Evening star., 1925-04-29
Politics at Large
BY n. O. MESSENGER.

discussing in q deSultory faShlon
Democratic policies and reorganization
of the party, a situation has suddeniy
crystallized in New York pontlcs
which Is giving them something real
to worry about. The impending con-
test over the mayoralty nomination
in New York City has become acute
involving Gov. Smith and his future
political prospects. Also involved is
the possibility of the Democrats
losing the mayoralty in the election
next Fall and in consequence weaken
ing their hold upon the State In fu-
ture elections.
The trouble commenced about
week ago when word was passed
around that doubt was being enter
tanned in some circles in Tammany
Hall over the desirability of renomi-
mating Mayor Hylan. This doubt was
emphasized when it became known
that Gov. Smith had reached the con-
clusion that Mayor Hylan should not
be renominated. He had no particu-
lar man in view as a candidate for
mayor, but he plainly signif1ed to his
followers that he considered Mr.. Hylan
undesirable. Leader Olvany OF Tam
many was described as inclined to
share Gov. Smiths opinion as to the
undesirability OF renominating Mr..
Hylan.
= x
AT this point. William r. Hearst,
the mayors stanch friend and sup
porter. entered the lists in defense Of
the mayor. Returning from Cali
fornia, he issued a signed statement
not only reiterating his support Of
Mayor Hylan's candidacy, but going
to the extent Of declaring his willing
ness to support the candidacy of Mr.
Hylan on an independent ticket. if
that snould be necessary. This dec
laration Of Mr.. Hearst caused con-
sternation in Democratic ranks. Mr..
Hearst's statement was accepted in
good faith and his courage to carry
IL out was unQuestioned.
Gov. Smith. however, was repre-
sented as being unmoved in his oppo-
sition to Mayor Hylan and announced
his intention of coming down to New
York City from Albany some day this
week and personally experimenting
his drive against the mayor
Last Monday a spokesman for Mr..
Hearst and Mayor Hylan announced
his disbelief in Gov. Smiths carving
on the fight against the mayors re-
nomination. and predicted that the
governor would find it eXpedient to
drop it like hot potato. This spokes-
man said that the governors own po-
litlcal future would be threatened il
his opposition to Mayor Hylans nomi-
nation should lead. as threatened by
Mr.. Hearst, to the mayor running on
an independent ticket and thereby
possibly costing the loss Of the mayor
alty to the Democratic party and the
election Of a coalition candidate
He said that such an outcome would
damage Gov. Smiths prestige and mil
itate against his possible candidacy
for reelection AS governor or for the
United States senatorship. and effec-
tually put an end to any hope the gov
ernor may entertain for the Demo
cratic presidential nomination in 1928.
The conferences between Gov. Smith
and Tammany leaders this week are
expected TO decide the question
whether Mayor Hylan is TO have the
solid support of Tammany and
Brooklyn leaders or whether the
mayor is to run, as suggested by Mr..
Hearst, as an Independent candidate.
y X s
The threat was made by some of
the mayors supporters that If Gov.
Smith persists in his opposition to
the mayor, he can count upon Mr..
Hearst not only lending the support
of his newspapers TO Mr.. Hylan in
his candidacy, but to finance the cam
paign as we'll. and that thereafter
Gov. Smith in every move he makes
politically can count upon the oppo-
sition OF Mr.. Hearst.
The friends of Mayor Hylan argue
that should he have to run on an indie
pendent ticket and be elected Gov.
Smiths prestige will be damaged as
badly as II the mayor should be de-
feated. Mr.. Hylan will insist that an
Independent candidacy was not of his
own choosing. and that he still is as
loyal a Democrat as any Cne in the
organization. Gov. Smith, they con-
tend, would have to quit politics
thereafter. and Mr.. Hearst and the
mayor are reported as agreeing that
this is a contingency which the gov
ernor will not be willing to face, and
that is why they think that he will
drop the matter very shortly.
Mr.. Hearst is represented as say
ing that he has no political ambitions
of his own and is not looking TO ms
own possible candidacy for the Demo
cratic nomination in 1928, but is ac-
tuated solely by his interest in Mayor
Hylan's political fortunes. The
spokesman who stood sponsor for the
utterance emphasized Mr.. Hearst's in
tent to go the limit in supplying finan-
cial assistance to the mayors candi-
dacy.
:: :; !: =
Gov Smiths friends do not put
much faith in Mr.. Hearst'S declara-
ton that he is disinterested person
ally in his support of Mayor Hylan,
but think that he is using Mayor Hy-
Ian as merely pawn in Mr.. Hearst S
perpetual presidential chess game,
and that his threat to support Mr..
@fnly Sc
his opening move on the board. The
statement is current that Gov. Smith
and his friends are not underestimate
ing the power of the Hearst bankroll
and they are represented as expect
ing free spending Of some of the
Hearst millions in the next few days.
Mr.. Hearst's renewed activity in
Democratic politics is interesting
Democrats generally in New York
State. His friendship for Mayor Hy-
Ian is nothing new, of course, as he
has been a consistent supporter and
booster of that gentleman. He is in
teresting himself in national Demo
cratic politics as shown by voluntary
public statements he has made. Re
Gently he expressed the opinion that
the chances for a Democratic Con-
gress in 1926 depend entirely upon the
policies of the Democrats in the Con-
gress of 1925 and based on that he
did not think the chances for a Demo
! cratic Congress in 1925 are very good.
X X X X
Mr.. Hearst in a public statement,
declared that to-day the Democratic
party is in an ecstatic state of altru-
istic exaltation over foreign peoples,
and is intent on abandoning the poll
| cies of Washington, jefferson, Monroe
Jackson and Cleveland in order to fol-
| low the will-o' -the-wisp of Wilson's
| into tho dao6lxr yoooracS nf T.,