The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-22
DEMOCRATS HEAD
TOWARD SARATOGA
Leaders Start for state Con-
vention by Boat, Motor
and Train.
AT SEA FOR CANDIDATE
Murphy Gives No Sign of Fa-
vOring Any Particular One
for Governor.

As Republican delegates to the re-
cent State convention continued drifting
back into town yesterday Democratic
delegates started to Saratoga to attend
their unofficial State convention. which
will open in Saratoga tomorrow. Many
Of the bosses and their attendant braves
motored out of the city. some went on
the afternoon trains, others will start
on the Albany night boats and still
others will get away at the last moment
this afternoon or tonight.
Just who the candidate Is that Charles
F. Murphy will stand behind Is known
only to that shrewd Tammany general.
and while there remained in the city
plenty of lesser politicians who were
willing to discuss Just who II Is that
Murphy has decided upon, no dependable
statements were forthcoming.
Attention was drawn to the recent
rehabilitation of the James w. Gerard
boom as a pretty safe indication of
where Murphy's favor will fall. but other
reports were just as insistent that the
Franklin d. Roosevelt movement started
by Jacob Kats in Saratoga was the fore
runner Of further and similar action by
the boss of Tammany Hall.
Al Smiths Doom Checked.
Leaders who are active in Democratic
affairs have said from time to time
that at the coming convention Murphy
would keep hands of and let the
choice Of candidate for the Governor
ship rest with the upstate contingent.
Before leaving the city. however. several
persons who know the Wigwam and are
supposed to know the Wigwam mind
said that no strong choice has been
made by the upstate Democrats and
that the choice is really up to New York.
The popularity in local Democratic
circles of Al Smith. President of the
Board of Aldermen. Is generally &C.
knowledged. but all talk OF a Smith
boom was met yesterday with the ex-
PLANTATION that such a move would not
meet with the complete approval of the
Big Chief and others.
In Republican quarters most OF the
Whitman contingent which found its
way back into the heat Of yesterday was
jubilant over the outcome Of the State
conference. Local Republicans who are
strongly supporting the Governor char
acterize as a failure the attempt Of the
Republican Old Guard to stampede the
convention for T. r. Some appreciation
refusal to fall In with the wishes Of the
Old Guard.
Gov. Whitman will begin his primary
campaign to-day in Yonkers. where a
mass meeting has been arranged. That
Ia one of the anti-Whitman districts In
the State and the Governor apparently
intends to carry his fight for renomina-
ton into It as an opening gun.
Urges Care Of Soldiers.
The Young Mems Democratic League
of New York held a special meeting yes
terday and adopted planks they wish to
have Incorporated In the platform Of the
Democratic party. Copies were sent to
the platform committee. The planks
read:
That the civil service laws regard
ing and affecting the city and State Of
New York be amended to include ID pref
erence to be given to all soldiers. sailors
and marines honorably discharged dur
ing or at the close of the present war.
That a commission or department be
created for the study OF all labor. bust
ness and financial conditions so that the
city and State will be adequately pre-
pared to provide or assist In the en-
ployment or welfare OF honorably dis
charged soldiers. sailors and marines,
and all female employees In active SER
vice of the United States Government
in connection with the present war, on
their return to civil life.
THAT the commission or department
so created cooperate with the manufac-
turers and business men throughout the
State In order to alleviate and remedy
any abnormal conditions that may arise
at or after the termination OF the war"
Ill l.&w - L.
will leave to-day to attend the Sara
toga convention tomorrow.