Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-02
COP Grabs Control
New Lansing Legislature Bristies Defiance, Await
Van Wagner Peace Offer
cosrios, by Detroit Tines. Az rIsht. reserved
CONTINUED from Page One)

the Senate shall confirm the ap-
pointments made by former Gov.
iLuren D. Dickinson. or accept the
men hurriedly appointed 10 these
Jobs by Governor Van Wagner.
The two lists-one Republican
and one Democrat. were referred
10 the committee on Senate busl-
ness. Republicans Immediately
seized control OF that committee
by naming five of their own part'-
sans and allowing the admlnistss-
ton only two Democratic menl-
+ berS.
This COP coup made il clear
that the Senate is mined with
dynamite,
If the five Republicans on this
committee refuse 10 permit tie
new chief executive TO name the
officials who must work with HIM.
and substitute Dickinson S APP
pointees. then war is declared and
the Capitol dome soon may rock
with the battle cries OF the two
parties.
Van Wagner pleaded for peace
. in his inaugural address yesterday
on the steps of the Capitol.
Lieutenant Governor NJ urphy Y
asked unity when he opened the
+ Legislative session.
/ Speaker Howa d Nugent, a
Republican added his influence TO
the appeaSement program by de
claring that party lines should be
forgotten.
But the legislators armed To-
battle.
COP SENATOR'S MAY BOLT
( Governor Van Wagner is pre-
pared TO appeal 10 the Supreme
Court if the Legislature blocks MS
appointments.
However. some Republican SEN
ators do not approve the COP up
rising. There are p Republicans
against 10 Democrats in the upper
y chamber and some of the ma leFitYY
members may give Governor Van
/ Wagner a vote Of confidence.
"The people voted for Van
Wagner to head the state
government and he Is entitled TO
our support" said Sen. Gilbert
ISbiSter. of Port Huron. who Is
a Republican leader.
+ Speaking on the floor, ISbister
asked in vain for Democratic con-
troll of committees.
81 will not confirm Dickinson's
attempt to control the new
government. even though he il
the leader of my party. We
should remember that a Demo-
crat il now In the front office, -
he said
REFUSES TO VOTE
When Republicans seized con-
troll of all Senate committees,
ISbiSter refused 10 vote.
The Republican coup was not
opposed by Lieutenant-GoTernol
Murphy a although -ffcutruant-g gov
errors have the right 10 appoint
Senate committees since Michigan
became state.
! The Republicans handed him 2
list of committee assignments. liz
accepted the list. and read It from
the roStrun as his own handiwork
1t gave Democrats only the
chairmanShips of the committee or
the College of Mines at Houghton
which is headed by Senator Ernest
Brooks: the committee on institu.
tons for state wards, headed by
Senator James Burns of Detroit
the committee on military affairs
headed by Senator Charles c
DiggS of Detroit. and the commit
tee on normal schools. headed by
Senator Stephen Benzie of Norway
CEREMONY HELD OUTSIDE
! Governor Van Wagner wa
inaugurated yesterday in a cere
.mony held outdoors for the frs
time since WILDER NJ. Brucker be
came governor in 1881 and 70
the second time in history. y
About l.500 persons crowde,
around the front steps of tn
capitol where the former highwa
commissioner stood under a blu
canopy and received the oath @
office from Supreme Court Justic