Evening star., 1936-07-19
MICHIGAN TICKET
UNDER G. 0.P.F|RE
Murphy and Brown Picked
by Farley, Is Charge
Against Democrats.
BY H. C. GARRISON.

DETROIT, Mich, July 18.-Michl-
gan Democrats are on their victory
ticket" for the November election.
"Ofhcial" candidates are Frank Muir
ply, high commissioner of the Philip
pine Islands, for Governor, and Rep
resentative Prentiss M. Brown OF st.
Ignace for United States Senator.
The opposition drum-fire already
has been started against these candi-
dates on the ground that they were
picked by James Aloysius Farley, the
Democratic generalissimo, and there
fore are being showed down the necks
of Michigan Democrats. This is not
entirely true. The facts Of the situa-
tion are that Farley, because OF the
Internal Democratic rows in this State
which wrecked the party's chances IN
1884, insisted that the leaders get to-
gether and choose q ticket on which
all factions could agree. The leaders
did get together, and the Murphy.
Brown ticket was the result.
Question of Strength.
Whether this ticket will lend any
strength to President Roosevelt is a
question. AS a matter of cold fact. 1t
is probably true that Roosevelt will
bring each of these gentlemen more
votes than either of them will bring
Roosevelt. Murphy probably will prove
to be tremendously strong in Wayne
County (DetroiD. in the Upper Penin-
sula and in the industrial cities. but
these are the very places where Roose.
velt Is strong.
There is only one spot where Muir
ply is expected to prove stronger
than Roosevelt and that is among the
Negro vote in Detroit. In Michigan
the Republicans print the picture OF
Abraham Lincoln at the head Of their
column and a good many of the
colored brethren are stiM voting for
Old Abe. 1t is entirely possible that
Murphy will draw some Negro votes
and that a good share of these will
simply mark the top of the Demo-
cratic column and let it 60 at that
Whatever votes he pulls into the
Democratic column in this manner
may be counted as pure gain, be-
cause they probably would not have
voted Democratic had it not been
for Murphy.
Murphy is up against one high
hurdle. Michigan never has elected
a Catholic Governor and the relig-
ious issue probably will pop up some
time during the campaign.
Murphy Campaign Strength.
Murphy's campaigning ability un-
questionably is a source of strength
to the ticket. He is the greatest cam
paigner seen in these parts in many
year. Murphy is adept at a tear
jerking style of oratory that knocks
the populace of their benches. On
the whole, it may safely be said that
Murphy will add some strength to
the Democratic ticket
Brown, on the other hand, is not
particularly we'll known in the Lower
Peninsula of Michigan, where most of
the votes are congregated. He is pop
ular in the Upper Peninsula. He has
been called "three-alarm candi-
date; that is to say, the most rabid
Democrats do not believe he has
chance to win if Senator Couzens is
re-nominated on the Republican
ticket He is being made ready only
for the purpose of being prepared for
the situation if Couzens should lose to
former Gov. WILDER M. Brucker, his
opponent in the Republican primary.
The Democrats believe that a good
man on their ticket would have no
great difficulty in defeating Brucker,
who IS not particularly strong
candidate.
Murphy is opposed by George w.
Welsh, former city manager of Grand
Rapids. former Republican, who has
served as Speaker of the House and
as Lieutenant Governor under auspices
of that party. Welsh was Republic
an candidate for Governor in 1882,
was defeated in the primary and then
came out openly in support of the
Democratic candidate. Since then,
he has espoused the Democratic cause.
He is a good vote-getter and has a
number of anti-New Deal Democrats
supporting him.
Brown does not have a great deal
of opposition in the primary. Other
candidates are Muyskens of the Uni
versity OF Michigan, never before a
political candidate, and Louis 3. Ward,
oiographer of Father Charles E.
Coughlin and head Of the Coughlin
lobby in Washington.