Evening star., 1932-10-09
SMITH TO BE FACTOR IN FIGHT
BETWEEN DONOVAN AND LEHMAN
"Happy Warrior Hasn't For
gotten Opposition Four
Years Ago.
Ex-Governor Expected to
Battle Hard for
Democrats.
BY CHARLES H. ARMITAGE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BUFFALO, N. Y, October 8.-Polit-
ical battle lines were drawn in New
York State this week by the Republican
and Democratic State conventions,
which named rival tickets headed by
Col. William ]. Donovan and Lieut..
Gov. Herbert H. Lehman. Donovan's
nomination was brought about with
comparative ease. Lehman had TO
fight down to few minutes before the
conventions closing session. when q
stubborn opposition struck its flag.
Col. Donovan was not the first choice
of the Republican State leaders. Their
preference was for State Senator
George r. Fearon of Syracuse, Republi-
can floor leader in the Senate. Fearon
would have been nominated had it not
been for the fighting tactics adopted
by Wild Bill' Donovan. Backed by an
enthusiastic group of the younger ele-
ment, mostly Legionnaires, he jumped
into the field and began battle all
along the line in defiance Of the plan
Of State Chairman w. Kingsland Macy
which was to soft-pedal all booms until
the leaders in conference could sort
The Donovan boom upset this plan.
Gaining strength daily as Col Donovan
sped through the State, it quickly
reached such proportions that Chair
man Macy and other leaders accepted
him as the candidate a week and more
before the convention at Buffalo.
Lehman Opposed.
The Democratic convention In
Albany developed q much greater
measure of bitterness. Gov. Roosevelt's
known choice as his successor was
Lieut.. Gov. Lehman. Tammany Hall,
under the leadership Of John F. Curry,
pursued the same anti-Roosevelt tactics
that lined up the Wigwam against him
at Chicago. Refusing to indOrse Leh-
man, the Tammany machine struck
hands with the Albany County machine,
dominated by the Brothers OConnell,
Daniel P. and Edward j., who thrust
Mayor John Boyd Thacher into the field.
Through three days of prolonged con-
ferences the Curry-O'C 'Connell alliance
sought to break the lines Of Lieut.. Gov.
LehmanS supporters.
Leading these supporters was no less
warrior than former Gov. Alfred E.
Smith, who, four years ago, induced
Lehman to forsake private life and be-
come the candidate for lieutenant gov
ernor on the Roosevelt ticket. In the
convention at Albany, he fought for his
promotion to the head of the ticket,
eventually taking the platform to place
him in nomination. Gov. Roosevelt sat
within arms length of him on the
stage
That the two shook hands at this
hat Frct civ
Chicago convention has been spread
far and wide through the medium of
pictures snapped as they faced each
other Beyond this simple act of cour-
tesy, Gov. Smith gave no indication of
interest in the national ticket. Arriv-
ing in Albany Saturday, he made no
courtesy call at the executive mansion
To newspaper men who asked him II
he intended to campaign for Roosevelt
and Garner his answer was that he
had nothing to say.
Smith to Fight Donovan.
The Donovan ticket will strengthen
the Hoover candidacy In New York.
Despite the fact that Gov. Smith may
be counted on to oppose him vigorously,
it is certain that he will draw many
Irish Catholic votes from Lehman.
For four years Smith has nursed bit
terness against Donovan. whom he
holds went far out of his way to sup
port Hoover and oppose Smith in 1928.
There was a time early in the first
Roosevelt administration when the Gov
ernor wanted to name Col. Donovan to
q SIS, 900 berth on the Public Service
Commission, hoping to capitalize Col.
Donovan's disappointment at not being
named in President Hoover's cabinet.
But Smiths opposition to the proposal
was vigorous and successful.
On the other hand, Of course, Leh-
man will attract Jewish Republican
votes, upstate and in New York City.
That Col. Donovan will profit by the
shift is the belief of political observers.
Gov. Roosevelt faces smoldering op-
position in Tammany Hall, chiefly from
the friends of former Mayor Jimmy
Walker, who saved himself from custer
at the Governors hands only by hasty
resignation. II the unemployment sit
uation could be left out Of the picture,
Col. Donovan's chances Of election
would be bright. despite the fact that,