The New York herald., 1922-08-14
CONNERS RISKS ALL,
HEARST MORE WARY
Upstate Campaign Leader
for Editor Dashes Into
Primary Fight.
DEFIES ORGANIZATION
Contests May Make or Break
Publishers Chances Be-
fore Convention.
TO TEST MURPHY POWER
Tammany Chief Must Yield if
Allies Lose Delegates,
Is Belief.
TO TEST MURPHY POWER

The real fight for delegates to the
Democratic State Convention will be-
gin tomorrow in the upstate coun-
ties, with William j. Conners of Buff
falo as major general in the saddle,
leading the battle for William r.
Hearst for the nomination for Gov
ernor. Tuesday is the first day for
filing petitions for designating dele
gates to the State conventions to be
voted on in the primaries. Corners is
fixing up the Hearst tickets, while this
regular organizations are naming anti
Hearst delegates. BY this move Con-
ners will force a clean cut issue for the
primaries September 10.
Mr.. Hearst's political future, his
: chances for the nomination, his infiu-
ence in State politics as a factor in
determining his availability as Pres-
Dental possibility in 1924 and the
shaping of the State campaign in the
autumn will be determined largely by
the outcome of the primaries as re-
suit of Conners's demand for an early
showdown. 1t is understood Hearst is
not wildly enthusiastic over Conners's
decision to carry the fight into the big
counties in the primaries.
Hearst Petitions Out.
The designating petitions bearing the
names of delegates and alternates
pledged to support Hearst for Governor
have been put out in several counties,
including Erie, Monroe, Onondaga,
Broome and Albany. These petitions
may be filed between August Is and 90.
Many will be ready tomorrow. The last
day for declining designations is August
80
If Conners is beaten badly in the
primary contests it is believed Hearst
will decline to go further and declare
for some other candidate.
Connerss challenge has forced the is
sue on the organization up State and the
regulars are prepared to nominate con-
vention delegates openly hostile to
Hearst. In all the big counties picked
BY Conners for the showdown the or
canization leaders are against Hearst
and they welcome opportunity to NOM
nate anti-Iiearst delegates, thereby de-
terminng their position before they
reach the convention. The regulars who
oppose Hearst are for Alfred Z. Smith
for Governor.
the primaries would threaten Charles +.
Murphy's control of the State organiza-
tion. At least three of the contests will
be direct tests of Murphy's power. If
the Tammany allies in Erie, Onondag ga
and Albany do not maintain control OF
the local organizations in the primaries
the leaders say Murphy may as well
turn the State convention over to Con-
ners and remain the golf links at
Good Ground
Tomorrow in reality marks the nor
nal opening of the autumn campaign
The delegates and alternates to the State
convention will be elected by the party
voters In the primaries. The delegates
In the conventions viii vote for candi-
dates for Governor United States Sena-
tor and other State and judicial offices.
The state conventions will be held the
last week In September
Candidates for Representatives In Con-
gress. for the state Senate and Assembly
and for county offices will file their
petitions in the next week. There are
scores of local contests. independents
who oppose the organization selections
have their opportunity in the primaries.
Conners Accepts Risk.
Conners appears willing To risk q
showdown in the primaries. lie will gc
up State to-day TO take charge OF the
try to win control OF the organization
from William III. Fitzpatrick, friend ot
Murphy and ally Of Tammany.
Patrick II. McCabe, In charge OF tho
Hearst campaign in, Albany, Is trying
10 come back into politics on the
Hearst boom. He announced yesterday
his designating petitions were ready. His
own name heads the list. II will be a
clean cut issue in Albany. McCabe de.
clares he can carry the county for the
Hearst delegates II his ticket Is beaten
II win be a hard blow for Hearst.
Similar situations exist in Syracuse
Rochester ana Binghamton. In each OF
those big centers the organization lead
ers have turned thumbs down on Hearst
and Conners Is going into the primaries
TO oust the regulars and prove the voters
want Hearst His winning of any
substantial number OF these county con.
tests would seem to clear the way for
Hearst. But II the Hearst-Conners com.
blnation Is beaten badly the Hearst
chances will lcngthen to about one In
ten.
Politicians are most interested In Con-
nors's bold play in Erie county Tam
many has told the Hearst chief OF stan
he must control his own home county
delegation before asking for New York
city's support. and Conners Is Off TO try
10 put Fitzpatrick and the regulars out
Conners for his bravery in the face OF
what seems almost a hopeless fight.
Unless what Corners says Is true--that
the voters are ready to rise in revolt
and follow Hearst through primaries
the party contests---the Hearst boom Is
likely 10 suffer bad jolt In Buffalo.
X Mr.. Conners wins in Buffalo or gete
even a substantial number OF delegates
II will make him the Mark Hanna OF the
Hearst-Hylan party and powerful fac
tor In state politics.
While Conners seems to be willing 10
take long chance Hearst does not ap-
pear so enthusiastic about risSing every.
thing on the primsries Tho editor
politician IS remaining IN the background
and still talking Hylan for Governor.
hut all the time his qccnts are. after
delegates for him His Hslan talk is
considered as merely his future alibi---
d graceful way out IN ease he cannot
got the nomination.
But Conncrs does no. care for alibis--
he is willing TO stand or fall on the
Hearst candidacy. Ie frowns at the
suggestion of Mr.. Hearst that Mayor
Hyian be the candIdate Politicians are
beginning to ssa0der 80 Hearst and Com
49, <n<.<r4