Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-07
The Political Min
"S WITHOUT WIN
Michigan, Chicago Vote
Aids Democratic Hopes
Followers Of Stevenson
Are Especially Cheered
BIZ GOULD LINCOLN

The Michigan and Chicago elections.
Monday and Tuesday, respectively, have
given the Democrats opportunity to
cheer-and incidentally, have helped
two potential candidates for the Demo-
cratic presidential nomination next
year. They are. of course, Gov. G.
Mennen Williams of Michigan and for
mer Gov. Adlai Stevenson of Illinois.
Neither Gov. williams nor Mr.. Ste
venson were directly involved in these
recent elections. But they threw their
support to the Democratic nominees.
Mr.. Stevenson, the titular head of the
Democratic Party, early in the Chicago
mayoral campaign this year came out
in support of Richard J. Daley, Cook
County chairman and organization
choice, for the Democratic nomination.
This was when Mayor Martin H. Ken
nelly, Democrat and two-term Mayor,
was seeking denomination. The "or-
ganization" complained that Mayor
Kennedy had failed to give it as many
favors as it desired Mr.. Kennedy, in
reply, charged that if Mr.. Daley was
nominated and elected the town would
again be wide open" with the gamblers
on top. Mr.. Daley won the nomination
with considerable ease. Former Demo-
cratic National Chairman Stephen A.
Mitchell of Chicago and Col. Jacob
Arvey. Democratic national committee
man, were all on the side of Mr.. Daley.
In the election Tuesday, Mr. Daley
defeated the Republican candidate.
Alderman Robert E. Merriam, by
$4,000 votes.
A Real Victory
The Chicago result was effective in
two directions. Had the Republican
candidate for Mayor of Chicago won,
it would have put damper on Demo.
cratic hopes Of carrying Illinois in the
national election next year Chicago
has for years been the Democratic
stronghold in the State. This, in turn,
would have weighed against the re-
nomination of Adlai Stevenson for the
presidency He is an Illinois Democrat.
A Republican victory in the mayoral
race would, indeed, have raised the
hopes of other candidates and potential
candidates for the Democratic presi-
dental nomination.
Democratic National Chairman Paul
M. Butler was quick to claim that the
Illinois and Michigan election results
forecast Democratic victory IN 1856. A
quite natural claim by a Democratic
chairman. AS matter of fact, the
victory Of Mr.. Daley for Mayor of Chi
cago was achieved by smaller margin
than in any election except one since
the Democrats beat big Bill" Thomp-
son, the last Republican Mayor. in 1881.
The Democratic organization was able
to get more voters to the polls than
were the Republicans and the so-called
reform element More than 600 900 reg
istered voters in Chicago failed to vote.
Gov Williams grip on the State
government was increased by the
Michigan elections. Several important
offices. hitherto held by Republicans,
went to the Democrats This has en-
HANGED the four times-elected Demo-
cratic Governors influence both in his
own State and in national party poll
tics. Gov. Williams becomes the Dem
ocratic strong man in much of the
Midwest country. While Gov Williams
expresses an off -the-cuff belief that
Mr.. Stevenson can have the presiden-
tial nomination again next year for
the asking, the Governor says very
frankly he himself will not back away
from presidential nomination If his
party should turn to him next year.
The Republicans in Michigan have
been rent in recent months by intra-
party strife, particularly over the pres
ent Republican State chairman, John
Feikens, young Detroit attorney. Mr..
Feikens belongs to the more liberal
element of the Michigan G.. o. p. In
cidentally, Mr.. Feikens was the first
Of the Michigan Republican leaders
who came out openly and wholeheart-
eddy for the nomination of Gen. Eisen-
hover in 1852. An effort to displace
him as State chairman was defeated
at the time of the Republican State
convention. But the ruction still con-
tinues.
Helped Stevenson
Mr.. Stevenson needed this Chicago
victory for Mr.. Daley. Last November,
several important potential candidates
for Democratic presidential nominal
ton won important victories at the
polls. Mr.. Stevenson, on the other
hand, was not running for any Office.
w. Averell Hartman was elected Gov
ernor of New York. Senator Kefauver
of Tennessee was reelected Gov.
williams was reelected for a fourth
term. Gov. Frank Lausche was elected
Governor of Ohio for fifth term. In
New York, the Democrats are ponder
ing at present whether they will put
Gov Hartman forward as a fighting
candidates for the presidential nomina-
tion-although some of them have
probably already made up their minds
to throw the Hartman hat in the ring.
Unless all signs fail. Senator Kefauver
will be in there pitching when the pre-
convention campaign gets under way
next year Gov. Williams is at least
willing. Gov. Lausche is saying nothing.