New-York tribune., 1918-07-20
Editors Ready Cash
His Principal Asset
Sentiment Grows in Favo,
of "Al" Smith for Gov
ernorship Candidate

for Governor to William Randolph
Hearst are threatening to revolt if
their leader attempts to name Hearst.
Local anti-Hearst men who are dele
gates to the Saratoga convention are
planning to line up solidly with the
anti-Hearst delegates from upstate.
One local anti-Hearst man said yes
terday:
"lf we are sufficiently strong we will
call for formal reputation of Hearst
on the floor of the convention. And in
doing so it will be made plain that
this is not fight on Murphy or Hylan
or anybody except Hearst. 1t is a fight
to a finish"
Answering question concerning
what the anti-Hearst men would do in
the event Murphy and Mayor Hylan,
with their aids, attempted to have
Hearst designated, the Tammany
leader said:
Il do not believe Murphy would be
foolish enough to attempt anything of
the sort. What he probably will do is
to have the convention adjourn with
out designating any one. That would,
OF course, mean that he wanted the
nomination to go TO Hearst by default.
But it is more likely he will have the
convention nominate some Hearst man
whose election would be satisfactory
to the editor, or a man who would
withdraw at the last moment in favor
of Hearst"
Sentiment for Gal" Smith
Several Tammany leaders who are
not obligated to Mayor Hylan because
of patronage have told Murphy that if
Hearst is nominated they will not be
able to deliver the vote to the pri-
maries They have told him that the
strongest sentiments obtains for "Al"
Smith. with William Church Osborn a
close second. Osborn was formerly
chairman of the Democratic State Com
mittee, was the first choice of the up-
state Democratic leaders at the Syra-
cuse conference. CAL" Smith, who be-
fore being elected president of the
Board of Aldermen, was Sheriff. and
for twelve years a member of the Leg
stature, where he served as Speaker of
The Assembly, and majority and mi
norlty leader, also has a big upstate
following. At the Syracuse conference
Hearst did not receive single vote
SO far Hearst has been able TO obtain
The support of only six Democrats of
prominence Murphy, Hylan, former
McCabe, the Albany boss; John II. Nc
Gooey, Tammany's vice-regent in
Brooklyn, and "Fingey" Connors Of
Buftaio, one-time Democratic state
chairman.
This is Hearsts half-dozen. And op
posed to them are scores of Democrats
OF state and national prominence Most
OF President Wilson's Cabinet is against
Hearst: None has come out for him.
Franklin d. Roosevelt, Assistant Secre
tary of the Navy, has come out formally
and lndorsed the candidacy of Osborn.
Masses Don't Want Hearst
Last night another Democrat known
throughout the country, Alton B. Par
ker' candidate for President in 1904,
came out against Hearst. Judge Parker
saio there was no demand for Hearst
among the masses of the people; and
that If he were nominated it would be
by grace of Murphy
There is small element of upstate
leaders who are welcoming Hearst's
candidacy. These men recall the palmy
days of 1906, when Hearst was a candi-
dent for Governor and spent close to
$1,Oo0,000. Money ran like water and
many mortgages upstate were paid off.
This element has been making in
quiries concerning Hearst's ability to
spend an equal, if not a greater sum,
this fall.
There have been rumors that he has
tlghtened up Beyond those to whom
Hearst's financial condition would be a
convincing argument, the only others
IN the Democratic party, with the ex-
ception of Governor Glynn and one or
two others, who are for Hearst are for
Hearst because Hylan holds the Tam
many feed bag and Murphy has given
his word that he will support Hearst
II he is candidate.
That Hearst is candidate is evil
denced by the fact that his petitions
have been out for more than a week
end his political agents have been can
vasslng the state. And Hearst has
made preparations for housing and
feeding followers while at Saratoga
by engaging suites of rooms at two
OF the largest hotels there. In one he
has contracted for twenty seven rooms
with baths.
Some Tammany Hall men, who
frankly confess they will back any one
Murphy names--even though it should
be Hearst--said yesterday they hoped
Hearst would obviate this unpleasant-
ness by withdrawing in favor of former
Ambassador Gerard, whose brother.
Julian, is treasurer of the Hearst cor
poratons and Hearst's social pilot.
Worrying Over Platform
sterday was spent by Senator
Robert +. Wagner, chairman of the
platform committee, with several mem
bers worrying over the various planks
suggested for the platform. One of
them provides for the submission of
the entire prohibition question to q
referendum. This proposed plank
would score the Republicans for dodr-
ing the liquor question, despite the
fact that Governor Whitman openly
champions ratification of the Federal
bone dry amendment.
Another plank which has been de-
eided upon will indorse unqualifedlv
the Wilson Administration and its con-
duct of the war and declare that the
people can best support the National
Administration by electing a Demo
cratic state ticket which "is in sym-
pathy with the National Administra-
fion ana trusts it. and not one (the
hepuplican) which has been criticisinr
1T and does not trust it,"
StHi another plank will indorse the
rederai woman suffrage amendment.
yWsnlch passed the House of Representa-
SaSes ana Is now before the Senate.