Evening star., 1925-04-08
Politics at Large
BY N. o. MESSENGER.


upon national political affairs at all
times. IT is a little more intimate
this year than ordinarily, however.
This is true in Republican as well as
Democratic politics. The latest in
stance In the application of this fact
Is In the decision of Senator Wads-
worth of New York reaffirming his
intention to adhere to his intended
candidacy for denomination in the
hope OF reelection to the United
States Senate
: 1t Is generally conceded in political
circles that II, and when, Secretary
of War Weeks should retire from
that office Senator Wadsworth could
have the war portfolio IL he should
prefer to give up the leadership Of
the Republican party in New York
State. The political gossips have had
1t that he might adopt such a course,
but 1t Is announced that he has no
such intention. Political conditions
in New York explaining that decision
are readily understandable. In the
frst place, his retirement from the
senatorship would give Gov. Smith
opportunity to appoint Democrat as
his successor In the Senate. One can
visualize the alacrity with which Gov.
Smith would seize II, and realize. the
CONSERVATION with which the Repub-
lican leaders of the Senate would
view the loss of one Of their most
stalwart conferees.
**** -.
There are other elements in the
Senator Wadsworth views the posi-
ton of United States Senator to be
equal in rank to that OF a member of
the cabinet and in his own personal
case, on account Of his influence in
party affairs, just as important
Moreover, there is another angle to
be taken into account. The whole
country Is watching the prospect or
a titantic contest between two great
figures in public life over the United
States senatorship-Gov. Alfred e
Smith and Senator Wadsworfh.
Should Senator wadsworth drop out
now it might be regarded as retreat
ing under fire or an exhibition OF
fear of engaging in the combat. 1t
would probably be construed as con-
Tossing himself beaten as candidate
for Senator. Senator Wadsworth is
not that kind of man.
r Y
Politicians in New York State in
both parties are said to be looking
forward to the contest between GOV.
Smith and Senator Wadsworth as
battle of giants, with the outcome IN
the laps Of the gods.
This statement should be Qualihed,
however, by saying that there Is no
such feeling of uncertainty among
the Democrats and ardent personal
supporters of Gov. Smith among some
of the independents. There is rea-
lization, however. by neutral observers
that the campaign for the senator
ship will not be on all fours with the
campaign for the late governorship.
In that election the figures showed
that unQuestionably many Republi-
cans voted for Gov. Smith in return
for Democratic votes for President
Coolidge. No such complications are
expected in the next election, which
will be a straight-away fight for the
senatorship between Gov. Smith and
Senator Wadsworth.
= j, < x
II Senator Wadsworth had prefer
red to drop out Of the contest for re-
nomination to the Senate, for what
ever reason assigned. It is realized by
the politicians, IL is said. that the Re-
publicans would find no man in New
York State of caliber sufficient to con-
test with Gov. Smith, but they have
no doubt that Senator Wadsworth
will measu up. They are not yield
ing the victory to Gov. Smith by any
means.
New York Republicans, recovering 6
from the dare in which Gov. Smiths
legislative victories left them after
the adjournment of the Legislature
are now seeking to minimize the
value of his victories, taking the at
titude that oh, they weren't so
much. after all" Charles D. Hilles,
Republican national committeeman
for New York and Senator Wads-
worth's right bower in Republican
leadership in the State, declares that
Gov. Smiths budget cuts and econo-
mics are more apparent than real and
that the governor merely deferred
liabilities that either he or some other
governor would have to shoulder
later He asserts IT to be common
knowledge that the tax cut took
s9, 900, 900 from the State treasury and
that the governor cut his budget by
indirection only. The deferred liza
bilities must be met by the State OF
New York, says Mr.. Hilles, and he
opines there will be several months
of accounting and stock taking. Mr.
Hilles contends that with one excep-
tion there was not major Republic
can platform pledge which was not
carried out-the dry-law enforce
ment bill. He said that even there
Gov. Smith did not influence the Leg
islature in it's failure to pass this
measure, but that it was beaten for
the simple reason that four Republi-
cans representing wet" districts
were opposed to the measure because
their constituents were opposed.
The conference of Democratic ma
tional leaders proposed by Franklin
D. Roosevelt of New York, who was
candidate for Vice President with
James NJ. Cox of Ohio in 1920, is
deemed to be losing favor as the
days wear on and discussion of the
project grows among Democrats. The
opinion seems to be Strengthening
that such conference would be
more likely to disclose the cleavage
in the party than to heal 1T. Another
fear is said to be that the conference
would bring recriminations between
the two factions about the conven-
ton last year and cause intensified
activity on the part of partisans OF
Mr.. McAdoo and Gov. Smith.
1t is recognized by Democratic pol
iticians that there has been increas-
ing apprehension over Tammany
Halls influence in Democratic ma
tiona1 politics for many years past
and that it reached climax in Gov
Smiths candidacy for the presiden-
tial nomination last year. Western
and Southern Democrats have in the
past considered Tammany's efforts In
obtaining power in the national par
ty as largely mercenary. This was
charged to be especially true during
Boss" Murphy's leadership of Tam
many Hall. That organization was
held by the Western and Southern
nemncrafs as heinU mainly ..ont for