Michigan: Ready to Deal

For 20 years Michigan's delegation went to the Republican National Convention pledged to the same man: a favorite son, the late Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg. This year National Committeeman Arthur Summerfield and State Chairman Owen J. ("Pat") Cleary decided to work for a unified, uninstructed delegation. They talked to every one of the 83 county delegations to the state convention. Their argument: uncommitted, Michigan would be in a better position to make deals at Chicago.

When the 1,531: delegates moved into Detroit's Cass Technical High Schodl last week for the 18 congressional district and state conventions, there were still signs of a fight. Although pictures of Ike and Taft were officially balanced at the sides of the auditorium stage, "We Want Ike" and "Michigan for Eisenhower" signs were plastered all over the hall. One congressional district convention (the Jackson area) committed its two delegates to Ike. Another (Grand Rapids) pledged one of its two votes to him. A third (Pontiac) elected two known Eisenhower men. One district (Benton Harbor) passed a resolution endorsing Taft, but did not instruct its delegates.

Aside from these demonstrations of fervor, the Summerfield-Cleary neutrality plan worked. Fourteen districts gave no hint of their preference. After a compromise slate of ten delegates at large was presented to the convention, the chairman of the "Michigan for Eisenhower" committee moved for its election, the chairman of the "Bob Taft Committee of Michigan" seconded the motion, and the head of the "MacArthur for President Committee" moved that nominations be closed. The delegation as a whole was indeed uninstructed.

Then both sides began to make claims. Ike Man Arthur H. Vandenberg Jr. said this was Ike's "greatest victory to date" because 70% of the 46 delegates were for him. Taft Chairman Charles H. King said more than 28 of the delegates would be for Taft when they got to Chicago. Most of the delegates refused to talk.

The one clear fact was that Michigan, with one of the biggest uncommitted delegations at Chicago, will hold a key chair when & if the dealing begins.

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