Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-29
An Uncomfortable Seat.

uneasy S1JS IIlc NIONSLllOl VI o SACoN
State II he aspires to the presidency
OF the United States. He is under sur
veillance of the political opposition
constantly. His every act is observed
and weighed in the balance by the
members Of his own party. to deter
mine whether he has helped or hurt
himself in the eyes not only of the
voters of his own State but Of the
voters Of the entire country. The Gov
ernor of New York, when he happens
to be a Democrat and also an aSpirant
for the presidential nomination, occu-
pies a peculiar position in this respect.
Tammany, which controls New York
City, where the great bulk OF the
Democratic vote in the State Is con-
centrated, may or may not behave"
II the Republicans are to be credited,
Tammany never behaves as it should.
But if the dominating political organ
ization of the Democratic party in
New York is under fire, then the Gov
ernor of New York is placed in a posi-
ton where he must suffer with Tam
many or must suffer without it. This,
in a measure, is the year Of trial for
Gov Franklin D. Roosevelt. Much de-
ponds upon what is turned up by
the legislative committee investigating
the government of New York City, and
upon the attitude assumed by the Gov
ernor.
So far Gov. Roosevelt appears to have
hidden successfully the several waves
which have rolled up against the New
York Democratic organization. In his
campaign last year he was assailed be-
cause he did not throw wide open the
inquiry into the conduct Of judges and
magistrates in New York City. But
he was reelected by q huge vote. More
recently came the demand for the re-
moval Of Mayor Jimmie" Walker by
the City Affairs Committee. a demand
to which Gov. Roosevelt refused to &C
cede, after he had given Mayor Walker
opportunity to reply to the charges.
Within few days has come demand
for the removal Of an official, Joseph
A. Broderick, superintendent of banks.
w. Kingsland Macy, chairman of the
Republican State Committee, made the
demand, basing it on a charge that
Frederick had failed to observe the
State banking law and to act promptly
States.
Gov. Roosevelt, replying to Mr.. Macy,
called attention to the fact that Mr.
Macy's letter asking the removal Of Mr.
tionery Of the Republican State Com
mittee. The implication which the
Governor apparently sought to make
was that the demand was merely q
political move on the part of his OPP
ponentS. He did not say, however, that he
assumed Mr.. Macy was writing as an
individual and not as State chairman
OF the Republican committee. Having
gone that far, the Governor refused to
remove Broderick.
Mr.. Macy has followed up his first
letter with another, attacking Gov.
Roosevelt for his "fippancy" Mr.. Macy
insists that In the case of bank fail
ure, affecting 100000 depositors, it is no
time to be fippant or to talk about the
stationery upon which a letter is writ
ten, If an official of the State govern
ment has failed to protect these deposi-
tors by observing the law. Mr.. Macys
second letter was written on his per-
Sonal stationery. He complains, too, of
the curt refusal of the Governor to act
In this matter, and urges him to look
further into the charges made against
Broderick.
And so it goes, and will continue to
60 until the national campaign and the
gllbernatorial election in New York are
over next year. The city government of
New York Is under investigation now by
q legislative committee, an investiga-
ton that Is likely to run through many
months. There is in the offing a pro-
posal that the banking department,
headed by Broderick. +. investigated,
too Broderick is an Appointee of Gov.
Roosevelt. Perhaps the opposition is
reserving that inquiry until next year.
Such is the friendly wy in which the
great game OF politics is played.