Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-11
GOING FOR BROKE?
'Soopy' Williams, at A,
Thinks His Chance Is Now

This would find him finishing O
Senate term just in time to run for
President in Getaways supposing
he defeated Senator Potter in 1858.
. He could continue to run for
Governor in Michigan every other
year and keep q weather eye On
1860.
. He could jump aboard the Ste
venson bandwagon now, relying On
the possibility that a cabinet post
would be available should Mr.. Ste
venson win. Secretary Of Labor
would suit "Soapy" flne)
. Or he could throw caution to the
winds and dart into the 1856 fray
against all kinds of opposition. en-
trenched and otherwise.
1t is beginning to look as II the
last alternative Is the one most SER
iously under consideration by the
young Governor. But he may find
trouble ahead.
The CLIO bosses in Michigan, who
Williams along, hold the whip hand
in Michigan's 44-man convention
delegation. And they are playing
footsie with the Stevenson forces.
Bucking this tide could mean loss
Of CLIO support even in a campaign
for fifth term at Lansing, should
he cut himself of from Mr.. Ste
venson and his friends.
The Vice Presidency?
Another alternative suggests It
self: The young Mr.. Williams, like
his contemporary, Richard M. Nix
on, might content himself with o
vice presidential nomination. It In
not very good alternative. for two
reasons:
l. II Mr.. Stevenson Is nominated.
another Midwesterner Is not likely
to be invited to share the ticket.
2. The very idea Of the vice pres
idency is repugnant to the ambi-
tious "Soapy."
Until quite recently, talk Of Gov.
Williams availability at Chicago
has revolved around his role a.
Michigan's "favorite, SON." OF late,
however. his supporters have been
seriously discussing his qualifica-
tons for the White House. Gov.
Williams himself has become more
concerned with solving national
problems, and a top-flight speech
writer has Joined his staff to put
some bite into the many public
addresses he is making throughout
the country.
Get Tough Line
The new ghost is 49-year-old
James G. Crowley, former Detroit
newspaperman and CLIO radio COM
mentator. He hates all things con-
sentative, which fits him cozily into
Williams left-o Stevenson en-
tourage.
The new Williams line, delin-
Gated by Mr.. Crowley, first was
heard November 26, when the Gov.
ernor treated Young Democrats in
Colorado to a bitter criticism Of the
spirit Of Chicago" meaning Mr..
Stevenson's plea for moderation.
Aides insist that Gov. Williams
was talking issues-not personali-
ties. The Michigan Governor, HIM
self. says this is the way it should
be. I'VE can discuss men next sum-
mer," he asserts, Until then, We
should be talking about platforms
and issues"
The attitude of the Williams
camp on the No. sore spot inside
the party is hardly moderate. Said
one Williams follower last week:
"All the happiness and handshaking
below the Mason-Dixon line which
Stevenson has been fostering doesn't
augur well for a bold program"
And boldness is what the Williams
team wants.
His Own Opposition
Meanwhile, in his own back yard,
Gov. Williams has trouble. August
Scholle, president of the Michigan
CLIO, acknowledges Gov. Williams
as Michigan's favorite son, but
adds:
Stevenson viii be nominated on
the first ballot"
Last time, Mr.. Scholle strung
along with Gov. Williams in sup
port of Senator Estes Kefauver for
two ballots. The CLIO chief sounds
now like man not in the mood
to help Gov. Williams arrange q
deadlock which could be convent
emily broken by a "Williams-for-
President" boom.
Another good union bellwether
is Senator Patrick Mcnamara, who
said recently, Il am impressed by
the momentum back of Stevenson.
He would get a lot of votes in
Michigan, far more than he got
in 1882"
1t is. of course, not too late for
Gov. Williams to take another look
at his timetable and change his
mind again. He says he will not
enter any preferential primaries
which means he intends to avoid
any head-on contest with Adlai--
and his staff insists the Governor
has not been beating the bushes
for out-of- State support.
But while there's life there's
hope. Or. as one Williams aide