New-York tribune., 1918-06-19
Alfred E. Smith Running
Close Second for Gov
ernorship Nomination
committee of Seven
Meets in Utica
Calls Session of "42" for
July 9 to Decide on a
Candidate
tspee,al Dispatch to The Tribume)


UTICA, N. Y, June 1S.-Harry C.
Walker, the Democratic Mayor of the
Republican city of Binghamton, and
Alfred E. Smith, president of the Board
Of Aldermen of New York City. are
the leading candidates in the race for
the Democratic nomination for Cover
nor. with Walkers chances bit the
best
Remaining on the slate as "possibili-
ties" are William Il. Edwards. Internal
Revenue Collector of New York City,
and Charles B. Alexander, vice-presi-
dent of the Democratic Club of New
York City.
Further down on the slate, but be-
lisved to be unavailable because of
their relations to the Wilson admins
tration, are Secretary of State Robert
lansing, of Watertown, and Franklin
D. Roosevelt, Of Duchess County, AS
sistant Secretary of the Navy.
Permanently eliminated, for the
present at least, are William r.
Hearst, James W. Gerard and long
list OF favorite sons.
Itis an open secret in the committee
Of seven, which met to-day at the Fort
Schuyler Club to decide on date for
the committee Of forty-two, which is to
select candidate, that Alfred E. Smith
would be the first choice but for the
A. L = To-
Tammany Hall.
Committee Issues Statement
For that reason, it is believed in
Utica tonight, following the adjourn
ment of the committee of seven, that
Mayor Walker has the edge" on the
other candidates. The committee of
seven, after session lasting from $3.50
till $3.50, gave ont the following:
"The committee cf seven appointed
at the Syracuse conference for the pur-
pose of calling meeting of the commit
tee Of forty-two, who were appointed to
consult the sentiment Of the counties
and report later, had meeting to-
night at Utica and authorized the sec
retary to cali the meeting of the COM
ihitlee OF lofty-tWO 20 De held at Syra-
cuse. at the Onondaga Hotel, at II
o'clock on July 8, 1918. A general dis
cussion was had, and it was the unani-
nous opinion Of all present that all
matters connected with the Governor
ship should be settled by the commit
tee OF forsytwo when they meet at
Syracuse
Inc conferrees present were T. Har-
vey Ferris, of Utica; William H. Kelly,
OF Syracuse; Joseph j. Murphy, Of
Troy; Mayor John Fitzgibbon of Os-
wego; Charles b. Norris, of Water
town. and David F. Lee, OF Norwich.
IN absentee was William H. Manning,
o. Saratoga, detained on business"
Hostile to W. r. Hearst
The objectives of the steering COM
mlttee Of seven are in all respects hos
uie TO William K. Hearst. but not un-
1Tllendiy to Charles F. Murphy and
Iammany Hall. No one of the commit
zee o. seven will admit it, but it is
;ae. ; that the present movement to NOM
.nate an upstate Democrat for Gov
sfnor Is backed by some of the great
ssuiporate interests with headquarters
IN NV Ne@ YORK YORK City, but with large hold
'hgs IN Utica and elsewhere.
The task of eliminating Mr. Hearst
e one OF the leading factors in the
pemocratic party in the state, in so
%l R%siliess a manner that he will not
snoIler" and damage the party's pros-
psets, is regarded all over the state
asa ga somewhat ticklish job. Luck has
ts eseh running a long way in favor Of
me .hs opponents of Mr.. Hearst ever since
ne plan was sprung. To-day it looks
~ 'ne committee of seven more FEAST
,a I've Ihan ever, on account Of the upris-
.s IN rerent parts of the country
cs.ai rss'nst hearst and his newspapers by
yr;Ssri9tlc y;ntl organizations which are bar
''ng his publications.
., Hearst Under suspieiea
". Tu1thout meaning to be offensive to
8. g., Hearst Hearst or Mr.. Hylan," said one Of
~ Aeonferrees to-day, at looks now az
!. ne M.ney would not be of great account
es,.e - .ee deliberations of the state Demo.
una. mal.c leaders this year. Mr.. Hearst ia
sas sa1cl cloud of suspicion and he has
osh, oys nelped himself by advertising in
cant ",sf newspapers that he is a 100 per
ths th' american. If he was wholly on
sra rv 'esel on the war the people would
-A0~ IT without it being necessary for