Evening star., 1940-03-17
Dickinson, al 80,
Quietly Considers
Race for Governor
tfMichieon Executive
Proud Of CIoseness to
The Common Voter
~ the Associated Press,

The Common Voter
~ the Associated Press.
LANSING, Mich, March 16.-|
Gov. Luren Dudley Dickinson, who
will be 81 years old on April Is, got |
q real kick" out of the first year Of
his administration.
The sentiment, not the words
themselves, was the Governors.
Gov. Dickinson, whose 18th CEN
tury syntax sometimes confounds a
10th century audience, would have |
said he found a satisfaction" In
occupying the executive office after
serving six terms and part Of a
seventh as Lieutenant Governor of
Michigan.
But his bespectacled eyes sparkled
keenly and he bobbed his sparsely
locked head in eager agreement
when his interviewer couched the
question In present-day vernacular.
Not \ Candidate-Then.
Gov. Dickinson, then nearly 80,
took the oath of Office d year ago
tomorrow upon the death of Gov.
Frank D. Fitzgerald. Worn by i'll
health, he remarked that, at his
age, he was obviously not a candi-
date" for another term.
Since then he has been at the
center of Republican whirlwind
that has been huff1ng and putting
IN an insistent effort to blow to
shreds the last vestige of the little
New Deal" regime imposed by Fitz-
geralds Democratic predecessor,
Frank Murphy, who now occupies
seat on the United States Supreme
bench.
Now Gov. Dickinson looks back on
the bewildering march of events
that followed his inauguration and
calmly contemplates quest for an
other term.
The cares of a hectic year in
ONCE have cost him no sleep, he
insists, and he's gained 81 pounds
tipping the beam at 141 the last
time he stepped on the scales.
CLOSED to People,"
II don't believe there ever was A
Governor in Office that got right
down closer to the people than
am today" he declares. There's
no gap left"
Gov. Dickinson didn't try to get
close to the people by opening his
off1ce doors to a steady stream of
hand-shakers. He fears such indi-
viduals may have purpose when
they come here" so he hedged
himself y1rifb -, =
earned reputation as a hard man
to "get to" until most of the self
seekers became discouraged.
Instead Of opening wide his Of
hce doors, Gov. Dickinson climbed
down from the executive pedestal
and talked to people-in groups he
estimates averaged 1900 and ag-
gregated 100000 in the year. He
rejected most invitations to appear
In metropolitan centers of the Ma
ton, and stunned formal, "soup-
and-fish" assemblages whenever it
was possible. But rural fair-day
crowds, camp meetings and other
religious gatherings, country picnics
and similar groups heard his home
spun message.
Admits "Some Mistakes"
Gov. Dickinson acknowledges
some mistakes" but says if he had
the first year of his administration
to live over again there would be
mo radical changes" in his policies.
He credits much of the criticism
that has been directed against him
as sincere" and natural" but in
sists most Of 1t came from people
who never knew how things should
be conducted here"
He plans to continue ION the same
fne," at least until his present term
expires, December 81. He hasn't
declared his candidacy for another
term, and said week ago he would
make no definite announcement for
several months.
The main task before him, he says,
Is getting people to understand"
the need for good government and
enlisting their help in obtaining it.
I'VE can't do things here in the
capitol unless public sentiment is in
sympathy, at least, with what is
being DONE" he explains.
A Governors greatest asset, ac-
cording to Gov. Dickinson, is the
peoples confidence. THAT gives him
decision and independence, he be-
lieves. "He isn't always asking
whether he's pleasing this one or
that one"
Morals Crusade Goes On.
And his crusade to elevate the pub
hc morals and morale, stemming
from an attack upon high life in
high places" that took a Nation of
newspaper readers by surprise fol-
lowing the National Conference of
Governors in Albany last year, will
60 right on.
The Governor said he would con-
dnue putting it right up to" Michi-
gan citizens that it is their duty to
take inventory of their personal ac-
tivities, particularly on the moral
line, for directly or indirectly that
has a bearing on the expenditures
Of the State" for special services
such as relief and disqualification.
Gov. Dickinson does not believe
taxpayers should buy liquor and Gig
arettes, or even gasoline and auto
mobile licenses, for relief dependents.