New Britain herald., 1929-04-24
TAMMANY PLAYED
 FOR CURRY CHOICE
(Continued from First Page)

last of which ended in the defeat of MT. Smith for president last fall" The World says:
 At least for the moment. Al Smith has been repudated by the organization whose reputation he furnished almost single -handedly. i Mayor Walker rules the roost and Tammany. suffering from a bad case ot over-confidence. is about to see what it can do without the service Of 'reformers,' interlopers. high hatters' and outsiders
 If the republican party gives us man of real stature and demon- strated ability. we shall be glad to give him all the support we can mus ter in the next (mayoralty) election. No other course seems possible for the independent press. confronted as
 it is by Tammany's snug -self-confl- dence, it's repudiation of it's own most trusted son. and it's brazcn willingness to override the interest of the city"
 The World has been urging Smith for mayor. The Times and the World supported Smith for presi- dent. His vote in New York county, Tammany's stronghold, was dsap- pointing to his friends.
 Curry Is Smiths Foe
 Curry is credited by the papers u.;th hny irn fro y,k if, hjS y-{oU against Smith in recent years. One paper says the governor refused to appoint him state superintendent of insurance.
 The district leaders have reward ed their most valiant champion. Curry's battle in 1925 to prevent the leadership passing into the hands of Olvany was one of the fercest in the history of Tammany Hall. In one of his letters he remarked:
 Don't waste time selecting as an- other stop gap, man who can quail fly for membership in the K. K. k.'
 The reference to the klan was bas- ed on rumors that Olvany. who is a Roman Catholic, had grandfather who had been an Irish Presbyterian.
 Beaten in his fight on Olvany. Cur ry accepted him. and so strong was his organization allegiance that. al- though he had been an active sup porter of former Mayor Hylan, when Tammany Hall declared for Walker, he forsook the Hylan camp and backed the Tammany candidate in the last mayoralty election.
 Curry $ known as an excellent mixer. He neither smokes nor drinks nor uses profane language. Hls attacks on his enemies are fercest fact, he became known as letter writer" the term beirg used as one of reproach.
 Began Career as Clerk
 He is 55 years old and won his district leadership at the age of ?9 by leading an uprising against the old district leader.
 Curry began his political career as clerk in the city paymaster's office in 1s99 He served two terms in the legislature. His present posi- ton is commissioner of records.
 Curry was born in Arragnatra in County Fermangh. Ireland. and l came to New York when a boy. He | herded his fathers cattle in what IS l now his district, the West Side of | he Roaring Forties.'
 His career before he entered polt- ics included service as messenger 0oy. telegraph operator and book <eeper. He has five children. Ee s in the insurance business and is 'egarded as wealthy though living n modest residence in his district.
 Thomas Assails Tammany
 The new TammAny. especially as { is illustrated by the election of Curry as leader. was assailed by Norman Thomas. socialist leader.
 "The mask is off Tammany Hall" le said in a speech last night, the