Evening star., 1932-06-23
TAMMANY'S VOTE
MAY PROVE VITAL
Delegates of South and West
Look ASkance at John
F. Curry.
BY CHARLES H. ARMITAGE,


Tammany Hall has never been what
might properly be termed popular at
Democratic National Conventions. Oft
en- it has been the object of jeers and
catcalls.
At others, chiefly when there has
been nothing in particular to fight
over its representatives have been toll
Grated. but that's about all.
At no time, or certainly not in re-
cent years. has its presence developed
more than aloofness on the part of
Southern and Western delegates.
Now and again Tammany has made
itself distinctly unpopular with the
general run Of delegates. One of these
times was In 1884 when its representa-
tion on the New York State delegation
fought the nomination of Gov Grover
Cleveland and sought to break the unit
rule In order to vote against him. The
conventions answer was to clamp on
the rule. under which Tammany's votes
were cast for Cleveland, along with
those of the remainder of the dele
cation.
No Other Place to Go.
The declaration, made in that con-
vention by Gen. Bragg of Wisconsin,
Western supporter Of Cleveland, that
I'VE love him for the enemies he has
made" was aimed directly at the sulky
braves. who. in the ensuing campaign,
rallied to Cleveland only when DR..
Burchard's Rum. Romanism and Re-
bellian" left them no other place to go.
Then there was the 1912 convention
which resulted in Woodrow wilson's
nomination after deadlock extending
over as ballots The late Charles F.
Murphy was the Tammany leader at
this time-in fact leader of the New
York State Democracy. AS chairman
of the delegation. his recurring an
nouncement Of its vote was received
with Bronx cheers" as they would be
called today.
New York in that convention threw
Its vote at the outset to Gov Judson
Harmon of Ohio, but switched to
Speaker Champ Clark on the tenth bal
lot, thereby giving him majority
Murphy held the delegation behind him
through the forty-fifth ballot. long a fter
hope of Clark's nomination had waned,
and on the forty-sixth ballot swung it
to Wilson along with most of the con-
yention, meantime taking a tongue
lashing from William J. Bryan. whom
the Tigers cubs held in no higher
esteem than they did President Wilson
throughout his regime.
New York Pivotal State.
Tammany to the West and South is
still the Tammany of Tweed and Croker,
a sinister band of political hi -jackers,
whose support is welcomed on election
day, but who on all other occasions are
not to be recognized in polite Demo-
cratic circles. 1t is not to be contro-
verted that Tammany support on elec-
ton day may swing presidency,
although it has not always done SO
Still, New York is regarded as a pivotal
State, particularly necessary to Demo-
cratic victory. History bears this out,
tco
Proof Is found in the returns for the
last century. Beginning with 1882, in
Guiding that year, there have been 25
national elections. In those Is cleo
tlons the Democrats have carried New
York State nine times and lost it to
Republicans and Wings Is times. New
Yorks electoral vote was decisive in the
Polk campaign of 1874, in Taylors
election in 1848. in Lincoln's election
in 1860, in Garfields election in 1880,
in Cleveland's election in 1884 and in
Harrison's election in 1888
Although the State has been carried
by the Democratic presidential nominee
only once since 1892. this being when
the Bull Moose split the Republican
party in 1912. and although in 1916 a
Democratic candidate was elected with
out its vote, national leaders rightfully
consider it doubtful State. swayed by
the increasingly large vote of New York
City, Tammanys stronghold.
Look AskaDce at Curry.
In the face of all of which Southern
and Western delegates are going to look
askance at John F. Curry, white
thatched, soft of voice and slight of
frame. when he leads his braves into
the Chicago Convention Hall to take
part in nominating another candidate
for the presidency.
Democratic leaders all over the land
have been announcing their favorite
candidates, while Mr.. Curry has thus
far sat tight and said nothing His
Tammany following, it is true, cannot
dominate the New York State delega-
ton. but 1t can either dig or plug a
sizable hole in any candidates support.
tCopyrisht. 1882. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance. Inc)