Doubleheader for George

One of the qualities that the Republican Party will prize most highly in its 1968 presidential candidate is the ability to pull in nominees for lesser office on Election Day. Last week Michigan's Governor George Romney demonstrated once again his powers of coattail propulsion. Largely through his efforts, an unknown Detroit advertising man, Anthony Licata, 48, won a special election for the Michigan House of Representatives against James P. Hoffa, 26, Jimmy's boy. Beamed Winner Licata: "People promised to vote for me because they wanted to do what the Governor wanted."

The vote was close--5,864 to 5,706 --but even a majority of one would have had the weight of a landslide. The 19th District in northwest Detroit has sent only Democrats to the state house of representatives since the district was formed in 1953. The reputation of Hoffa pere, which might have been fatal in many constituencies, was a boon in the 19th, with its large population of union members, many of whom feel the imprisoned Teamster boss got a bum rap. The Teamsters and the United Auto Workers went all out to elect young Hoffa, who even won kind words from Vice President Hubert Humphrey and Senator Robert Kennedy when they were in town.

Another Test. Against this challenge, the Republicans mounted a maximum effort worthy of a major campaign, pouring in money, organizational talent and volunteers. During just three hours on election night, party workers made 6,500 telephone calls to Republicans in the district, urging them to vote. The most enthusiastic volunteer was Romney. He recorded stirring endorsements for Licata, and bustled around in the district--despite an injured calf muscle that made him use a cane--for an afternoon of door-to-door and store-to-store stumping with the candidate in tow. Licata, for his part, campaigned on the promise that he would be "100% behind the Governor's program."

Romney got word of Licata's victory while speechmaking in Peoria, Ill. "We've just had terrific news," he announced to his audience. In fact, a doubleheader. The win gave a timely boost to his own national prestige, which, according to opinion polls, has been slipping lately. Licata's victory also gives the state G.O.P. a one-vote majority in the legislature's lower house, previously deadlocked 54 to 54, and may thus smooth passage of the Governor's embattled tax reform program. Next week

Romney faces another test of coattail strength in a second special election for the legislature. In this campaign as well, the Governor is putting his best foot--and sore leg--forward.

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