San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-27
MURPHY SLOSS
/. IS A BIC BLOW
TO DEMOCRATS
Means Loss Of Great lnflu-
ence Inside the Great
Party.
WAS GREAT LEADER
Tammany Leader Was Most
Important Factor in Con-
vention Strategy. ~
WAS GREAT LEADER
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Copyright by The San Antonio Light
Washington, ID. c., April 26.-The
sensation of the hour is the effect that
the death Of Charles +. Murphy, lead
er of Tammany Hall, will have upon
the next Democratic convention in
New York this June and the subse-
quent Campaign. Most of the CONVEX
sation here relates onlyto the influence
of the incident on Governor Al Smiths
chances for the Democratic nomina-
ton. But the sudden elimination of
Charley Murphy means more than
that. It means the loss of great in
fluence inside the party and perhaps
the most important factor in the con-
vention strategy OF every campaign
manager.
, Nearly every Democratic convention
M recent years has depended to no
small extent on what Charlie Murphy
would say and what he would do.
Other leaders were influenced, not
merely by the fact that he controlled
New York states 80 votes in the con-
yention, but by his astuteness and vi
sion. II Murphy thought a certain
obstacle was insurmountable POLITICAL
", others under his influence were
likely TO think the same thing.
#, He Was Leader Of Party.
He, more than any other man in the
barty, was its leader until the Demo-
cratic convention of 1912. After that
Il was Woodrow Wilson versus
Charlie Murphy or the type of organi-
zation politics which he represented.
The effort of Williams Gibbs McAdoo
and his followers to win the presiden-
tial nomination has been simply
continuation of the old fight against
Murphy, against Tammany.
Tammany, however, is as strong In
a convention as its spokesman, George
Brennan of Illinois who succeeded
quickly to the toga of leadership on
the death of Roger Sullivan in Illi-
nois.. is likely to take charge of the
AL Smith boom and the general "or.
ganization" strategy at the coming
convention, but it is not probable that
anyone in Illinois will permanently
take Charlie Murphy's place in the
Democratic party. The position of
democrscy's leader in the Empire
state almost always gives him a place
of vantage in the party as whole.
Cannot Find Leader.
Tammany Hall is a compact organi'
cation, but it cannot overnight furnish
a leader of national influence. 1t
may develop that the absence of
Charlie Murphy will have quite the Op-
posite effect from that which is sup
nosed at first glance. Had he lived, Al
Smith would have been hailed as the
tool of Charlie Murphy's maneuvers.
The delegates from other parts of the
country would have come steeled to re-
sist the Tammany influence. The OBJ
lection would have been made that
the Democratic committee meeting in
New York could not afford TO be yield
ing to the dictation Of Charlie Murphy.
Now all is changed. Tammany's pow
er will not be any more of a factor
than the same number OF votes from
pther states.
/ But in the tactics Of the convention
will Charlie Murphy be missed. he
knew just when TO throw his influ-
ence to a candidate. He knew how 10
! persuade others TO break in his direc-
fion. He was powerful because he
had political sagacity. And he also
ruled New York states politics On the
Democratic side.
Controlled state Nominations.
- No anti.Tammany movement was
/ yer Uu1llclenuy strong 10 OSerlhtoW
him. He controlled the nomination Of
state, county Npd New York City Of
hcials. TamA Ny is today in great
Ter danger of id Vt by fate than it ever
HAS been. Unlesi il can find at once
- man Of convincing personality TO
dominate the affairs Of the Democratic
party in New York state it may find
itself in the same situation as the Re-
.,,.hf,rsu nroan;zatiop Hid In pennsvl-
A number Of leaders arose and no
one became dominant. An era of con-
fusion in party councils and friction
resulted, and Pinchot, an anthem
rose man, became governor. In the
next Republican national convention
there will be no Penrose. So in the
Democratic national committee this