Evening star., 1922-09-28
HARMONY STILL
EVADES MURPHY
Democratic Conferences
Continue Into Session
Hours at Syracuse.
HEARST OR SMITH ISSUE
Both on Ticket or Both Off Seen
as Only Alternatives
Now. :
HEARST OR SMITH ISSUE
BY n, O. MESSENGER.
Staff CORRESPONDENT Of The Star.

BY n. O. MESSENGER.
Staff Correspondent Of The Star.
SYRACUSE. n. V, September Is
INTO the assembly place at noon today
filed 74O delegates to the democratic
state convention. who are to nominate
a state ticket and a candidate for United
States senator. still without orders or
a hint of direction from the dominating
figure of the occasion. Charles F., Muir
ply of Tammany Hall.
The hall where they are gathered Is
called ''thc Arena" 1t might prove
sinister and suggestive title should Mr..
Murphy not succeed before tomorrow's
session, when nominations are to be
made, in bringing the Hearst and Smith
factions together, for i'll that case
battle of the gladiators would e1Sue
with much slaughter. 1t might. indeed.
prove to be a case of thumbs down for
the democratic party of New York state
in November. but there is still hope Of
averting a fight on the floor.
The program is to hold a short organ
fzation session today and adjourn to
allow the conferences among the lead
ers to continue this afternoon and to-
night. in the hope of making Il slate
for presentation tomorrow which will
avoid the threatened split in the party.
Responsible leaders were inclined to the
view that compromise is probable on
the ground that it is vitality necessary
to party success and must be obtained.
The ideal compromise. in Mr.. Murphy 8
estimate, would be for candidate Smith
Hearst. one to have the governorship.
the other the senatorship. All the
moment Mr.. Smith balkS at this propo-
Sition.
Elimination of Bothf
The second best solution would be
the elimination of both Hearst and
Smith and the selection of candidates
for governor and senator who would
be acceptable to both these principals
Along these lines will run the en-
deavors Of Mr.. Murphy. now called
conciliator instead of boss, during the
day and evening UP to this time.
Mr. Murphy has. not shown the mail
ed hand. though everybody knows il
Is there in case of need.
All day yesterday and until late in
the night. the assembled democra Is
devoted their efforts to preventing the
contest over the gubernatorial and
senatorShip nominations from drift
ing into an open fight on the floor OF
the convention. with it's threatened
political carnage and blighting OF
democratic hopes for November.
It was the main endeavor of Mr.
Murphy to prevent debacle. such as
inQvit2h1a If
nominations had to be fought out IL
the open. He was hacked by able
lieutenants. such as Nattonal Commit
tseman Norman e: Mack. who Is
keenly alive to the consequences OF
the airing Of the Hearst-Smith griev.
anceS in debate.
His one object was to bring the
party elements behind these candi-
dates, almost as unmiXable as oil and
water, into an agreement which
would give each man a place on the
ticket. Through the hours the jock
eyfng continped. a game Of alternat-
ing bluff and threats of cajolery and
inttnida ton, with now and then Of
fers brought to him from one side OF
the other. usually on the principle oil
heads I win; tails you lose"
"Boss Murphy' Target.
Boss Murphy, with his tight little
bunch of Tammany braves holding
the power to run the nomination t.
whom he might choose, was the tar.
get of every shaft that was let fly.
The Smith adherents threatened
that if he gave the nomination to Mr.
Hearst they would bolt the ticket
Hearst hackers importuned Mr.. Muir
ply in behalf OF their candidate
pointing out what valuable adjunc
the Hearst publications and influenc,
would be to the whole democratf,
ticket, and emphasized the possibil
3ty of its loss.
The Hearst heutenants. fer he wa.
not on the ground himself, declared
that In his nomination was the onl,
chance of the democrats to defeat tn,
prospective candidate Of the repub
1icans. Gov. Miller. Mr. Hearst wa,
described as standing for progress
tory. Hearst against Miller
.Soss Murphy found himself in ,
ouemma Fully cognizant of th,
lower ne hoids Of naming the nomi
nee OF the convention. he also real
ICES the responsibility which attacba
and the charge that rests upon hin
OF not permitting the framing Of ,
ticket which will threaten to snIi
tne party in November. Chroushou
me day MT; Smith remained adaman
operate with Mr.. Hearst on a compro
mise ticket which either included M
Aoarst or was dictated by him. M
Hearst, for his part, it was generaIl,
accepted. would not refuse either tn,
SenAtorahtp or the governorship. MI
Smith to take the other.
Day Of Non-ProErens.
But 1t was evident to all that whil
Mr.. Smith might keep Mr.. Hears
from getting the nomination, he coul,
not secure 1t for himself without tn
aid OF Tammany. And SO they mile,
around all day and ever came bac]
to the spot whence they started
the proposition that the aid Of M,
Murphy must be obtained for an.
aomination. since Mr.. Hearst with al
his power was at the same loss a
Mr.. Smith in the lack of Tamnany'
assistance. and Mr.. Murphy wante,
both contestants to shake hands an,
make up
The compromisers suggested Mayo
Lunn Of Schenectady for senator t
please the upstate democrats, wit
governor, to placate Mr. Hearst Tn
objection was raised to this plan tha
Its effecting would necessitate a mu
nfcipal election In New York to fl
the mayoralty vacancy. q prospect no
pleasing to Mr.. Murphy, for Mayo
Tammany ever had" and Tamman
still needs him in Its business.
Some of Mr.. Murphy's advisers rec
commended that he allow the contes
to 60 to the floor of the convention
claiming that it would be shown Il