Evening star., 1932-05-22
BY GEORGE VAN SLYKE.

ueHLlhl TlVhlT1eS nATrOW GOWN IN the
last lap of the race leading into the
Chicago conventions, less than one
month hence, President Hoover goes
forward In q one-man contest and Gov.
Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York
the struggling field of favorite sons,
leaving a long gap between him and
mis- leading contender.
Presidential politics dominated all &C
tivities in Congress and the wide range
of State contests in one of the heaviest
weeks of the entire pre-convention
campaign. Little Of partisan advantage
has been gained by either side in the
backing and filling in Congress, where
the Democrats and Republicans appear
chiefly concerned about their personal
and local political standing, Prohibi-
ton still pushes into the foreground as
the one troublesome problem ahead for
the Republicans.
Gov. Roosevelt has resumed his for
ward push, having added eight dele
gate units to his already impressive
total during the week and approached
closely the coveted majority needed to
organize the national convention and
take over control OF the party next
month. Unless there Is an unforeseen
upset, the Roosevelt forces expect to
pass the majority mark next week and
then will strike out in determined
effort to make sure Of $50 votes, which
they set as their minimum ON the first
ballot.
The chock which Al Smith slipped
under the wheels of the Roosevelt
bandwagon was not big enough to hold.
It has splintered and the bandwagon
has started of again. Roosevelt picked
up more than 100 delegates during the
week. Smith added Connecticut'S 16
to his list, but lost 16 claimed in Penn
Sylvania when the Roosevelt forces took
control Of the State organization at
stormy session in Harrisburg on Tues
day.
The Roosevelt managers now claim
they are assured of 66 votes from Penn
sylvania, which was their goal from the
start Of the contest. II they control
the machinery Of the national conven-
ton, there is little doubt the contested
seats will go to their delegates. With
that gain, their count, as recorded IN
the New York headquarters, credits the
Governor with All votes as the week
ends.
That does not include New York
delegates, where the minimum claim
Of the Roosevelt forces puts down 36
upstate representatives as safe for the
Governor, regardless Of his relations
with Tammany. Nor does the All in
cfude the so from Louisiana. Arkansas,
Porto Rico and the Philippines, which
are claimed as pledged, but not in
structed. Their actual paper count,
without being too cautious, Is given by
the Roosevelt managers at 557, only 20
short Of q majority.
One Of the chief objectives now set
by the Roosevelt managers in the clos
ing days of their campaign Is to make
safe the nomination of the New York
Governor without the aid of Tammany
Hall. II is now their belief that they
can win without Tammany; they will
drive harder than ever during the next
three weeks to gather in delegates
wherever possible, so that in the event
Of q close contest at the finish Tam
many will not have a veto power.
Two vital considerations dictate this
policy. One Is that his managers be-
leve Gov Roosevelt will be much
stronger candidate in the Nation II ne
can be nominated without going TO
Tammany for support. The history of
the democracy is that Democratic can
didates who have been opposed by
Tammany have won; Democrats back
ed by Tanlmany almost invariably have
lost. The great mass Of Roosevelt sup
porters from the West and South look
with disfsvor on Tammany; they would
give more enthusiastic support to the
New Yorker II he could win without
the New York City machine support.
The other reason for earnestly desir-
ing that end Is that Roosevelt and his
friends foresee the probability Of clash
with Tammany over Mayor Walkers
removal from office. at almost the mo-
ment the nomination Is being made.
The situation is shaping up to that
climax. The Seabury investigation OF
the Walker administration centers now
on the oficial conduct Of the mayor
and the financial affairs Of his closest
personal and political friends.
On all sides the prediction is made
in New York that Judge Seabury will
call on Gov. Roosevelt to remove Mayor
Walker. The mayor does not appear at
all disturbed by the prospect. Tam
situation and may not battle TO keep
If the case develops as is now fore
cast, the Governor may face an ex-
ceedingly unpleasant situation. II he
were to remove the mayor on the eve
of the national convention he would
be accused Of making a grandstand play
as a bid for popular favor In Nation
antagonistic to Tammany. If he were
to hesitate in the face of stubborn
facts or to refuse to remove Walker In
the event Of q strong case being pre-
sented, he would be charged with
to Tammany to get its vote in
the convention. His managers and
friends see that as an imminent dan
ger, should 1t come to pass that the
Governor were convinced the mayor
should not be thrown out Of offlce.
y y
Therefore, II becomes douhly impor-
tant that Roosevelt win that nomina-
ton, If possible, without any dealing