The Postmaster's Plan

Once as solidly entrenched as a Deep South Democratic machine, Michigan's Republican Party has not won an important state election in seven years. Principal reason: G.O.P. liberals and Old Guard-ists, after mauling each other, are too beat to put up much of a fight against the smoothly functioning Democratic Party of six-times Governor G. Mennen ("Soapy") Williams and the United Auto Workers' Walter Reuther. Last week word leaked out that the old Republican feud had erupted into a name-calling, table-thumping session starring Postmaster General Arthur E. Summerfield for the Old Guard and Henry Ford II, financial mainstay of the G.O.P. liberals.

In Detroit fortnight ago to demonstrate some automated post office equipment, onetime Michigan Boss Summerfield decided to punch a few political buttons. At a fund-raising meeting of top Republicans at the Detroit Club, he unfolded his plan for restoring party amity. Oust liberal State Chairman Lawrence Lindemer, said Summerfield, and the depleted party treasury will soon be overflowing. "Nothing doing," exploded Ford, banging his fist on the inlaid mahogany table. Larry Lindemer is doing a first-rate job, and if Summerfield and his well-heeled friends intend to starve him out, then he. Ford, would personally see that the party paid its bills. In the angry exchange. Ford recalled Sum-merfield's generalship of the Michigan delegation at the 1952 convention, his slowness in moving from Taft to Eisenhower. his warning to Ford at the time: "If you interfere with this, I'll drag you through the streets of Detroit."

When the smoke cleared, State Finance

Chairman Don Ahrens, retired vice president of the traditionally Old Guardian General Motors Corp., agreed to carry Summerfield's suggestion to Michigan State University Professor Paul Bagwell, the Republican candidate for Governor last year and titular party head. But Ford telephoned ahead, told Bagwell to ignore .Summerfield's plan, promised aid if the Old Guard attempted to bar Bagwell from another try at the governorship.

Into this fratricidal warfare last week flew Republican National Chairman Thruston Morton to find himself cast in the role of peacemaker. After hearing both sides and collecting a pocketful of memos, Morton promised to report fully to Ike. Meanwhile, in Washington, Summerfield condemned the "intemperate and shameful maneuvering" of unnamed Michigan liberals.

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