Evening star., 1954-10-09

1855 model automobiles which
will gleam in the Nations show
windows within few weeks may
become a symbol of political
gloom for Michigan Republicans.
The reason: The auto indus
try's shiftover to new models has
This is another Of several stories by
rowing Associated Press reporters
onolyzine the compoisn in key
Stotes.
laid off thousands of workers.
boosted Michigan unemploy-
ment, and given the Democrats
their most potent campaign issue
against the Republicans.
This has been the first ex-
tended shutdown for model
changeovers in Is years as the
industry gears up for a battle of
the giants in a market where
the Independents have been
squeezed badly by General
Motors and Ford.
Politically. it couldn't have
been timed better for the Demo-
Gratis in the fight for State and
National offices.
Hope Peak Is Past.
The Michigan Employment
Security Commission says the
peak of layoffs may be past and
expectations are that employ
ment will rise as the assembly
lines swing into new model pro-
ductiOn. But politicians on both
sides of the fence say the up
swing is coming too late to help
the Republicans at the polls. New
production won't be really roll
ing until late November and
early December.
Michigan normally is Repub-
lican and the Democrats always
run scared. But this time the
Republicans are running scared.
Too, in addition to the unem-
ployment problem. which the
Democrats are exploiting effec-
lively, there is a rumbling of dis
content among the upstate dairy
farmers who, perhaps. were
hardest hit by the Eisenhower
administrations cutback of farm
price supports.
No one interprets the situation
to mean the Democrats are
headed for victory all down the
line Those close to Michigan
politics say it does mean the Re-
publicans have got a fight on
their hands to hold onto Offices
which normally might be taken
for granted.
Situation Variable.
The situation could shift be-
tween now and election day, but
the weight of expert political
opinion seems to run along this
line:
State-Democratic Gov. G.
Mennen "Soapy" Williams looks
like a good bet to win an unpre-
cedented fourth term and he'll
help the Democratic ticket.
United States Senate-Sena-
tor Homer Ferguson. Republican,
of Michigan. chairman of the
Senate Republican Policy Com
mittee, probably will be returned
to the Senate in a close race.
Congress-The Democrats are
in good position to pick off one
and perhaps two Republican
House seats.
The big show in Michigan
politics is the race between Gov.
Williams and G. o. P. Candi-
date Donald S. Leonard, former
State and Detroit police COM
missioner.
For six years Mr.. Williams
has been campaigning continu-
ously in this State, calling square
dances, shaking hands, turning
up at small club meetings and
making himself known to the
voters.
Had Narrow Victories.
But four years ago he barely
squeezed out a victory by less
than 1000 votes in a recount, :
after it looked as if his Repub-
llcan opponent, Harry F. Kelly,
had won. Two years ago an
other recount gave Mr.. Williams
an $500 majority over Fred NJ. /.
Alger, now the United States
Ambassador to Belgium.
Mr.. Leonard has six years of
handshaking to catch up with
but he's trying. He's pumping
hands in the same way Ten
nessee's Senator Estes Kefauver
did in 1952-on street corners,
in barber shops, factories and
grocery stores.
Sideline prophets say if any, I
body can beat Mr.. Williams, Mr.. /
Leonard is the man.
But Mr.. Williams has made
few political mistakes. He's pop
ular with the women particu-
larly, and there are no signs his
popularity has slipped.
In the Senate race, Senator
Ferguson may have saved him.
self, politicians say, by coming
home to make a whirlwind cam
paign reaching into every part
of the State. Senator Ferguson
travels by bus, makes five to six
speeches a day, and-like Mr..
Leonard-shakes hands with
scores of people along the way.
Stresses War Theme.
Senator Ferguson has been
countering the Democratic en-
phasis on economic distress with
arguments that the people must
choose between war or peace.
THE Democrats are making
unemployment the sole issue,