The sun., 1918-07-06
DEMOCRATS 'HET UP
SEEKING CANDIDATE
Slate Makers Run in Circles as
Names Are Suggested and
Then Eliminated.
MURPHY LAST RELIANCE
b Tammany's Final Play De-
ponds on Spreading Of
G.. O. p. DissenSiOn.

'sThe process of elimination has been
going on so rapidly this week that the
Commissioner may have to pick the can
didate for Governor after ALL was
remark heard yesterday in Democratic
circles. Amy Tammany man knows
commissioner" means Charles Francis
Murphy. who is rusticating on his Good
Ground estate while up-Staters are
running to Washington and elsewhere,
getting all het up in an effort to find
a suitable candidate.
The Tammany boss has told these
men to pick their candidate and the
New York organization would help to
elect him. His friends say he really
means Il. But what can powerful
leader do II the lesser liohts go to Sara
toga without candidate. thereby prov
ing their failure as leaders, Why. pos
sibly he might be persuaded to intervene
and find candidate. Who knows:
But until Saratoga Is reached Mr.
Murphy will remain silent At least
that is what those close to him predict.
IL was learned yesterday illdt III n
conference of the New York Democrats
in Washington last week Representative
George r. Lunn of Schenectady was
picked as the most available man who
would he agreeable to the administra-
ton. Vance Mccormick chairman OF
the national committee. and Secretary
Tumulty were present AMI placed their
90 X" on Lunn. IT is said.
Iunu n Progressive Radical.
Then appeared Democrat OF some
prominence from this city. who threw
monkey wrench into the Lunn works.
why do YOU like Lunn?" he is said
to have inquired. The reply was that he
was a good campaigner, Just the sort
OF man needed to fight Gov. Whitman.
Furthermore. he was a progressive. not
to say a radical. the type of man the
Democrats ought to get behind this year
But" remarked the slate breaker
IT remember there was a man who ran
for Mayor last fall. He was probably a
better talker than Lunn, yet he was
beaten. Mr.. Lunn may be radica,
but the Socialists are not in the habit of
supporting an apostate. However. there
are other reasons why Mr. Lunn might
not be as strong as YOU think. He spoke
ana voted for the Federal prohibition
amendment, and 1t looks to me as though
Gov Whitman would get most OF the
supporters of that measure. And II has
been recalled that when he was running
as the Socialist candidate for Mayor OF
Schenectady in 1914 Mr. Lunn made a
bitter attack upon Mr. Murphy of Tam
many Hall. The Tammany leader does
not easily forget such attacks. as SEN
ator owen of Oklahoma will bear wit
ness"
Whereupon. It !s said, Mr. Lunn was
removed from the Washington slate and
the picking was begun all over again.
II has been thought for some time
that Washington would back Franklin
D. Roosevelt II he would consent 10 run
and II is probable that he could be nomi-
mated. but he has put an absolute EN-
barge on the use OF his name. Frank
Lyon Polk. counsellor to the Secretary
OF State. could get the backing Of the
Washington group. but it Is understood
he has taken the same position as Mr.
Roosevelt
Secretary Roosevelt has written 10 A
friend In Duchess county expressing the
opinion that William Church Osborn
would make a strong candidate, but il
Is not known how the others in Wash
ington feel shout this suggestion. Tam
many men have not forgotten that he
supported John Purroy Mitchell last fall
Mayor walkers Boom slows Tn.
The boom for Mayor Harry c. Walker
OF Binghamton has slowed UP because
his friends fear he Is not we'll enough
known in New York city. But they saw
this obstacle would be overcome II Alfred
Il. Smith, President OF the Board Of
Aldermen. should be named for Comp
troller on the ticket with Walker. But
persons close 10 Mr.. Smith say that with
him II Is Governor or nothing
On Tuesday Nicholas F. Hayes re-
turned from a visit to Good Ground with
the tip that Charles Il. Alexander was
the man. Those who took the trouble to
inquire learned It was based on the
statement made by Mr. Murphy in reply
to questions. that II he ran Mr. Alex
ander would make a strong candidate,
and If he were elected Governor he
would make a good Chief Executive. AS
the Tammany leader has gone so far
with no other suggestion the conclusion
was jumped at that Mr. Alexander was
his choice.
But 1t is said Mr. Alexander who is
nearly seventy years old. has no desire
TO become candidate. He Is a close
personal friend Of the Tammany chief
tam MS ADMIRERS say and they believe
that Mr. Murphy might induce him TO
run. and possibly would he willing to
try in case the Republican convention
the week before the Democratic gather
ing In Saratoga indicated serious split
In that party.
William Randolph Hearst continues to
worry many of the Democratic leaders.
but those in his confidence insist that
the editor has no idea of running They
say he would like to name the candidate
and write the platform. 1t Is believed he
would prefer the nomination either of
James w, Gerard or of District Attor-
ney Swami.
AS the situation stands now It looks
as though the Syracuse conference would
not agree upon candidate and that the
task would he handed along to Mr.. Muir
ply and his associates at Saratoga
"If Mr.. Murphy thinks there Is little
chance OF electing candidate" said one
Democrat last night me probably will
give the wheel a spin and let the ball
fall where 1t will. II all depends upon
whether or not the Republicans get to-
gether."