Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-30
BY GEORGE VAN sLYKE.


lin d. Roosevelt's candidacy for the
Democratic nomination for President
has been projected against the political
screen in sharp outline this week as a
result of situation developed within
his party in a special session of the
New York Legislature In Albany.
The Governor has never openly avowed
his White House ambition, although
credited with being In the lead for the
nomination. and his friends and adj
nirers are hard at work in all sections
Of the country forming Roosevelt-for-
President clubs. Presumably the great
activity on his behalf is going on with
his knowledge and approval.
In spite of his persistent silence, his
potential candidacy has been an over
shadowfng factor in a tense political
drama enacted during the last few days
in the New York capital Relations
between the Governor and Tammany
Hall the metropolitan organization.
were strained almost to the breaking
point and his position was subjected to
a test which served to shove presiden-
tial politics into the foreground.
$50
Tammany has been a national issue
in the Democratic party since the Civil
War. In the West and South, the name
Is anathema to the Democrats 1t
has become an axiom in the party that
New York Governor cannot hope to
win the presidency with Tammany
backing. Tilden fought Tammany and
won the nomination; many Democrats
was counted out. Cleveland fought
Tammany when Governor and won
John W. Davis and Alfred E. Smith
had Tammany support and lost
Across the river in the neighboring
State of New Jersey. Woodrow Wilson
was opposed by Tammany for the nomi-
nation and had lukewarm support in
the election and won.
How Gov Roosevelt II 70 deal with
Tammany Hall If he seeks the nomina-
ton perplexes many State leaders
Some OF his hackers Wish 10 see an
open break and insist it would strength
en- him in the Nation. He has been
credited with seeking to spread for ma
tional consumption a belief that he
was hostile to Tammany. while at home
keeping at least q semblance Of friendly
relations with the State organization
That may be unfair to the Governor
of the Empire State. but it Is the topic
of open debate and dissention In the
party. He has shown repeatedly his
independence Of Tammany.
y ~
The fiare-up which came unexpected
ly In the special legislative session now
meeting touched precisely that point
The Governor last Spring approved the
creation Of a Legislative COMMITTEES.
voted by the Republicans, to inyesti-
gate the TammanyWalker administra-
ton of New York City. That committee,
under the guidance Of Judge Samuel
Seabury. ancient foe Of Tammany, has
been giving the Democratic leaders Of
New York anxious and unhappy hours.
Every nook and corner In the city gov
eminent Is being cleaned out.
Then the Legislature was called back
into special session by the Governor
for the express purpose Of giving the
Seabury committee broad and sweeping
power Of granting immunity to wit
nesses as an added weapon to prod
Tammany Embittered and fighting
with its back to the wall, Tammany
turned on the Governor and shaped
an issue to force a showdown. The
New York leaders insisted that Mr..
Roosevelt stand sponsor for their de-
mand that the Legislature inaugurate
another sweeping investigation Of up
State cities and counties all Republican
strongholds. where they insist corrup-
ton Is worse than In New York City.
-
The politics back of this move is quite
simple The Republican majority in
the Legislature is expected to reject the
resolution for the upstate investigation.
Tammany then can raise the cry that
the attack on the metropolis is a Re-
publican "nshing expedition" intended
solely for political purposes.
The Governor finally yielded to the
AaraanH and sent In snaFfal
message asking the Legislature to pro-
vide for the upstate inquiry. The stu
alton was tense for nearly the entire
week. The Democratic leaders, with
the strcng backing of the State organ
ization, explained that they sought to
find out whether Mr.. Roosevelt was
sponsoring the New York inquiry for
purposes of national politics or was
interested equally in an investigation OF
alleged corruption elsewhere than IN
New York Running through all the
deliberations in their conferences the
Democrats stressed the question Of sup
porting Roosevelt for President.
- IS
There still appears to remain doubt
In the minds OF the New York Demo-
cratic leaders as to whether or not Mr.
Roosevelt is certain OF the united sup
port Of his own State II he enters the
convention as q candidate Many OF his
advisers believe he will be 50 far In the
lead that New York will have to fall in
line, whatever its secret grudges.
The development at the State capital
this week has emphasized that Demo
cratic national politics for the time
being center in New York rather than
In Washington, as on the Republican
side
Mr.. Roosevelt is much in the public
eye as the outstanding candidate,
Alfred E. Smith, nominal head OF the
party by reason of having been its last
nominee for President: John j. Raskob,
national chairman, who will run the
party machinery and carry the party
debt until the convention meets; Owen
.. Young. potential candidate with
many enthusiastic supporters and Tam