The New York herald., 1922-08-15
WILL AL SMITH RUN?
ROOSEVELT QUERIES
Former Assistant Secretary of
Navy Writes Urging Imme-
date Reply.
ANSWER EXPECTED SOON
Something Must Be Done and
1t Must Be Done Now Says
Letter to Ex-Governor.
ANSWER EXPECTED SOON

inated?" Franklin -. Roosevelt, can
didate for vice-Presdent In 1920 ana
former Assistant Secretary OF the Navy.
wrote to the former overnor last night
asking him to answer that question now
being asked by Democrats all over the
State The demand that Smith run
again for Governor is getting stronger
every day.
All designations for nominations as
delegates to the State convention must
be filed not later than August 25, and
if tickets pledged to Smith are to be
enered for the primaries. the time is
short.
SO far the former Governor has
strenuously waved aside any attempt 10
bring him to a decision as to whether
or not he would run. II is believed.
however. he can no longer postpone
making a reply to the inquiries that
are becoming more insistent.
Would Do 1t to Beat Hearst.
/ Former Judge Samuel Seabury. one
| of the leaders in the anti-Hearst move
| ment wrote TO the former Governor two
months ago asking him to take the lead
| in the fight against the publishers ambi-
tion to be Governor There has never
| been a reply. AL Smith does not want
/
however, If he thought it was the only
way to defeat Hearst, his friends say.
! Also, he does not want to seem migrate
full
| Mr.. Roosevelts letter. written from
| his home at Hyde Park. follows:
| over a month ago | wrote to the
conference of Democrats in Syracuse
urging that the Democratic party of
| this State must put its best foot fore
most in the selection of candidates this
year. l. appeared to me then that the
sentiment of the overwhelming majority
4 of Democrats was for your nomination
again for the office of Governor.
To-day. a week before the fling
of designating petitions for delegates to
the State convention am of the same
] opinion. / have been in touch with men
J and women voters from almost every
upstate county and there Is no ques-
| tion that the rank and file of Demo-
Gratis want you to run.
Many candidates for office are
| strong by virtue of promises of what
they will some day do. You are strong
| by virtue OF what you have done. Peo-
pie everywhere know that In 1920, while
you lost by a narrow margin in the
landslide. you received q million more
votes in this State than the Presiden-
tial ticket.
More than that your support came
| not only from Democrats but from
literally hundreds of thousands OF Re-
publicans and independents-men and
| women who knew that you had given
to this State an honest, clean and eco
nomcal government. and had consis-
| tently opposed the privilege seekers
| and the reactionaries.
These voters are not satisfied with
\ ha nj a
publican leaders in Washington and Al
/ bany To them will be added many
more who are now sorry that they
voted the Republican ticket in 1920. You
represent the hope of what might be
called the average citizen
Must DO Something Now.
something must be done and done
now. In every county the chief topic
OF political conversation Is VIII AL
Smith accept II he is nominated?' AL
ready unauthorized agents are saying
that you will not accept and many are
being deceived and beginning to lose
| interest as a result 1t would surprise
you to ..now what enthusiasm would
| spring W overnight IL We knew you
would accept the nomination.
FRANKLY ] don't want to see things
go by default in this most hopeful year
and that is why / am writing you be-
fore the primary petitions are filed.
am taking 1t upon myself to appeal to
you in the name of countless citizens
of upstate New York Democrats. Re-
publicans, Independents men and women
to ask you to say now, not later. that
II nominated for Governor you will ac-
cept.
I'VE realize that years of public SER
! vice make II most desirable that you
think now for while of your famiIy's
needs-I am In the same boat myself
yet this call to further service must
come first. Some day your children
will be even prouder of you for making
this sacrifice than they are now.
"You represent the type of citizen the
voters of this State want to vote for for
Governor and you can be elected The
decision must be made now, as | have
tried to point out. That is why, re-
luctantly to be sure. for ] know what
unsefishness 1t will call for on your
part. I am asking you personally and
publicly TO accede to the wishes Of so
many OF your fellow citizens"
IL is understood the former Governor
will make a reply to Mr.. Roosevelt's s
query.