Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-02-01
PRESIDENTIAL POSSIBILITIES
TOLD OF BY HASkIN
Daily Letter by Frederic j. Haskin

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE war
whoop of Tammany braves will be
heard in the 1924 Democratic Ma
tional Convention as it has not been
heard in twenty years. For the first
time since 1904 Tammany will have
a real candidate for the presidential
nomination. candidate who is one
of its very own, Governor AL Smith.
Tammany is always a picturesque
and a potent force in the national
conclaves Of democracy. 1t is the
greatest thing in the way of a politi-
cal machine hat the country has
ever known. 1t controls the biggest
block of votes in the convention and
it delivers those votes when, where
and to whom the leaders decide.
Rarely has a candidate failed of
nomination who could command
Tammany's support at the crucial
moment and the leaders have usual
ly played the game in such a manner
that their vote has been the deciding
factor, even if they have not inparia-
bly, put over their first choice.
Politics is strictly business with
Tammany. Its purpose is to dictate
nominations, carry elections and
control patronage and all the per-
quisites that go with Gee at the
| polls. There is seldom any sentiment
| in what Tammany does or under
takes to do. Antipathies, hates,
| grudges and natural affiliations can
be forgotten and cast aside in a mo-
ment to do the thing that seems ex-
pedient from a party standpoint, or
from considerations of what is best
for the WigWam. Leaders from other
states have learned this to their sor-
row in many national conventions
when they have found that Tam
many plays the game" on the
theory that candidates may come
and candidates may go, the vital
issues may be these n year and
those the next. but Tammany goes
on forever and with it the only vital
issue Is the one that may spell sue
cess. Politically speaking, h New
York Democratic organisation Is
what one might term hard boiled"
it delivers the goods and 1t expects
those with whom 1t deals to do the
same.
Sentiment Back OF Smith
This time, however, there will be
no lack of sentiment in Tammany's
presentation and support of Cover
nor Smith. AS has been said, he Is
the organizations candidate in every
sense. He is n of the braves and
he commands a loyalty among the
rank and file that is almost ideia-
treus. He is one of their kind from
the ground up. AS one OF the dis
trict leaders who was recently in
Washington put it, "Al is the kind of
a guy you can go to hell for and like
Wherefore it is to be expected that
Fammany will descend upon the next
| na-aaa-,Afo Ryatgn~oI GnnuAnfiaV
with unprecedented enthusiasm and
determination. In 1904 the organ
ization supported Judge Alton B,
Parker and the gentleman from
Esopus was nominated, but he Was
not really a Tammany candidate and
there was an impression at the st
Louis convention that it was not sc
much q fight fer Parker as a strug-
gle to Wrest control of the party
from william Jennings Bryan. Be
sides, there was little expectation
that the Democrats would be able te
defeat Roosevelt that year and 1t wal
a difficult matter to generate enthu'
siasm that was not largely perfume
tory.
In 1908 Bryan swung back tntt
power and gleated over his defea
of the New York bosses and thell
machine. In 1912 Woodrow Wilson
was nominated in spite or n New
York organization, although tn
vote from that state was the decla
ing factor on the final roll call. A
? San francisco in 1890 1t did not ap
pear that Tammany was vitality IN
terested in the fight for the nemlna
ton, possibly again due to a eonvic
: ton that 1t was not a good year 10
Democrats to get excited and al
het up"
But the situation is different now
The Tammany braves believe Ine'
: can put on their war bonnets an
their war paint and beat their wa
drums with a reasonable expecIatiol
of putting ove their candidate with
in the party and then electlng MN
p If that does not bring out all tn
: enthusiasm and all the fighting spari
that there Is in Tammany then tner
10 nothing that can.
Weaknesses in Smith Candidacy,
That there are weaknesses In IN
r Smith candidacy is not to be gain
said. The very fact that he 10
: TaIGmany candidate will handica
him m appeals to Democrats Q
> many states. William Jennings BFya.
s doubtless would lay himself dow
and die rather than see such q can
q didate carry off the nomination. al
Boss Murphy and hts aides kno'
what +. il to have RExaP capnosns o