New-York tribune., 1920-05-05
Loss of Power
In State, Fear
OF Ta11l111any
Democratic Leaders Gath
er i'm Albany To-day to
Discuss Reported Move to
Return Farley to Ranks
Fight Looms OH Delegates
Bosses Will Oppose Plan
to Send Delegation to San
Francisco Uninstructed
Special Dispatch to Tho Tribune

ALBANY, May 4.-Alarmed over the
by Mayor George Il. Lunn Of Scher-
ectady, plan to dethrone the Tammany
organization from leadership in state
politics and to return State Chairman
William w. Farley to the ranks, Dem
ocratic leaders will arrive in Albany
tomorrow to discuss the situation
prior to the meeting here on Thursday
night Of delegates to the National
Democratic Convention.
Among those who are expected are
Charles F. Murphy. of Tammany Hall;
John II. McCooey, Of Brooklyn; Will
lam w. Farley, State Chairman, and
William H. Fitzpatrick, Erie County
Democratic leader and one of the
party's pillars of strength in the west
ern section of the state.
When the delegates are called to
order for their first, session Thursday
night Mayor Lunn and his followers
are expected to initiate thei- battle on
the state bosses by demanding that no
unit rule shall be adopted. put that
the delegates go to San Francisco and
vote whichever way they please. This
move will be fought strongly by the
machine leaders. Just how strong the
insurgents are there is no way Of fore
casting, but it is not expected the Lunn
faction viii be able to carry its de-
mands.
Real Fight Seen at Convention
For this reason the real fight within
the New York delegation will not be
started until noses are counted on the
convention floor in San Francisco.
Mayor Lunn and his followers are
expected to attempt to weaken con-
idence in the unit rule plan by de-
manding roll call on every vote cast
by the New York delegation.
The delegates will discuss every
phase Of state and national politics in
order to settle the question whether or
not the name Of Governor Smith is to
be presented by the delegates at San
Francisco as a candidate for the Demo
cratic Presidential nomination. The
question is one which has given rise
to much discussion in the last few
weeks, but Governor Smith disclams
he has any idea that the delegates will
adopt a resolution to present him for
maliy as New York's candidate.
Prohibition To Be Taken Up
Prob bition is another question to
be taken up by the delegates. 1t is
anticipated that they will move that
the anti-prohibition plank adopted at
the Democratic convention here in
March be made part of the national
platform.
Albert E. Hoyt, secretary of the state
conmlttee, tonight declared the dele
gates VIII go to San Francisco with
their eyes open" He said there will
be no attempt at gag rule at the meet
ings in Albany and that the delegates
will be permitted to discuss anything
that they wish. This declaration is
taken as an ind cation that the Demo
cratic leaders have little fear that
Mayor Lunn and his followers have
sufficient backing to cause any harm
to their plans.
The first session Of the conference
will begin Thursday at s o'clock at
the Ten Eyck Hotel. Governor Smith,
who is one of the Big Four, will be
named permanent cha rman Norman
Y, Mack, of Buffalo, will, il is expected.
be reelected national committeeman
from this state.