The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-07
TAMMANY TACTICS


 The influence of Tammany has made itself felt in the convention at New York in a manner that quite justifies any pre- vious misgiving that may have been felt throughout Democracy when that city was selected for the assembly. It is quite apparent that Tammany forces have made use of means undignified to say the least to cast reproach upon all opponents of Smith. It is also quite ap- parent that the Smith onslaught and the manifestations of prejudice and unfair ness evinced by his local following and the packed galleries have defeated their obvious purpose, and have strengthened rather than weakened the position of other candidates.
 Indeed, it is quite likely that the con- vention choice would have been promptly made and that the party harmony would have been unmarred by factional differ ences if some other city had entertained the delegations. It may very well be that the McAdoo forces, for example, would have risen to their full strength early in the voting. If this strength should have proved insufficient, then 1t is likely that the various others of lesser initial strength would have been tried, one by one, until a nomination was ef- fected. In that case MT. Underwood's chances for the nomination would have greatly improved.
 As it is, the chief factor has been the evident effort of Tammany bossism, wet sentiment and New York egotism to sin gle out McAdoo and smash him, and then turn and eliminate the others, one by one, until the Smith forces had ganged their way to the coveted majority. Against this effort the McAdoo forces stiffened into an immovable stability that the Tammany onslaught has been unable to shake. Those delegations not particu- larly friendly.-to McAdoo, have never theless refused to lend themselves to gangster tactics to defeat him, and have steadfastly adhered to their favorite sons rather than give countenance to strong arm methods. Whereas, had there been no such methods, there would probably have been, agreement and nomination early in the session.
 At present, Mir. McAdoo stands out prominently as the one candidate having the greatest original support. If Tam many tactics had not been openly em- ployed to eliminate him, perhaps he could gracefully have given way to some other aspirant, when the voting showed that his strength was not sufficient. But both MT. McAdoo and the other candi- dates felt instinctively that the Tam many purpose was one of forced elimina- tion of all the other candidates, one aft-' CT the other. Therefore, in feeling of mutual self-defense they have deter minedly resisted; if not actually joining forces, they have at least turned to face a common adversary.
 It is hoped that the day of reflection and discussion has clarified the minds of the delegates and enabled them to per rceive more clearly than before the right course to follow in order to insure the party's success in November. For time the fever of contest has somewhat ob- scured the larger view of the party and the national welfare. There is fervent hope throughout the ranks of Democracy that today's balloting will be done with both wisdom and dispatch, and that ere another sun shall rise the convention shall have entrusted the party standard to a leader capable of bearing it on to victory.