Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-22
Michigan Parties Sigh
In Relief as Primary
Fears Of Each Fade
Hondieops Averted;
Significance Of Larger
6. O. P. Vote Is Doubtful
BY II. G. GARRISON,

LIE lRoll, sept. Zi.-Wltn the
primaries decided more or less to
the satisfaction of every one con-
cerned, Republicans and Democrats
of Michigan now are awaiting their
State conventions to determine the
rest of their tickets, and then will
have decks cleared for the battle OF
November to control this doubtful
State.
Under Michigan's peculiar combi-
nation of the primary and conven-
ton systems, candidates for the
major State offices-Senator, Gov
ernor and Lieutenant Governor-are
chosen at the primary, whereas the
candidates for minor State Offices
secretary of state, state treasurer,
attorney general and auditor gen.
eral-are selected by conventions.
Both parties found something to
be pleased about in the primaries.
Both were happy because the situ-
atoms they feared did not material
ize. The Republicans were pleased
because their vote total exceeded the
Democratic total. The Democrats
were tickled because their successful
candidate for Governor got more
votes than the successful Republi-
can candidate, and because the Re-
publican candidate. for the first
time in many years, is minority
choice.
G. o. P. Total Greater.
The Republicans polled roughly
10000 more votes than did the
Democrats throughout the State.
They are pretty gleeful about it, but
the Democrats profess unconcern.
The latter contend the distribution
of the primary vote means abso-
lutely nothing except that, for some
unknown reason, Democrats are
loath to vote in primaries.
This argument is bolstered by
some past performances, to wit. in
1882 the Republicans polled 1856 900
more votes in the primary than did
the Democrats, but lost the State in
November by $4,000. Again, in
1886, the Republicans led the pri-
mary voting by $4,000, but President
Roosevelt carried the State in No
vember by $4,000
On their November ballot the Re
publicans will carry the name of
only one former superintendent of
the Michigan Anti-Saloon League,
and not the three they feared. Gov.
Luren D. Dickinson, a former State
dry superintendent, was nominated
for Governor. but the Rev. R. N.
Holsaple, also a former superintend-
ent, ran far down the list for
Lieutenant Governor and DR.. David
L. Mcbride, present State Superin-
tendent, was badly worsted for the
9th district Representative nomina-
ton by the incumbent, Representa-
tive Blackney.
Democrats Relieved.
Louis B. Ward, adherent of Fa-
ther Charles E. Coughlin and OPP
posed by the Democratic organiza-
ton for that reason, ran a weak
third for the Democratic senatorial
nomination and thus a hegira of
anti-Coughlin votes was averted.
Anthony J. Wilkowski, recently re-
leased from prison after serving a
term for the 1884 recount frauds,
was handily defeated for Lieutenant
Governor on the Democratic ticket.
Senator Vandenberg was re-nomi-
mated by the Republicans virtually
by acclimation. He polled nearly
500, 900 votes and defeated his only
opponent by a margin of 9 to l.
1t must be admitted. however, that
his opposition was of the weakest
a razor blade salesman from Detroit
who has not failed to be a candi-
date in any election for the past 10
years and who has run for every
thing from constable to Senator.
The Democratic nomination was
taken in surprisingly easy fashion
by Frank FITZGERALD, 43-year old
Detroit attorney who was backed by
labor and by the Democratic Or
He was by far the
strongest candidate in a weak field.
Unknowns Have Their Day.
Both parties selected unknowns
as their candidates for Lieutenant
Governor. The Republicans chose
one Eugene c. Keyes of Dearborn,
dentist and lawyer.
whose only previous political essay
was bad race for county coroner
Q few years back. The only reason
political wiseacres can give for his
victory now is that he conducted a
heavy advertising campaign and the
field was badly split.
The Democrats, however, can't
crow They nominated for Lieuten-
ant Governor an obscure auditor |
who once worked for the State
Board Of Tax Administration. He
made almost no campaign. No one
ever heard OF him.
Why did he win? Because his
name is Frank Murphy, and appar-
emily more than 100000 Michi-
ganders were under a hazy impress
sion that Mr.. Justice Murphy, firing
Of the rigors of the Supreme Court
life, had developed q yearning for
the fieshpots of the Lieutenant |
Governorship.