Evening star., 1932-02-28
BY GEORGE VAN SLYKE.

NEW. YORK, February 27.-The
STOP Roosevelt" movement apparently
has been halted While awaiting the
outcome of the important March prl-
maries IN three widely separated and
| wholly diverse sections OF the country,
| the combined effort to head off the
New York Governor in the race for
the Democratic nomination for Prest-
dent has not gained ground. Rather it
appears to have lost in the last week:
Probably the most important factor
contributing to this new SHIFT In tne
exciting Democratic contest Is that the
AL Smith candidacy appears SO far to
be making little headway. Even in New
York State, where Smith was the idol
of the democracy for nearly 20 years,
his bid for the presidency is meeting
with indifference. Where Democrats
were literally wild in their enthusiasm
for him four years ago, they now are
apathetic.
The plan sponsored by John j. Ras-
kob, national chairman, and Jouett
Shouse, executive chairman and spokes-
man for the Democratic organization,
to send uninstructed delegations to the
national convention has met with al
most open hostility. 1t is apparent that
the States are not disposed to follow
their authorized national leaders. This
proposal was seen as inimical to the
Roosevelt interests: therefore it Is be-
ing rejected far and wide.
The rival favorite-son candidates who
are counted on to pool their interests
and stop Roosevelt" have made little,
If any, progress in their renewed drive.
Two weeks ago Speaker Garner stepped
i IL Iatn r,I W0
strength he showed looked menacing to
the Roosevelt forces.
The Speaker appears to be one Of
those unfortunates who is the victim OF
his friends. He was sponsored by VIII
liam R. Hearst, which did not help him
in the East. Then William G. McAdoo
declared for him and took over the
leadership Of the Garner boom on the
Pacific Coast That automatically drove
a wedge between the Garner and Smith
forces, while freeing Roosevelt Of the
charge that he was backed by those
McAdoo elements most hated IN the
North and East.
McAdoo did a distinct service to
Roosevelt, as the latter's managers see
it. On top of that, overenthusiastic
Garner boomers tried to enter the
Speaker in the Georgia primary, the
one State of all where Roosevelt is
strong. The Speaker was forced to re-
treat, but did it gracefully.
X X
Still another break has come for
Roosevelt, who so far seems to be the
fortunate one in the contest. The Gov
ernor has negotiated successfully the
/ menacing Tammany hurdle which stood
in his path for weeks. His friends
| through the Nation are watching New
York with much concern all week. They
foresaW the danger of his tripping
But he has removed from Office the
sheriff of New York County, Thomas
M. Farley, a powerful Tammany leader
and close friend and crony OF John F,
Curry. the big Tammany boss. No
none is in sight. Mr.. Curry and the
powers in New York agree that the
Governor could not have done other
| wise. Some resentment SmOlderS un-
derneath, but it is not likely to reach
| the surface There is no evidence of
| hostility to the Governor. Tammany
| will name the new sheriff and keep
the big patronage Of the Office, and
that is all Tammany cares about it.
AS for the removed sheriff, he probably
! will be elected to another county Job
| next year.
Far more important than relieving
| the tense situation in his home or
ganization, the removal of one sheriff
/ has strengthened the Governor very
| decidedly throughout the country. The
response to his act from other States
has been unanimous and enthusiastic
| his managers say. His friends every-
, where are making the most of it. They
are using the incident to prove that
the Governor knows no fear, not even
of Tammany, and does his duty re-
gardless of consequences His dictum
| that no public official can grow rich
while in Office without accounting to
the public for his wealth is regarded
as splendid doctrine for political pur-
poses.
X X X x
Even Tammany men are surprised by
| the attitude of New York toward Mr.
Smiths candidacy The four-time Gov
ernor of the State is arousing much
more enthusiasm in New England and
| Pennsylvania than in his home State.
| 1t is the political opinion of the State
| that even Mr. Smiths former admirers
| now see the futility of his candidacy;
are convinced that he has no chance
at the nomination; that his activities
| are designed only to eliminate Roose-
welt, and that the present Governor,
| who holds the lead in the race. is
entitled to his chance
Tammany and the State organization
is leaning toward Roosevelt rather than
Smith. The attitude of the State lead
ers is that New York cannot afford to
| play politics simply to defeat the States
leading candiate, thereby running the
risk of getting nothing or a compromise
| candidate not as acceptable to the Or
| ganization as Roosevelt. They may not
love Gov. Roosevelt, but they love others
even less. If New York's "a delegates
were to swing into line for Roosevelt
he would pass, even at this stage, the
majority mark he strives to attain be-
fore the first ballot is cast in the con-
vention.
The March primaries should demon
strate who's who in the Democratic
contest. These first real tests of the