Of
his party's national platform pro
nouncement on prohibition. Gov.
Brucker has announced himself in sun
port Of the Republican party's prohi-
bition plank.
Under recent reapportionment of
congressional districts, Michigan elects
four additional members of Congress
this year. Interest in the congressional
contests has been heightened by the
announcement OF Grant M. Hudson, fo-
years an active prohibition advocate in
Congress. that he would run on stickers
Tor the seat for the sixth Michigan dis
trlct. Hudson, a Republican, was de-
1eated for denomination in 1880 and
against this year by Seymour H per-
son; who favors repeal and immediate
modification.