Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-03-03

Inc brown derby stage extended from
Smiths birth to his election as Gov
ernor. 1t covered the most romantic
and coloffl period of his life. one of
the most picturesque in the annals Of
American public men. 1t began ON
South street, in the shadow of Brook
Hn Bridge, where Smith was born a
third generation American. His father
and mother, children of Irish immi-
grants, We're also born on New York S
lower East Side, near where their son
first saw the light Of day.
Wider Horizons Open.
The period covers his boyhood in the
crowded and poverty-stricken streets Of
the East Side, the loss of his father
when young Al was -, his leaving
school to help support hts widowed
mother, his work in the Fulton Street
Fish Market, which he calls his collegi-
ate alma mater, his first political &C
tivitieS under the wing Of Tom Foley,
district Tammany leader, and his
election to the Legislature, where he
got his first ghmmering Of wide hori-
IONS.
To this point, and even for years
in the Legislature, Smith was a duti-
full Tammany representatives good
deal more informed and harder work
ing than the other Tammany legisla-
tors, but an unprotesting one. He
voted in line with the instructions and
wishes of Charles r. Murphy, the big
boss but he had the habit of reading
bills andsmeasuFes and knowing what
was In them and what they were
about.
A frightful factory fire and the
death of many women workers In 1t
put Smith on the road to statesman
ship. An investigation was ordered to
prepare the way for q new factory
code. Smith took a leading role In the
inquiry and framing of legislation In
this he met social and welfare workers
and got a new view of public affairs
This experience definitely marked
change in his life, but he kept on being
a good Tammany man. He was electeo
floor leader of the Assembly and later
Speaker. And also as a Tammsny
man he began to be interested IN re-
form government and to sponsor re-
form measures.
New York state Constitutional Con-
yention, and brought him the public
praise of Eiihu Root and George W.
Wickershann, Republican statesmen and
blue blooded patricians. Root &C
claimed Smith the most useful man
at the convention"
In 1918, after two years as sheriff
Of New York. Smith was elected Gov
ernor and thus entered the ;ssecond
phase of his career, the statesman
phase. This covered 10 years. - his
three terms as Governor his uhsuc-
cessful candidacy for the presidential
in 1924 and his nomina-
tion and campaign In 1928.
Once Amateur Actor.
As an Accomplished, enlightened and
State administrators Smith
won success and a hold on the cleo
torate Of New York that can best be
summed I'D in a story he tells about
his youthful experience as an amateur
actor.
He was the hero in a romping melo-
drama and was called On to defy the
conscienceless villain. So wildly did
he paint the villains black character
and SO poignantly call down on the
reprobate the wrath Of the heavens
that one, of the deeply moved audience
reached into his hip pocket, pulled cut
a gun, and offered 1t to Smith, saying:
Here Al, shoot him with this"
AS presidential candidate over .
period Of ave years. from 1928 through
1928, Smith was still Tammany man,
but Tamnany after his own making.
He used his power TO reform" the po-
litieal organization. Much was heard
of the new" Tammany The old sys-
tenn of State patronage to Tammany
henchmen was junked. Smith chose
his aides and appointees on the basis
of merit and qualification, regardless of
party affiliations.
The old Tammany leaders mumbled
and sulked, but Smith was In the
ascendant and no one dared oppose
him. 1t was only after his presidential
defeat and loss of hold ON the organ
ization that Mayor Jimmy Walker was
bold enough to speak up to him when
Smith criticized Walkers manner OF
administering office, by retorting: I'm
mayor OF New York City, Al. You at