Evening star., 1925-11-22
REPUBLICANS FEAR
TREND IN NEW YORK.
Increasing Power of Al Smith
Causes Opponents to Worry
Over Future.
BY ROBERT T. SMALL.


NEW YORK, November 21.%There
are indications in the air that the
Grand Old Party is becoming a bit
worried about the Empire State and Is
setting very earnestly about trying 10
put paddock on the stable before all
it's horses gallop out into the
democracy.
. The G.. O. Z. troubles naturally
center about Greater New YORK. Whlcn
has been showing a disposition to go
more and more "Al Smith" at each
succeeding election. The mayoralty
contest of a little more than fort
night ago, when Jimmie Walker, Tam
many and Al Smith candidate Tor
mayor, poiled so per cent OF all the
votes cast. and left the Republican
opposition staggering about In blino
confusion, apparently has broken the
elephants back and there has oeen
hurry call sent for the old reliable
party surgeons TO hop the ambulance
and see what can be done for the
patient.
In presidential years New York has
been consistently Republican, and be
tween the Grover Cleveland days and
the present time has been Democratic
only once. That was in 1872 when
Woodrow Wilson won the three
tOrnereC nSnt WITH MI. 4 AT diiu wi.
Roosevelt In 1916 New York had
swung back 20 the G.. o. p. and to
Mr.. Hughes. 1t gave Mr.. Harding In
900 and Mr. Coolidge In 1924 such
whaling ma ajorities that any concern
on the part of the Republican leaders
would appear to be premature TO say
the least. But such is not the case
and for two reasons.
Afraid Of Smith.
In the first place, al Smith has
shown such an ability to sway the
voters of the State on such a wide
variety of issues that the G. o. P.
views him and the tremendous vote
he always polls in Greater New York
with no small degree of alarm.
In the second place, New York
shows too much of n disposition to go
Democratic in the off years TO suit
the G.. o. ?. Office seekers, who aim
far below the presidency in their de-
sire to serve their country-at a
proper and continuing emolument.
Senator James W. WadSworth is
up for reelection next year, and
although things are breaking far bet
ter for him than he had a right to
expect little while ago, he still has
found ii necessary to hurry back to
New York from Washington and give
his fellow Republicans few words
of rather pertinent and sound advice.
The break" in favor Of Mr.. Wads-
worth is the determination Of Al
Smith not to make the race for the
Senate against him. The governor
has said he doesn't want to run for
any office again. But even his closest
friends take a pinch Of salt when they
hear the old war horse talking In that
manner. These friends want "Al' 10
take fourth term as governor. They
say it is his for the asking. 'Al'
says II is too difficult to satisfy a
425 900 year disposition on a $4,000
salary-and expenses.
Wants Opposition Ended.
AS for Senator Wadsworth. he ap-
pears to be of the opinion that it is
tust as well for the G. o. P. to LAY
OFF" Al Smith at the coming session
Of the legislature. which is in Re
publican hands. He has advised his
fellow Republicans to see that all
Of the constitutional amendments
carried by AL Smith in the election
this year are put into effect early
through proper legislation. He wants
obstruction to Al Smiths policies to
cease. He says there has been too
much opposition to certain reforms
just because they were advocated by
the Democratic governor. The Legis-
lature tried 20 oppose Gov. Smith at
the last session. The governor ap-
pealed to the people and the pressure
which resulted gave him a notable
victory at Albany. Senator Wads-
worth feels it may not be we'll to
press the governor too hard. He
does not like the reaction which sets
in. Senator Wadsworth, like Gov
Smith, Is a practical man.
The G. o. P. leaders admit they are
frankly shot to pieces so far as the
city of New York Is concerned. There
Is wild clamor for the scalps of the
county leaders, particularly that Of
s. S. koenig, who appears to be bear
ing the brunt OF the awful defeat in
the mayoralty contests, when the Re-
publicans, declining all fusion, ran
straight ticket headed by Frank D.
Waterman. Mr.. Waterman was a
business man. entirely new to the
game OF politics.
Upstate leaders like Senator Wads-
worth are inclined to keep hands off
for the moment on the New York City
scrap, but they are deeply concerned
Just the same. The Republicans are
in a hopeless minority hero In New
York City. They stand for dry"
law, and New Workers. want to be as
wet as the Atlantic Ocean. In off
year elections New York City's vote
sways the elections. In presidential
wears the business men Of the city
vote Republican and the Demo
cratic ma ajority in the city is reduced
10 a degree of impotence.
This situation ought to cause the
Democrats to ponder once more the
question Of what is the matter with