Evening star., 1962-10-05
SWANSON " s,se~ ~
Kennedy Lends Hand
In Michigan Contest

/ the Governors "antagonistic
attitude" for the deadlock that
has blocked passage of the tax
reform program both men be-
lieve essential for Michigan's
prosperity.
SwainsOn's Answer
Asked about this at a minis
ter's luncheon, Gov. Swanson
said: MY opponent would have
you believe I spend all my time
Indian wrestling with the Leg
islature. That's simply not true.
Actually get along very
well with most of the members.
This is a process of education.
All of the Democrats and a
good many Of the Republicans
have accepted our program on
tax reform. This year it failed
by one vote in the Senate
| (Which Republicans control,
23-lD and next year I am sure
we will succeed"
In minimizing his difficulties
with the Legislature, Gov.
Swanson has changed marked
ly from the tone of his kickoff
campaign speech last May 10,
when he referred himself to the
disastrous deadlock" in Lam
sing. He said then:
"The record proves that the
Republican Party has been and
is today a cabal of unrecon-,
structed reactionaries, a band
of economic freebooters, which
has throttled progress, cut into
the vitals of democracy and
choked every constructive ef-
fort to solve the problems fac
ing u.s."
Gov. Swanson may have
been moved to ease up on the
invective by Mr.. Romney's ap-
parent success in painting him
as a man of angry tempera-
ment, one who was tearing the
State apart, not putting IT
together"
Nowadays, the Governor
spends most of his time pre-
senting in low-keyed but inn
pressively detailed fashion ''the
"challenge" facing Michigan
and his plans for meeting it.
What he delivers is a sort
Of human interest census re-
port, bristling with statis-
tics-"500 live births q day."
"one-third of the population
below 49," "638,O00 over 65."
But it is warmed by personal
references to his concern over
our 15-year-old son Steve's
opportunities for higher educa-
ton" and his sympathy for
the parents Of a severely re-
tarded child who finally make
the agonizing decision to place
him in a State institution for
specialized care and training,
only to find a waiting list of
l1,758 others ahead of him"
The Governors knowledge OF
State affairs is encyclopedia.
Without condescending a bit
to his audience. he patiently,
plausibly expounds his pro-
gram-a light smile playing
occasionally on his round, boy
ish face, his quiet, deep voice
commanding attention.
"Our problems are not new,
strange or unique from other
States" he concludes. "We have
the capacity to solve them as
long as we recognize them for
what they are-the byproducts
of the wonderful growth we
have enjoyed"
Gradually, almost impercep-
tibly, as he speaks, he manages
to convey the feeling that
things are not in quite such
a crisis stage as Mr.. Romney
suggests-that nothing so dras-
tic as electing a Republican
Governor is required. Just
trust us Democrats" he seems
to say. I'VE care about people"
In this mellow mood, there
is no occasion for q slashing
attack on the opponent. That
may come next Monday and
Tuesday night, when they meet
for the first time in public
debate. But so far, Gov. SWAIN
son is relying on the soft an
swer to turn away Mr.. Rom
ney's raps.
His best line is a double
lab at the Republicans fond
ness for slogans and his widely
rumored ambitions. I'm
amused at these posters say
ling 'Romney for jobs" Gov,
Swanson says. 1.-THE only ones
I think he's interested in are
mine and President Kennedy's.