Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-11-06
Michigan Looks to the Future
With a Feeling of Confidence
Mood, Based on Hope, Reflects Improved Business
and Better Labor Relations Are an
Important Factor.
BY Russell
By Russell Barnes.

The companies could not use strike
breakers if they wanted to. Even
though they could obtain enough men,
they could not hire the "skills" peculiar
to the industries.
Modern mass production is so COM
pick few men can sabotage all opera
tons.
Automobile companies must be able to
sell to the laboring as well as other
classes. Labor violence on their prop
critics might lead to boycotts.
The change in the Michigan labor
climate is evidenced in the Republican
campaign to defeat Gov. Frank Murphy
for reelection.
In the primary, former Gov. Frank D.
Fitzgerald contested with former AttQr-
ney General Harry S. Toy for the Re-
publican nomination.
Mr.. Toy proclaimed openly if he were
elected Governor he would use the
States police power to smash sit-down
strikes
Mr.. Fitzgerald declared he would not
countenance shutdown strikes, but added
emphatically he would not "be tool
for little group of reactionary indus
trialists," and he would not permit Cos
sacks to ride down American workmen."
Mr.. Fitzgerald beat Mr.. Toy for the
Republican nomination by majority of
better than to /.
The Republican nominee in his cam
paign for election has been continuing
the same strategy.
The Republicans are also attempting
ment of Gov. Murphy, implying the
Governor is a red"
Democrats Produce Record.
The Democrats have met the Repub-
lican Shutdown strike challenge by pro-
ducing the record, which shows Michigan
Shutdown strikes began in September,
1886, while Mr. Fitzgerald was Governor
and there were IA such strikes between
September and January, when Mr.
Murphy took Office.
They declare Mr.. Fitzgerald turned
over Michigan government to Mr. Muir
ply with 10000 workingmen barricaded
inside factory and 10000 on the outside
1CdQy W COlIlt W IllelT dlQ.
| Democrats say Gov. Murphy using
"the rule of reason" got the automobile
plants cleared, and foundations laid for
collective bargaining without the loss
of single life"
When the campaign started, most 90
servers believed Mr.. Fitzgerald would
| win. He had the normal Republican
vote, which used to be equivalent to
election in Michigan. He had openly
Endorsed the Townsend Plan, and that
group has considerable strength in
Michigan. He had behind him all the
factions which literally hate Gov MUIR
ply for his Shutdown strike policies,
adoption Of State civil service, unem-
ployment relief spending and general
/ New Deal tendencies.
| Since the Democrats have aggressively
/ counterattacked with Fitzgeralds own
Shutdown strike record, his associations
with Frank D. Mckay of Grand Rapids
and Edward N. Barnard of Detroit and
Mr.. Fitzgerald's prison parole record,
! the outcome has become less certain.
Mr.. Toy, Mr.. Fitzgeralds opponent in
the Republican primary, charged Mr..
| Mckay made fortune through control
OF State purchases, particularly of
! liquor, during the Fitzgerald administra-
ton. MIR. Barnard is Wayne County
/ political organizer and criminal LAWYER,
whose actions have been regularly at
tackled even from Republican sources.
| Politically, Michigan has ceased to be
safe Republican State, as it was for
so many years. Wayne County, which
includes Detroit. is now admittedly
Democratic. So is the Upper Peninsula.
The Democrats also have majorities or
an even break in such populous centers
as Flint, Grand Rapids, Muskegon and
other industrial centers.
Urban Michigan tends to become Dem
ocratic, with Republican strength re-
naming in the country and small towns.
The Republican party organization in
Michigan scarcely exists any more.
Candidates tend to build up personal
organizations and campaign on personal
grounds.
Democrats Well Organized.
On the contrary, Michigan Democrats
now boast powerful organization, with
numerous effective speakers and num-
Der OF strong candidates.
This shift of power from the Repub
lican to the Democratic party is one of
the most notable of the changes that
have occurred in Michigan life during
the last decade.
What brought it about?
The prime cause was probably the
effect of the first depression on the fac
tory workers.
Prior to 1929 Michigan plants worked
comparatively steadily. They paid high
wages Demand for labor was so heavy
that after the shutting off of European
immigration in 1924 large numbers of
Southern whites, Negroes and Mexicans
were brought to Michigan cities to serve
the machines.
Factory labor was not interested in
union organization, because there was
plenty of work at good wages Indus
trialists told the men they would look
after them, and they did.
When the depression hit and the fac
tories closed large percentage of the
working population was left destitute,
Some manufacturers by extraordinary
means carried their workers through,
Others tried to take advantage of the