New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-07
Smith Backers
In Full Control
OF Convention
County Leaders Almost Unit
for Him to Head Ticket;
Dictate Conduct of To-
days Syracuse Meeting
Walker Elected Chairman
Hearst's Rival Conference
Dwindles to a Handful
of Onondaga Delegates
By Denis Tilden Lynch

SYRACUSE, July democratic lead
ere. men and women, from all sections
OF upstate. at meeting tonight at
the Onondaga Hotei. elected Harry c.
Walker. Of Binshamton. former Lieu
tenant Governor. as chairman Of the
unofficial convention here tomorrow.
The meeting will be an out and out
al" Smith convention.
Almost without exception every
county leader interviewed tonight de-
clared himself as unqualihedly for
Smith for Governor. The women were.
II possible. even more enthusiastic
than the men A few were non-com-
initial ns to their choice tonight, but
tomorrow all must say where they
stand.
Miss Mills Against Hearst
Miss Harriet May Mills, Of this city.
one Of the most influential workers
among the women. who long before
suffrage was a foreclosed issue stood
valiantly for equal rights in the ballot
booth regardless Of sex, and who was
the Democratic party's choice Tor sec.
retary Of State two years ago. said
tonight;
81 have not made up my mind as
vet who should he the party's choice
for Governor. But II the sentiment
up state means anything il will not be
Mr.. Hearst ! have failed 20 ind any
Hearst sentiment anywhere.
Miss Mills is not typical Of the aver
age woman leader here. She says she
has not made up her mind. The others
who talked tonight declared them
selves unequivocally for "Al' Smith, az
they all call him.
II is not stretching the truth 70 say
that the convention tomorrow Will be
an ont and out "Al' Smith gathering.
And il will not be n false prediction
10 say that the assemblago will indorse
"Al" for the Democratic nomination
for Governor.
There is 10 be another meeting to-
morrow. This will be a conference OF
the Hearst men. IL was called week
ago With ono or two exceptions,
however, not a coupty outside of this
Onondaga-has responded The sum-
mons for the Hearst meeting was
signed BY George II. Mcclure. who has
no standing locally among the Demo
Gratis, and whose sole prestige is IN
the fact that his brother was once
Mayor Of this city.
Smiths Foes Limit Efforts
Tonight the Hearst headquarters let
n he known that the meeting to-mor-
row. intended originally to rival the
gathering Of the organization Demo
Gratis. who are avowedly for Smith,
would not be a statewide affair. but
confined 70 the Hearst men in Onon-
dega County. who. like Mr.. Mcclure,
have no standing with the organization.
The news Of the collapse Of the
videlv-heralded Hearst meet e was
received by the ZAP Smith faction with
three cheers.
The organization gathering, which
bss The Endorsement Of Charles F. Muir
phy of Tammany Hall, and which Is
being managed by his upstate repre-
sentatives, is taken by the friends OF
smith as an indication that the Tam
many leader will throw New York Citys
delegation 10 Tammany's idol. New
Yerk City will have majority IN the
convention with thirty-hve votes 70
spare. a., H..
must be placated. The friends Of Al
Smith here regard silence as anything
but helpful TO his cause. SAID ONE OF
the most important Democratic leaders
up state, who is whole-heartedly for the
former Governor:
81 think that al should come out
without any further delay as candi-
date. | know that the talk in New
York City is that Mr.. Hearst can be
shelved with a promise that If he gets
on the Smith band wagon now ne
will have the support Of the New York
delegation in 1924 for the nomination
for President. But the fact IS that
Mr.. Hearst is making an aggressive
campaign. II must also be remem-
bered that he is man Of infinite
financial resources and that Al IS com
paratively poor-in fact, man with,
Ont nroperty. II also Is true that All
does not want the job. But his friends