The New York herald., 1922-08-16
SMITH TO ACCEPT
IF HE'S NOMINATED
Continued from First Page.

IL at the time OF the convention the
leaders agree some other man would
make a stronger run. Not to be the
candidate for Governor would please Mr..
Smith best, but he Is determined tc
sacrifice everything, If nece ssary, rather
than let Mr.. Hearst take the nomination
by default. Or. to use William j. Con-
nerss favorite expression: You can't
beat somebody with nobody"
Tammany men were more than In
terested yesterday at the news from
Buffalo that Conners had entered
former Mayor Louis B. F'uhrmann as a
candidate for Governor. 1t was taken
as indicating the Hearst manager real
lied he could not hope 20 defeat the
Fitzgerald ticket. pledged for Smith
with a ticket tagged with the Hearst
label. Evidently he realized his only
chance to wrest the delegates from
Smith was to enlist the popularity of a
local man. Hearst headquarters here
made 1t appear the publisher had given
orders that nowhere in the State were
fights to be made for delegates in his
name.
When Mayor Hylan, friend of Hearst
was informed last night of the Smith
letter he said II have nothing TO say
Mr.. Hearst was not at home and could
not be reached.
Conners. in Buffalo last night, asked
by THE NEW York HERALD to comment
on the Smith letter, said:
Il have no comment to make except
that anybody has a right to be a can
didate."
When Smith ran for Governor in 1915
against Charles S. Whitman he received
.025, 1862 votes. a plurality of 1900. When
he ran sor Governor in 1920 he was
beaten in the Republican national sweep
of that year by 1900 votes. polling In
the State total of 1921. .Sl2.
Although Harding that same year
swept New York city, Smith carried II
by big plurality and poiled only few
thousand votes less than did Mayor
IIylan last year. Smith is 40 years old
He began his political career in 1903 wher
elected to the Assembly. He rose rap
idly, became Democratic leader in tho
Assembly and Speaker In 1913. Later he
became Sheriff of New York county and
was elected President of the Board OF
Aldermen. His next step was the Gov
ernorship.
II AL Smith should in the send be
ccme the candidate for Governor wht
would be his running mate for United
States Senator? That question was be
ing asked last night There was ne
answer. Mr.. Roosevelt would make al
excellent choice. it was felt, but th'
word was his health would not permit
even the thought Of such thing.
There are those who advocate th'
nomination Of Mayor George r. Lunr
Of Schenectady, a pronounced dry. wh'
would appeal to an element that Nigh
not be reached by Mr.. Smith.
Now that Mr.. Smith has come out Il
the open on the Governorship II Is be
lieved Mr.. conners will uncover an at
tack upon him along the line he indi
Gated Saturday. when he pointed TO tn
Increased public utility rates granted b!
the Smith Public Service Commission.
Friends of Al Smith called attention
last night to the excellent position i
which he finds himself. If the Demo
cratic party wants him IL must draf
him. II he il to be drafted, he is 70 b
the undisputed leader, and presumabl.
will insist upon debating both III
ticket and the platform. Particular al
tention was called to the repetition o
Leadership" in the letter.