The New York herald., 1922-09-27
SMITHS VOTE HANGS
ON new YORKCOUNTY
Needs at Least 100 Delegates
to Insure Victory Over
Hylan's Forces.
BROOKLYN FOR HEARST
Walker Selected to Make Key
note Speech and Approved
by Murphy.
BROOKLYN FOR HEARST

Special Dispatch to THE New YonK HERALD.
SYRACUSE, Sept. 26.-Charles F. Muir
ply has the secret of the Democratic
State convention locked in his room
at the Onondaga Hotel tonight, and
the delegates and political managers
are waiting outside for his decision.
If the boss has decided in his own
mind what the convention is to do he
has not made 1t known. The belief
is that Murphy himself does not know.
William r. Hearst and Alfred E.
Smith are about even in the race or
the nomination at the start. Mayor
Hylan has sent word that he will
carry the fight for his friend the edi-
tor to the convention floor and force a
showdown Excepting for Hylan's
support, Hearst unquestionably would
be out of the race. Facing an open
break with Hylan and loss Of the City
Hall patronage, Murphy is going slow.
The Hearst men are shouting that
Smith is beaten. The Smith delegates
are equally positive that Hearst is out
servers who believe that both will drop
back after the first burst Of speed and
that one of the dark horses will flash
under the wire winner on Thursday or
Friday.
McCooey with Connern.
William J. Corners. chief OF Hearst's
star, and John II. McCooey OF Brook
lyn arrived this evening. Both were
waiting to see Murphy at his con-
venience. and both were shouting FOR
Hearst
"Ali this talk that Hearst Ks beaten
and Smith as good as nominated is a
ghost story said Corners. II will take
our delegates to Murphys room and in
troduce them to him by name and he
will find out If he wants to count up
that we have as many as Smith has"
Conners declared he was against any
compromise and that his side was ready
for showdown battle. This was
echoed by McCooey. who declared
Brooklyn would give the editor almost
solid delegation.
Mayor Hylan's name Is heard more
often every hour as the compromise
candidate. There remains little doubt
that Hearst is in for a finish fight but
falling to win il is believed he Will
swing to Hylan as the only means for
beating Smith
Murphy's control is absolute. Not in
his twenty years of leadership has he
been more completely master of the
State organization. He may have to
fight to force hiS WILL but II is the unani-
nous opinion that the name Murphy
passes out will be indorsed by the con-
.vention with upward Of 500 Of its 734
delegates.
1t is claimed by the Smith managers
that they have 292 delegates outside of
New York city pledged for their candi-
date. The Hearst men claim 241 on the
first ballot and challenge the assertions
of the rival clan. There are at leas.
fifty delegates claimed by both and the
rest are In doubt. But II shows how
near to standoff the fight Is. To
nominate requires 36s votes.
Hylan and Hearst can make Iot Of
trouble for Murphy. They may be
strong enough to split the organization !:
IL they carry through to the polls they
can unquestionably make certain the de-
feat of the candidate named here this
week. But with all the power of patron
age and publicity that Hearst and Hylan
command they are not strong enough to
control the convention. Not even their
most rabid supporters doubt that what
Murphy says will go.
Little BOSSES Out I'm Cold.
While the delegates and the county
leaders are wandering aimlessly around
the hotel corridor and streets wonder
ing what Is happening, Murphy, with
a few picked advisers, Is sitting to-
night In his suite of rooms working
out his problem. With him are Nor
man u. Mack Of Buffalo: William II.
Kelley. OF Syracuse: Philip f. Donohue
and Thomas y. Smith or New York.
Few OF the little bosses can get near
him.
The only positive development to-day
" connection with the convention pro-
gram was the selection OF Senator
James J. Walker OF New York as tenn
porary chairman. He will make the
keynote speech, Murphy approved the
selection and the Senator remained in
bis office TO prepare his speech
This was taken by the Smith faction
as victory. Walker is lifelong
friend and political associate OF Smiths
and IA favorable 10 his candidacy. But
he II BY no means antagonistic to
Hearst and the selection has relatively
little political significance.
William ~. Kelley. Syracuse leader.
and one OF Tammany's strongest allies
up state met Murphy at the station late
this afternoon. They took half hours
walk before going 10 the hotel and
there Mr.. Murphy hurried 10 his room
without stopping 10 meet any OF the
him. There was more interest in see
ing the Tammany chief than in Smith
or any other visitor.