Evening star., 1925-09-07

Al Smith, which is tremendous. were
counted out
big Bill nee Of success 1t
would appear. hes in his oHn per-
sonal strength with the people Of New
York and the Independent Democrats.
or whom there are some, it Is said
and probably enough to Offset the
superiority of Manhattan and the
Bronx in voting strength i'll the com
ing primaries. He has many friends
among the old followers of Woodrow
Wilson. Besides his official jobs, Com
missioner Edwards has made good as
welfare worker he has been a great
friend of the New York City young
sters, an6 active in the Boy Scout
movement. He is president of the
Police Acauemy, serving in that ca
pacity without pay. The police school
teaches the recruit his duties as a
policeman and trains the force so
that they will be worthy Of further
advancement.
Physically. Bill Edwards is a whale
of a man. He has grown bigger with
the passing years. if anything. But
he is as husky and active today as he
was years ago, when he tackled in
foot ball fashion the would-be assassin
OF Mayor Gaynor on the New York
docks. If il had not been for Ed
wards prompt action on that occasion
the mayor might have been shot to
death. AS It was Edwards brought
his man doWn with a diving tackle,
and Gallagher, as he lay on the dock
with Edwards on top of him. ex-
claimed: For Gods sake won't six
or seven of You get off me-
Jonathan Edwards is one Of the
commissioners ancestors. and his first
ancestor in this country was William
Edwa rCis, who settled in Connecticut
in 1910. Mr.. Hearst, in one of his
broadsides directed at Gov. Al Smith,
declared himself an Independent" and
not a Democrat, which isn't helping
the Hylan ticket. to say the least.
democracy. He was president of the
Woodrow Wilson College Mems
League. and is a director Of the Young
Democrats Club OF New York and
president of the National League of
Young Democrats of America, which
has thousands of members. He Is
particularly strong with the members
of the street cleaning department, for
it was largely through his efforts
while he was commissioner that the
pension system for those employees
was established. Altogether. Big
Bill adds a picturesque and unusual
touch to the campaign.
Berry's Record Good.
His opponent, Gen. Berry, has a
good record. too. He served with dis
tinction in the New York National
Guard, and saw service on the MeXi-
can border, and during the World
War went overseas, where he was
ava rded the Belgium CroiX de Guerre
with Palms, was cited for gallantry
~
State Conspicuous Service Cross. He
has served also in civil capacities; as
chairman of the fair price coal COM
mission of New York City and member
of the reconstruction labor board of
the State.
An amusing story, which in no way
reflects on Gen. Berry, but Is a SAM
pie of the repartee of some of New
York's citizen soldiery. is going the
rounds. According to the story, mem-
bers of Gen. Berry's family approach
ed a sentry of one OF the guard camps
in an automobile mad demanded to be
allowed to pass, saying when ques-
toned:
1--WE are the Berrys'
II don't care If you are the cats
whisk ers, you're not going to pass
here" was the quick response OF the
sentry.
One of the most significant things
about the plans for the election day.
a week from tomorrow, are the orders
issued with regard to the police.
Neither side Ia trusting the other.
The first order issued by Police Com
missioner Enright of the mayors
party provided that two uniformed
policemen should be at each polling
place and that their word should be
final in the conduct Of the polling.
Tammany hit the ceiling. Gov. Smith
is expected to issue a proclamation to
fake the crimp out OF this move, how
ever, and call attention to the fact
the supervisors of the polling are
supreme, and leave to the police only
authority to see that order is pre-
served. If there is to be a battle,
Tammany doesn't intend to be out
manuvered if it possibly can pre-
vent it.
Vote Usually Light.
AS a rule in primary elections in
New York, as elsewhere, the vote is
comparatively light. running as low
as IL or 20 per cent of the enrolled
voters. The flerceness of the present
campaign, however, may bring out
so per cent or more of the 500, 900
enrolled Democratic vote But the
FLAT TIRE?
M AIM E00