Evening star., 1936-05-13
MICHIGAN AWAITS
MURPHY'SRETURN
His Leadership Hell d Needed
by Democrats of
State.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
DETROIT. May 13 (N.ANA).-Is
High Commissioner Frank Murphy be-
ing rushed back from the Philippines
to essay the role of the pinch-hit
who will save the game for the Demo-
Gratis in Michigan in the ninth inning?
That is the question politicians here
began asking each other the moment
the news was received that Murphy
would sail from Manila May 13 to re-
turn to the United States.
Ostensibly, the high commissioner
to the islands is coming back to take
part in Philippine trade conferences
in Washington, but politicians are
never satisfied with the apparent
answer to a question. They always
look for the bugs under the chips, and
every one of the breed in Michigan
is certain that Murphy's return has a
political significance, and that he will
take an active part in the coming
campaign, probably as the Democratic
candidate for Governor of Michigan.
There is no question that, if the
Democrats are to win Michigan next
Fall, some strong leadership must be
developed which will bring order out
of the chaos into which the party
has fallen in this State. 1t is entirely
possible that Murphy can furnish that
leadership. At any rate. he is better
looking prospect than any brought
forward so far.
Party in State Of Confusion.
The party in Michigan is in a pitiful
state of confusion and disorganiZa-
ton. The machine which swept the
State into the Democratic presidential
column in 1882 for the first time in
rs years is shattered. Scandal and
bitter internal fights have taken their
toll.
Elmer B. O'Hara, chairman OF the
Democratic State Central Committee,
is under conviction in Detroit for hav-
ing attempted to steal votes during
the 1884 election, along with nearly
a score of his fellow Democrats. He
Is under indictment in Mount Clemens
on a bribery charge.
The Democratic National Commit
teeman is dead and his place has not
been filled. William A. Comstock,
who was elected Governor in 1882,
but was beaten for the nomination in
1884 through wide split in his own
party. has become so embittered by
the intra party quarrels that he has
announced he will look out of the
window" during the coming campaign.
The Democratic State Central Com
mittee virtually ousted Chairman
OHara nearly year ago, long be-
fore his conviction. The committee
could not deprive O'Hara of his title,
but it stripped him of all his powers
and conferred them on an Executive
Committee that is now in full charge
Of party affairs. O'Hara contends
that all the acts of this committee
are illegal and threatens to call
rump convention Of his own and send
a contesting delegation to the national
convention.
Appointments Held Bungled.
Bungling of appointments by the
powers in Washington has added to
the chaos. One of the direct results
of such bungling was the announce
ment by Frank A. Picard of Saginaw,
former chairman of the State Liquor
Control Commission and opponent of
Senator Vandenberg in the 1884 elec-
ton, that he would take no active part
in the coming campaign. Picard was
denied an appointment as Federal
Judge in Detroit.
Despite this dismal picture of party
wreckage, there is every indication
that. if the Democrats could be brought
together under virile leadership, they
still could carry the State next No
vember. Recent polls indicate a slight
majority for President Roosevelt
among Michigan voters. Frank D.
Fitzgerald, the Republican Governor
elected in 1884, by no means has the
united support Of his party.
An impending knock-down-and-