Evening star., 1962-10-05
SWANSON
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SVANAAAaNss SANA = 80
the-vote campaign. The Mich
ipan Democrats, with a 14-year
hold on the governorship and
the militant trade unions that
work with them, have the
know-how, funds and man
power to do this job.
Gov. Swanson is leaning
heavily on them.
Unlike Mr.. Romney, who Is
running a lone wolf campaign,
the Governor plugs his rum
ning-mates in every speech.
He praises President Kennedy
and promotes such national pro-
grams as Medicare and aid-to-
education. His campaign bus
is plastered with posters saying.
make it emphatic = vote
straight Democratic"
Sees Tight Race
All the same, the Governor
accepts as valid the indications
in the polls that his rival has
developed enough Of a personal
following to make theirs the
tightest race on the ballot. In
an odd way, he seems to relish
the fact that this has become
a highly personal. man-to-man
contest.
For the ironic fact is that it
Is only in this election, in which
he may well be defeated for the
first time, that John Swanson
has emerged in Michigan as a
political personality in his own
right.
He rode into the governor
ship in 1860 as the protege Of
six-term Gov. G. Mennen Will
liams on the coattails Of Presi-
dent Kennedy and Senator Pat
Mcnamara.
Now, with Mr.. Romney max
ing Leadership capacity" the
key issue, it is the Governors
own abilities that are being
weighed.
"I've been very fortunate in
this regard" he told an inter-
viewer the other day. II was an
Eagle Scout and the captain of
my high school football team.
"I was leading the patrol
when I lost my legs in France.
I won a seat in the State Sen
ate in my first try in 1854, and
after one term, I was chosen as
the Democratic floor leader. II
was elected Lieutenant Cover
nor in 1858 and after one term,
won the governorship in 1860
when was 35 - the second
youngest man in Michigan his
tory to hold that office"
Challenging Questions
1t is Gov. Swainson's record
in office, however, that Mr..
Romney has challenged. Two
questions raised by the Repub-
lican contender are asked fire.
quently, even in the predomi-
nantly Democratic audiences
where the Governor usually ap-
pears.
The first is the charge that
Gov. Swanson is the captive
Of organized labor. Michigan
political reporters say it is a
fact that the Governor owes
his nomination in the 1860 pri-
mary to the support of union
leaders but they also list a
half dozen major political de-
cisions Of the last 20 months
specific legislative proposals,
appointments and vetoes -
which the Governor has made
against the advice and urg-
ings of his advisers from the
unions and the Democratic
Party.
Gov. Swanson himself told
a questioner in a Detroit plant:
There is only one Governor
of Michigan and that is me,
and as long as I hold the job.
am going to use my own
Judgment on what is best for
this State. ! am tired of these
charges.
"As a lawyer, l say it's time
for a bill of particulars. Let
them show one bill that has
been passed or one appointment
that has been confirmed that
benefits only the men and wom-
en- of organized labor. They
can't do it."
The one Romney charge that
turns up frequently as a ques-
ton to Gov. Swanson concerns
his ability to work with the
Republican legislature. The Re-
publican nominee has blamed