New-York tribune., 1918-05-04
DR.. Lunn's Boom
For GoyernorshIp
Stirs Schenectady
His Candidacy for Demo.
cratic Nomination Frets
the Republicans
By Charles T. White

oOAACA>OO1 AZ (, N. l., way o. lie
elimination of DR.. George R. Lunn, ex-
pastor, ex-socialist and now Demo-
cratic Representative from the Sche-
nectady- -Montgomery-F Fulton Hamilton
district, containing the cities of
Schenectady and Amsterdam, is the
political topic that interests the Re-
publicans of Schenectady above any
other.
DR.. Lunn is receptive candidate
for the Democratic nomination for
Governor. That is another thing that
frets the Republicans of Schenectady.
Long ago he dropped into Schenectady
as clergyman and scored hit. Then
he dipped into municipal politics and
was elected Mayor. Hit number two.
After falling out with his own Socialist
party and being disowned by them, he
switched to the Democrats, and was
Democrat, beating Republican in
Republican district. Hit number three.
Now DR.. Lunn wants to be Gov
ernor, and the Republicans Of Science
tady are aching to do something to
him before he scores again. Assuming
that DR.. Lunn will not be chosen as
the Democratic candidate for Governor,
the Democrats are likely to run him
for Congress again.
Has Three Opponents
Three Republicans are in the field
for the Gubernatorial nomination
against DR.. Lunn-Dr. Frank Crowther,
popular physician, of Schenectady;
ex-senator w. w. Wemple, of Schenec-
tady, and John Barnes, knitgoods
manufacturer of Amsterdam. The
friends of these three aspirants are con-
fident that any one If them will defeat
600 votes over Henry S. DeForest, Re-
publican
DR.. Crowther is one of the most
popular campaign orators in the Mo-
hawk Valley. In 1905'-06 he served
two terms in the New Jersey Legislat-
ure. He has fine practice in Sche-
nectady.
The friends of Dr. Lunn admit that
he is facing the hardest political
battle of his spectacular career, and
they attribute his desire to become the
his fear of defeat if he is opposed
either by DIR. Crowther or ex-senator
Wemple.
Schenectady is the home of Assem-
blyman Walter Scott McNab, who in
the Legislature last winter figured SO
prominently in the advocacy of the
ratification of the Federal prohibition
amendment.
~ am firmly of the conviction that
the fight for the elimination of the
manufacture and sale of alcoholic
liquors is an issue in New York State
politics that will not down until it is
settled right, and by that mean when
the drys win the fight" said Assembly,
man McNab to-day. 81 would not wish
to be understood as predicting that the
proposed ratification of the Federal
amendment will be the predominatng
issue in every Senate and Assembly
district next fall; but / am quite sure
that it will be the leading issue in
many districts.
Right here in Schenectady, if the
issue had been the simple question Of
the ratification of the Federal amend
ment, the city would have voted dry
by at least $500 plurality"
Expects Nomination of Whitman
Shifting to state issues, the Assem-
blyman said that he did not expect to
see Governor Whitman opposed by any
one in the Republican. primaries "The
Governors critics." said he, keep right
on talking about running someone
against him in the primaries, but the
time is slipping away and the candi-
date does not matcrialize. The Gov
ernor will win both in the primaries
and at the polls in November. l don't
! believe, from what have learned from
Tammany Hall senators and assembly
men. that they want to see Whitman
beaten. He has been fair with the
Democrats. All that Tammany wants
is control in New York City. Once or
twice they have tried control in the
state and have failed dsmally."
Senator James w. Yelverton, of
Schenectady. probably will succeed
himself. He and Senator George H.
Whitney, of Mechanicville, have been
thrown by the redistricting into the
same district. AS Schenectady is the
larger county, it is understood in Sche-
nectady that Senator Whitney, who is
one of the veterans in the Legislature,
will step aside for Senator Yelverton.
Both Senator Whitney and Senator
Yelverton lined up on the dry side in
the Senate. Senator Whitney served
nine years in the Assembly and is fin
ishing his third term in the upper
house. Saratoga County ordinarily
gives plurality of about 1900 Re-
publican
II is understood that Assemblyman
| Gilbert 7. Seelye, of Burnt Hills, Sara
toga County, is a candidate to succeed
himself and that he will be unopposed.
IA ~