New-York tribune., 1920-08-01
Saratoga Program Will
. Leave Governor Smith
es Unopposed as a Candi-
date to Succeed Himself
Direct Primary Favored
.sarnes Wadsworth Plank
~ Urging Repeal OF the
~ Law Will BE Condemned


will declare in unqualified terms for a
continuance of the direct primaries
and will condemn the Barnes-W ads
worth plank calling for the repeal of the
direct primary law in its application
to statewide Offices and supreme jus
tices.
f, The Democrats believe their advo-
'eacy Of the direct primary law, which
was first fought for by Charles f.
Hughes when Governor. and defeated
Under the leadership Of United States
Senator James W. Wadsworth jr., then
speaker Of the Assembly, viii make a
strong appeal to the progressive ele-
nent in the Republican party.
I In an effort to show their sincerity
the Democrats plan to adjourn without
designating or recommending any cam
didate for any place on the ballot this
fall Another plank in the platform
will attempt to saddle upon the Repub-
'lican party the Sweet Socialist custer
and the Lusk-Sweet-Daly expressive
measures. which We're vetoed by Gov
ernor Smith after protests from
Protestant churches. the y. NJ. c. A.
and other non-sectarian organizations
conducting schools, Masonic lodges
and other bodies which would have
been placed under the provisions Of
the measures had they become law.
+ Big Leaders Arrive
Charles F. Murphy. leader of Tam
many Hall, and Philip r. Donohue.
treasurer of the organization, were
among the first Of the big leaders to
lsrrtve. They were followed by Colonel
Michael j. Walsh, State Tax Commits
s.oner and head Of the W Westchester
County Democratic Committee, and by
other men who direct the Democratic
machine in this state.
"Is it the intention of the Democrats
not to designate at next weeks con
yertion5?" Murphy was asked upon his
arr val.
Il am only 4 delegate" replied
Murphy with q smile "but am against
s6esignatinc. We did not designate two
wears ago, nor four years ago.
"Rut wasn't ticket recommended
TO the enrolled Democrats two years
laeo?' inquired one of his interroga-
tors
! no" said Murphy, eve simpl, called
the roll OF counties and each county
expressed its preference. We may not
even do that this year. 1t may be that
the convention viii leave the entire
question to be settled at the primaries
even without the forMallty OF Two years
ago"
Two years ago Governor Smith was
almost the unanimous choice of the
convention. the only other candidate to
receive a vote being William Church
Osborn. of Garrison. William Ran
dolph Hearst was also candidate, hut
nc was only mentioned to be con
demned for his war attitude.
Smith To Be Unopposed
If the convention does not express {
preference for candidates it goes with
out saying that Governor Smith will be
unopposed in the primaries as a car
didate TO succeed himself Lieutenant
Governor Harry c. Walker, formerly
Mayor of Binghamton, has requestec
that all talk Of HIM as candidate fol
the nomination for United States Sen,
atol eeaz .. as he wants to be Governor
sM!tn's running mate again.
Tbs decision Of the Lieutenant Gov
seInet e.s thrown the Democrats into
as bad :, prcdicamcnt as they were
when Franklin Roosevelt. who had beer
slated to oppose Senator Wadsworth
was drafted as Governor Cox 5 running
mate.
+ There are several aspirants for the
Democratic nomination for Untea
States Senator. The more prominently
mentioned tonight are Mayor George
K. Lunn of Schenectady; Chester D
.Pugsley, OF Peekskill, son Of Cornelius
Pugsley, who represented the distric'
IN Congress; Robert Lansing of Jetfer-
son County, former Secretary of State
Winfield A. Huppuch, of Washington
County, former chairman Of the Demo
cratic State Committee, and one time
Public Service Commissioner; James
" Gerard, of New York. former Am
bassador to Germany, and Murray HUI
bert Dock Commissioner of New York
Some of the Tammany strength
which had lined up behind Lieutenant
iGovernor Walker has been thrown to
Commissioner Hubert. His friends
frecall his record in Congress and are
Saying the New York City Chamber Of
commerce contributed 5000 when he
last ran because of his work in behalf
of the development Of the port Of New
Y ork.
To Discuss Senatorship
Il There will be conference of county
headers to discuss whether it would be
the better thing to nominate an up
state man for United States Senator
or a man from New York City. Hull
bert's friends are holding him up as
an upstate New York City man" be-
cause he was born and educated in
Rochester. With Walker out of the race
Lunn would make the most available
candidate, in the opinion of large
number of upstate Democrats But
Mayor Lunn's vote for prohibition
while in Congress, and his continued
advocacy of the dry cause, together
with his constant war on Tammany.
has made him undesirable with the
New York City Democrats.
s Governor Smith, who will arrive here
tomorrow, will have considerable to
Nay about who shall receive the organi-
cation support for the nomination tor
Senator.
s. 1t is the first convention in more
than decade for which Governor
Smith has not reserved quarters for
himself and family He intends to
motor up daily from Albany after
transacting the business requiring his
attention at the executive chamber
and will motor back at nightfall
5 The Governor, it is understood, will
play leading part in drafting the
platform, which in addition to declar-
ing for direct primaries, will advocate
pew housing legislation and the enact
ment of the reconstruction program
defeated at the last session Of the
Legislature.
Governor Smith is planning to call
an extra session of the Legislature to
Take up reconstruction and housing
The call will be issued, it is believed
shortly after the convention adjourns