The Man For Michigan Is William G. Milliken

MICHIGAN is fortúnate to have two bright, youthful and talented candidates for governor this year. State Sen. Sander Levin and Gov. William Milliken are politicians anyone could vote for in good conscience. Yet, as in most contests of this nature, one rates a slight edge over the other. There is something, or perhaps a set of soraethings, that elevates one man above the other. It may be the strength of his character, his commitment to honorable goals, his experience or any of a number of things. Sander Levin has unified his party, no small feat. He has been a sponsor of progressive legislation in the upper chamber. He is not afraid to establish priorities and stick by them, and he is sensitive to the needs and aspirations of poor people. William Milliken is a small-town boy with a bigcity outlook. He understands the plight of the cities - shrinking tax base, the need for adequate pólice protection and lots of decent housing. He has as much as . said that if our cities fail, we all fail. Milliken has taken more and more young people (under 30 types) into his administration. We commend him I for that. He seems to be do: ing a good job of maintain: ing contacts with the puses. By that we mean I dent contacts, not just I ministrators or secondary I sources. IN HIS day to day I ships, Milliken is a man without guile. He plays the game as it should be played, and he is honest and forthright with those with whom he must work. The test of his mettle has been the state's often quarrelsome legislature. Can he provide strong leadership? He tried educational reform, not an instant rousing success. He muffed it in the way he handled the parochiaid issue. He appeared weak, politically, in the facedown with George Romney over the consensus Senate candidate. But even in these tests, Milliken has shown the traits of courage and consistency. His record as governor shows gains in pollution control; he unveiled a comprehensive crime control measure, and he has worked hard for better race relations. Sander Levin probably would be a good governor. But William Milliken already is, and Levin has not shown to our satisfaction that he can do more for Michigan than Milliken, with the latter's hard-gained executive experience. We think Milliken passes the leadership test. He is the man for Michigan on Nov. 3.