On the Move

Since 1949, when Democrat G. Mennen Williams became Governor, Michigan's Democrats have controlled the state's executive department while rural Republicans ruled the legislature. But last week, the long, often paralyzing standoff between the Republican legislature and Democratic administration showed signs of ending. In an election of delegates to a constitutional convention next month at Lansing, the G.O.P. engineered its best statewide showing in years.

Michiganders of both parties have long recognized the need for constitutional reform. The current constitution was writ ten in 1908, has been amended 67 times, now runs 13,000 words longer than the U.S. Constitution, and is cluttered with archaic provisions, including one which puts a $250,000 ceiling on the state debt. Like many another state constitution, it apportions legislative representation in a fashion that is, after half a century of shifting population, totally unrealistic. The only real issue, after voters last spring approved a convention to draft a new constitution, was which party would elect more delegates to the convention and thus get to write the new constitution.

Democrats decided to use the same strategy that they have used so long and so successfully. With 144 delegates to be chosen--one for each seat in the legislature--they put together a slate of workaday politicians, counted on organization to pull their candidates through. The Republicans, on the other hand, pulled out all stops. Where they had spent only $34,000 on last spring's election, they earmarked $75,000 for this campaign. Instead of depending on politicians, the party drafted such leading Michigan citizens as American Motors Corp. President George Romney and Michigan State University President John A. Hannah to run as delegates.

Last week, the Republican strategy paid off handsomely. Of the 144 seats, the G.O.P. took 99, including 21 in districts where the vote is ordinarily Democratic. Even the Democratic fortress of Wayne County (Detroit) suffered in the sweep; Republican delegates won eight of the 45 openings there. Encouraged by the outcome, Republicans looked forward to next autumn's gubernatorial campaign. Cried G.O.P. State Chairman George Van Peursem: "The Republican Party is on the move in Michigan."

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