The New York herald., 1922-08-07
CONNERS FOR Smith
TORUN With HEARST
Al Says Senatorship Plan
Hasn't Been Suggested
to Him Yet.
NO FLAT REPUTATION
Tammany Men Think Idea
joke and Some Revolt
in Advance.
DENY CHANCE OF PEACE
Say Regulars Wouldn't Fol
low Former Governor Into
Such an Alliance.

William j. Conners's latest idea is
to nominate William r. Hearst for
Governor and Alfred e. Smith for
United States Senator on the same
ticket. The Buffalo man, who is chief
of staff OF the Hearst forces in the
headquarters at the Hotel McAlpin,
had this inspiration several days ago.
All the Hearst forces have hailed 1t as
a solution OF the Democratic problem
in this State. The Al Smith and Tam
many men regard 1t as joke.
Mr.. Conners is trying hard to put
1t across He said he believed it was
the right and proper thing for the
Democrats of this State to do; that
Hearst and Smith would get the votes
going and coming and that the COM
bination ticket would end the old fight
between the Hearst and Smith camps
and everything would work out finely
with both satisfied and both sure to
win.
Smith Not Indignant.
One of the main troubles with the
idea is that 1t Is regarded as doubtful
whether Mr.. Smith would entertain it
for moment At Sea Gate yesterday
Mr.. Smith said:
Such proposition has never been
made to me. 1t has not even been sug-
gested to me-
Would you accept ii il it were
made?"
tics. It's too hot and the election is too
far off,
This was not the flat and indignant
reputation Of such a proposal as might
be expected from Mr.. Smith in keeping
with his bitter hostility toward Hearst
on all occasions for several years. His
friends said that his failure to reject
the proposal once and for all was be-
cause it had not come to him officially
and insisted that he would turn IL down
coldly IL made by either Hearst or
Conners.
s. When Mr.. Corners was asked whether
he believed Mr. Smith would consent
he answered.:
mo man is bigger than his party.
If the Democrats OF the State nominated
Mr. Smith or any other man to a posi-
ton Of great responsibility I believe
he would accept it,
An Easy Way out.
Such an arrangement would be an
easy way out for all factions involved
In the Democratic State mixup-except-
Ing Mr.. Smith. 1t would end the feud
between Hearst and Smith which is
now threatening to split the State party
wide open. They could not 40 on at
tacking each other IL they were. run
ming on the Game ticket 1t would give
to the ticket the elements OF strength
which each has and would ease Charles
+. Murphy out of his unpleasant posi-
ton as buffer between the Hearst
Hylan and the Tanmany-anti-Hearst
factions.
Smith would never consider for a
moment running on the same ticket
with Hearst, and II he did he could not
take the anti-Hearst crowd In the party
with him." one of the leaders promi-
nent In the Tom Foley organization
said. Much as we like AL Smith we
never could follow him on such a lead"
Tammany men said they thought IL
would be a fine thing for Hearst and
his managers II they could annex Smith
and thereby kill off all the anti Hearst
opposition. They said they regarded
such a move as "Hearst's last chance"
and were unanimously of the opinion
II would not get much further than
Conners's office.