Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-02
SMITH TO Be URGED
I TO HEAD TAMMANY
Former Governor Indicates
He Favors Outsider as
WigWam Chief.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

cussed the Tammany Hall Leadership
situation for an hour yesterday at tn
Seaview Golf Club, at Absecon. wher
Mr.. Smith and his family are sojourn
Ing. Commissioner Cosgrove met tn
former governor by appointment.
The dock commissioner was under
stood to be acting as contact officer TO
Senator Wagner and Surrogate Jane
"A. Foley, with both of whom it wa
SAID, he had communicated before see
ing Mr.. Smith. Commissioner Cosgroy,
informed the former governor of tn,
latest developments in the leadershi,
situation as it stood among the Tam.
many district leaders, and tentative ar
rangements were made for a meetint
OF the Big Four including Messrs
smith. Wagner and Foley and Mayo
walker, soon after the former Cover
nors return to New York next Sunday
Expects Visit From Wagner.
Mr.. Smith told the commissioner tina
ne would not be prepared to make an,
concrete suggestions as to the leader
snip until he had seen and talked il
person with Senator Wagner. Surro
gaze Foley and the mayor. The formeI
governor said, after Mr.. Cosgrove had
Ieit mat he expected to see Senator
wagner here before he returned to New
YORK, put that no definite day was We
llxed Tor their conference. The othe
conferences probably will await Mr.
ohIitnS return to New York next week
foLo"lng conference of the bis
!oul' IL was said, they would arranp,
W meet the Tammany committee 81
seven which was appointed to receiy,
tleif suggestions, as soon as possible
PopaDIy toward the end of next week
Little nope was held out by Mr.
Sniitn tnat the successor to George w
ClVahey, who asked to be retired b,
April 10, would be decided upon at thu
iIrst meeting of the Big Four with the
Aarhlnany committee. It was pointed
OUT tnat the situation demanded care.
iul oeliberation and that it was mos
important to obtain a new leader who
would maintain peace in Tammany
nan and unite all factions for the
Dattie IN the coming New York munich.
PAL election. For that reason, It was
SAID, the solution of the problem might
move slowly and perhaps take scyera,
weeks. :"
Slight Chance for District Head.
While Mr.. Smith and Commissione,
Cosgrove both declined to discuss de.
talLs OF their conference. it was learned
neither of them felt, as the situatior
now stands. that matters could be
satisfactorily adjusted by the selection
OF one Of the district leaders to sic.
coed MIR. Olvany. 1t was indicates
that the discussion resolved itself more
around the selection of a leader out.
slde the membership of the Tammany
nan executive committee and as to who
would be available for the place. The
former governor had no one in minc
TO suggest at this time, 1t was said.
Friends of Commissioner Cosgroyt
here suggested him as q comprOmist
candidate among the district leaders
Inc commissioner denied, however
that he had any aspirations in tina,
direction and said that he was entirely
willing to abide by the Recommended.
lions OF the Big Four He believed. HI
said that if a district leader was moi
CHOSEN, the selection should be limited
to one of the three members of Tho
Big Four, Smith, Foley or Wagner, Il
is understood that he and other oroan.
!Zatlon leaders have not vet given III
hope Of persuading one of these three
men to take the post.
THAT would be q wonderful solu.
tion." said the commissioner. ANY one
of those three men would make :
splendid leader and do high honor tC
Tammany Hail."
May Urge Job on Smith.
While 1t was said that no encourage.
ment had been given to the commits.
sloner or any other leaders that Mr.
smith would consider coming forward
10 save the situation, it Is believed that
some OF the most influential men in
4ammany are ready to make such ar
appeal to the former governor. Some
OF the leaders, 1t was said, expect the
SITUATION TO become SO acute, as the
result OF the contemplated conferences
ana lack OF agreement, that all parties
concerned will turn to the former gov.
ernor as the Moses to lead them out oil
the wilderness. So far he has said that
ne would not consider the leadership
under any circumstances.
IL Is expected that this possible de.
Velopment may be the subject of dis.
cussion between Mr.. Smith and Sen.
ator Wagner the first time they meet
Senator Wagner, it is known, is not a
candidate for the leadership of his own
free will, and would find either one OF
his associates most acceptable as far as
he is concerned II they would take the
job.
Both Mr.. Smith and Senator Wagner
1t YVES learned, are still working on
Foley in the hope of break
ing his resolve against being drafted
He is the one man, in the present situ-
alton, 1t was asserted, who could satisfy
all the interested parties. 1t is under
stood, however, that members of the
Surfogate'S family are strongly opposed
to his leaving the bench.
Walkers Friends Concerned.
The possibility of former Gov. Smith
ultimately fitting into the leadership
niche or the selection of an outsider
who virtually would be This man" Is
causing some concern to friends of May
or Walker here. Under a Smith regime
they fear, there may be new deal
not only in the Tammany Hall organ
ization, but in the Democratic slate
for the city ticket In the coming
election. The mayors friends
it was said, would hardly feel any more
certain of Mr.. Walkers denomination
with either Surrogate Foley or Senator
Wagner as chieftain of the wigwam
With man who was particularly close
to former Gov. Smith in the leaders
chair provided he did not sit there
the denomination of Walker
was said to be doubtful.
Leaders of the new Tammany," who
include Mr.. Smiths particular friends
have told Mayor Walkers supporters
that they are much disappointed In
the mayors record in Office. It is I'M
derstood that the Democratic leaders
In some of the other four counties in
New York City share the same opinion
and are anxious to offer another may
orally candidate, from Brooklyn or the
Brnux.