Liberals Eyeing Convention Grab

CHICAGO- A liberal antiSumphrey coalition may have ;he power to take over the Michigan Democratie State :onvention in Grand Rapids 3ept. 30-31, former state party eader Zolton Ferency claimed Friday. If the coalition succeeds, the lew organization might also ;onsider selecting a slate of 'uncommitted" presid e n t i a 1 'lectors if Humphrey i s íominated here at the national :onvention, Ferency said. Ferency was in Chicago for in appearance before the National Convention's Creden;ial Committee, which rejected i challenge by McCarthy forces ;o the seating of pro-Humphrey Jelegates from Michigan's sixth :ongressional district. "We're going to be very close ;o having a majority of deleates at Grand Rapids - if every íne shows up," Ferency said. 'What we need is some incen:ive for them to go there even if :he national convention is jnwise enough to nomínate tíubert Humphrey." Ferency said he feared that many backers, especially the Couth, of Sen. Eugene McCarthy may become dis;ouraged if their champion sn't nominated. "We have to convince them," ie said, "that if McCarthy isn'tj nomina ted it's even morel important for them to workl hard in the state so that itl won't happen again." The ex-party chairmanl conceded that reports of form-l ing an "uncommitted" electorall slate might be a good "tech-l nique" to get anti-Humphrey 1 delegates to Grand Rapids, but I he said the idea originated with I Detroit área party groups, not r with him. "Some people from Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties asked my advice if I thought the move would be legal and appropriate. I told them I didn't see why not since the same thing has happened several times in southern states." Even if the popular vote in the November elections goes for Humphrey, there is nothing legally to stop the presidential electors- who actually officially select the president- from balloting for someone else. Ferency said he couldn't honestly say that an uncommitted electoral slate would be selected if the anti-Humphrey coalition is in the majority, but at least the idea will be seriously discussed by several district organizations. As of now, the anti-Humphrey groups have a good chance of getting somewhere between 10 and 13 of the 19 congressional district party organizations. The failure of the Sixth District challenge to seating of delegates was a prime exam-j ple, Ferency said, of what will happen generally if liberal groups do not work at grass roots organization in the next four years. The credentials committee voted to reject the McCarthy challenge and approve the convention delegates already certified by the state party. The committee hearing over Lhe challenge was one of the most bitter and aggressive challenges yet heard, but the outcome still involved only four of Michigan's 96 delégate votes cither way. Included in the Sixth District are Jackson, Ingham and Shiawassee Counties. The whole argument was over whether the McCarthy or Hmmphrey supporters held a "rump" caucus which seïected the national convention dlegates. ■ The Ingham County delegation had a majority in favor oï McCarthy while the Jackson land Shiawassee groups favored iHumphrey. I