The New York herald., 1922-06-26
Finish Fight for Nomination
Means Inevitable Split
in Tammany.
MURPHY SILENCE HELPS
Decision to avoid Summer
Politics. Strengthens Cam
paign by Conners.

The split in the Democratic party.
precipitated by William r. Hearst's
fight for the nomination for Governor.
apparently has arrived about two
months sooner than was anticipated by
the Tammany leaders
Following Hearst's return from Eu-
rope and his plunge into State politics.
the leaders have come suddenly up
against the fact that Tammany faces
break whatever happens. The or
ganization must surrender to Hearst
and face revolt by the anti-Hearst
faction or reject Hearst and thereby
turn him, and possibly Mayor Hylan.
against the party's State ticket.
The rst-Hylan combination is
using all its power, which is tremen-
dous. to force Tammany into support
ing the publisher. Charles +. Murphy.
the leader. is remaining at his homo
at Good Ground to "avoid summer poll
tics" as it is explained at Fourteenth
street. Every day that Murphy keeps
his hands off the Hearst offensive gets
stronger.
HyIan Patronage Issue.
One of the first results of the sudden
development Is that the Hearst foes
have called on Alfred T.. Smith. former
Governor, to whom they look as leader,
to come out in the open and declare
war on the publisher. That would give
the opposition rallying point. and
they say it Is their best way of head
ing off Hearst.
The anti-Hearst crowd within Tam
many is insisting that Murphy take
hold of the situation instead of remain
ing passively In the country while
Hearst and his managers gather in
delegates and run away with the situa-
ton. If Murphy listens to the appeal
Of this group he instantly faces the
danger of a split with Mayor Hylan.
who is doing all within his power to
force the nomination of Hearst. And
Hylan has all the city patronage.
There is split already between the
stand pat regulars in Tammany and the
anti-Hearst faction in the organization.
This has taken more definite form in
the last few days, as 1t has become
more evident that Hearst was going to
make a finish fight for the nomination
and either win or wreck the party. The
antis declare they prefer defeat to
Hearst and victory and make no secret
OF their intention of bolting the pub
Usher If he is named. Thomas +. Foley
is the head of this faction and Is one
of the most powerful leaders in the Or
ganzation.
If 1t comes to a showdown in the
State convention the program of the
antis will be to stand up and denounce
Hearst and walk out. They will try to
get Al Smith to do that. and no one who
has heard him talk on that subject
doubts his ability to do good job IL
Smith stays out of the convention the
anti-Hearst crowd will pick another of
their ruinber to lead the revolt and
walk out. they declare.
Acquiescence Seen.
The report has gone out in Tammany
circles that Murphy's decision to stay at
Good Ground all summer and keep
hands off summer politics" is really
acquiescence to Hearst's candidacy
and that every day he remains silent
makes 1t that much easier for the pub
Usher. There are many who have not
taken the Hearst candidacy very Sc
riously until the last few days. They
regarded it as another OF tine many
Hearst booms which would expire with
the hot weather. That sentiment has
disappeared largely in political circles
since he came back last week and few
Democrats In the organization longer
doubt that he will carry his fight 10
the convention floor.
The anti-Hearst leaders upstate who
have been outspoken in their opposition
to tho publisher have reported In the
last few days that some one. preferably
Smith, must comes out openly or their
organizations may run out. William y.
Conners, manager for Hearst, Is cen-
tering his campaign In those districts
and the pressure he Is bringing to bear
Is having It's effect. The Hearst agents
are amply supplied with funds, accord
ing % these reports. and the lack OF
any organized opposition is making vt
easy for Conners.
Some of the more bitter Hearst men
in Tammany say that the leadership of
the Hall may be involved In this cam
paign. AS they view It, Murphy may
have a fight on hand to retain his title
IL he hands the nomination to Hearst
rather than risk break with Hylan.
II Hearst were to 60 to defeat In the
election there Ks a possibility that the
anti-Hearst forces might try to force
Murphy out of the leadership.