Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-11-12
PAC Steered
toDenns
ScholIe, Doll Given
Credit for FDR Win
Michigan Politics
BY FRANK NORRIS

by rhANh MOhhiS
Coy. Dewey polled more votes
in Michigan than did Willkie in
1910.
The New York governor was
stronger outstate, and he ex-
ceeded Wilkes Wayne County
vote by more than $4,000.
Yet Willkie carried Michigan
and Dewey lost it.
The Roosevelt victory. there
fore. can be traced directly TO the
CIO Political Action Committee
and through that organization to
its two head men, August Scholle
and Tracy Doll,
CAN BE DECIDING FACTOR
For the first time, they
cemented the potential power OF
the labor vote and swung il in
full force. That does not mean
that the Political Action Commit
tee can hope hereafter to control
state elections.
The overwhelming defeat Of the
unions candidate for governor,
Edward j. Fry, shows that the
CIO strength can be deciding
factor only when back of candi-
date whose popularity is about
evenly balanced.
But when such situation does
arise hereafter, the united labor
vote will hold the balance of
power.
President Roosevelt finally car
ried Michigan only because the
Go got 10000 more voters TO
the polls in Wayne County than
in 1910. when the previous voting
record of 726,000 was established.
Despite the fact that Detroit
and its suburbs have grown in
population during the last four
years. this record was truly a
remarkable achievement.
The President had TO get more
than 100000 new voters 10 the
polls here TO win. Had the in
crease fallen much below 100000,
the state would have retained its
traditional Republican record.
OUTSTATE DECREASE
In 1910. Wilkie had 81 per cent
of the votes outstate and this year
Dewey got 50 per cent. But the
vote did not increase, due
to an average loss of 3 per cent in
population.
So. although Dewey came TO
the Wayne border in better shape
than e,-he-ran-int
Roosevelt flood that Republicans
partly foreSaw but refused TO
recognize.
Dewey's strength here was
$4,000 votes better than that OF
the 1910 Republican nominee, but
Roosevelt swung 63.4 per cent of
the Wayne votes compared with
g. per cent when he lost Micnl-
gan to Willkie.
This increase in his percentage
can be credited directly 10 The
well executed campaign of the
Go.
BY finishing ahead OF Dewey by
approximately 100000 votes, Gov.
Kelly proved himself one OF the
most popular governors of all
time.
Democrats contend one reason
for his amazing victory was the
tWo-ballot system which caused so
much grief in Detroit. They also
argue that they would have done
better with a candidate of greater
public appeal than Fry.
Both arguments have some
merit. but Gov. Kelly proved con-
clusively that even with single
ballot for both the governorship
and the presidential races. and
even if pitched against strong
Democratic candidate, he would
have carried the state by hand
some majority.
u. s. SENATE PROSPECT
In upsetting the 16-year one
term precedent, the governor be-
comes a logical candidate for the
l.. s. Senate in 1916
Even if Senator Nandenberg
seeks another term that year.
Kelly's friends will enter him as a
contestant for the nomination.
The governor will hesitate before
consenting to oppose his old
friend.
But, in truth, his one ambition
is TO be in the u. S. Senate and
it would not be surprising if the
voters insist on sending him there.
Beginning Immediately. Michi-
gan is TO have an active "as-
sistant governor" for the first
time in history.
When Gov. Kelly persuaded
Auditor General Vernon J.
Brown 10 become a candidate for
lieutenant governor. he promised
Brown that it would be no empty
office.
Now that Brown is elected. he
is TO take over part of the execu.
tive duties without waiting for
inauguration next Jan. l. He will
have an important part in franz
ing the administrations program
for the 1915 legislative session
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