Evening star., 1922-10-20
DEMOCRATS FEAR
/ TEST0NDRYlSSUE
Many New Workers Doubt
| Wisdom Of Mentioning
4. Beer in Platform.
PRIMARY IS UNDER FIRE
Rank and File of Voters Show
Preference for Conven-
ton System.
PRIMARY IS UNDER FIRE
BIZ N. O. MESSENGER.
STAG Correspondent Of The Star.

stan Correspondent OF Inc otdr
NEW YORK, October 20.-Many
democrats prominent in the party
councils here are wondering whether
the leadership at the state convention
which adopted the platform at Syra-
cuse took the right end of the wet
and-dry issue IN the Endorsement OF
light wines and beer. They also
question whether 1t was happy Sc
lection in taking the plank for a re-
turn to the system OF nominating by
direct primaries.
The wet plank was put In on the
theory that in the cities. especially In
Greater New York, beer and wine
would attract republican votes. which.
superimposed upon Candidate Smiths
great popularity, might overcome the
substantial normal republican plu-
rality upstate. That plank was adopt
ed unanimously. without word OF dis
sent in the convention itself. as the
writer, who was there, can teatify.
Protest had been made to the leader
ship and the committee on resolutions
by prominent women, but they had
been told by the managers that their
objections were useless. The thing
had to be done. and they left the COM
mittee room with saddened mien. As
the delegates to the convention had
been chosen at the primaries. it was
natural to assume that they were
representative of their constituencies.
Smith Favors PrfmaF
But 1t must be remembered that
the convention. the first in ten years.
was dominated by the party leaders.
one in particular. Boss Murphy of
Tammany Hall. He was convinced
.s1r heA
oe tine He sen
policy of the Hearst newspapers in
this course. which are for prohibi.
tion. but adopted Hearst's radical
for the ticket Mr.. Smith. in his
speeches. is advocating return to the
primary nomination plan. A great
deal of talk Is heard among thought
about the primary system as a whole.
The suggestion is frequently ad-
vanced that it may be responsible
for much Of the present discontent
dispatches note has been taken of
the restleseness and grumbling OF
the electorate against the political
in part responsible for the falling
off in registration which Is marked
in this state and i'll others. One
politician made this observation: 1t
may be that the people are awaAen-
ing to the thought that the primary
system is responsible for complaint
that the tone of legislative bodies
has been lowered by the primaries
and their personnel deprecated.
Twice n Candidate.
1T has come to pass that a candi-
date has to practically run for cleo
tion twice, once. when he Is up for
nomination and again for confirma-
tion ut the polls. The result Is that
political Office does not appeal to the
busy man of ability. 1t Is open to
the rich man with time and means at
command. who desires what seems to
him honor or notoriety. and the other
class who have plenty of time and
salary OF the expected Office"
If there are enough voters who
think at all on the subject and who
think this way. the query can well
be put whether the democrats acted
wisely in stressing the primary plan
in their platform. There is marked
lessening of interest on the part of
the general public in the state cam
paign, judging by the talk heard In
the street. The two candidates are
greatly excited at each other, but
after the first week the public seems
to be losing interest in their squabble.
This may be attributed to two causes.
one that the electorate has made up
its mind which way II intends to
vote or that the candidates are not
supplying pabulum OF stimulating
quality to whet the appetite.
1t IS generally conceded by political
observers in both parties that 1t is a
real race for the governorship In this
state, and that the vote will be close
whichever way 1t goes.
Betting Ii Close.
The betting is close. and In New
York 1t has been the disposition In
the past to take the betting as an in
dex to political sentiment. The odds.
which ten days ago were against
Smith, are shading of, and there are
instances where even money Is being
demanded. The republican leaders
are still contending that on form"
their candidate should win, but they
are not overlooking the evidences of
the unmistakable personal popularity
the campaign thus far have induced
to rendering It more a campaign of
personality than Of Issues. On the
one side is the personality of Mr..
Smith, tho human nature element 1t
might be called. On the other side the
personality of Gov. Miller as shown
in his record as a public offlcial Is
sues and principles are to q degree
being subordinated. Plain people on
the other lines. who are thinking of
pulling down a small bet" would do
we'll to not unwind their bank roll
until the campaign takes more def
mite shape.