Evening star., 1932-10-18

Much national speculation as to the
effect OF the New York mayoralty strug-
gle OF the national election centers
around the possibility OF harmony
within the Democratic party IN that
city. 1t is widely felt that the with
drawal of former Mayor Walker has
demonstrated a limitation on the power
of Tammany Hall Regret is expressed
at the forced withdrawal OF acting
Mayor Mckee from the position OF can
didate, but Surrogate John P. OBrlen.
VINO was chosen. is called an unknown
quantity who might have a good rec
ord. although under Tammany control.
Very little importance is attached to
the Republican nomination OF Lewis II.
Pounds.
Backed by united. aggressive DEM
ocratic party" states the Baltimore sun
independent Democratic, the Tam
many candidate becomes the heir ap-
parent for the Walker crown, and the
character of the New York City ad-
ministration for the next year hinges
largely on his firmness and his ca
pacity to deal with the unhappy tangle
Walker has left" The Rochester Times
Union tindependent says that Mr..
O'Brien. If elected. may prove better
mayor than Walker; he can scarcely be
expected to measure up to the standard
set by Mckee" That paper suggests
that no doubt Tammany Hall consid-
ers Mr.. Mckee a traitor for not run
ming true to Tammany policies" The
Cleveland News Republican, holds that
the county concludes that things have
been made as sweet as possible all the
way around. with both Walker and
Mckee as sacrifices to the harmony
plan designed to save the State Tor
Democracy"
Surrogate O'Brien. If elected" thinks
the ASbury Park Evening Press tinde-
pendent Democratic). will strive to
emulate Mayor Mckee under the han
dicap of Tammany domination. If he
succeeds" continues that paper, he
will be a miracle man. If he fails, his
administration will be another sacri-
flee to the political avarice of Tammany
Hall" The youngstown Vindicator
independent Democratic) finds 1t to
the credit of Mr. O'Brien that his
nomination proves that Tammany sees
that New York wants mayor who is
not a playboy." and suggests that If
it can't have Mckee. it is at least 60
ing to get some one who will attend to
business" AS to the rejection Of for
mer Mayor Walker. the Chicago Daily
News independently remarks that sac
rifices have to be made at times for the
sake of appearances" The Scranton
Times ,Democratic) refers to Surrogate
OBrien as "a stanch party man, who
won public attention during the Hylan
administration in his many battles with
the transit and other public-service Or
ganizations That paper records that
his nomination seemingly has been &C
cepted by all factions" and that Dem
ocrats in New York can now turn to
the Job of rolling up huge majority
for the ticket from top to bottom"
I'm a wider interest in the effect on
the national election" thinks the Phila
delphia Evening Bulletin independent
Republican,, the nomination looks like
a bit of good strategy in avoiding seri-
Gus difficulties and largely smoothing
out others to the advantage of the New
York Governor in New York City"
The Jersey City Journal independent
Republican, calls the nomination one
in which there is "brilliance and sor-
didness." and offers the explanation:
1T is brilliant because Tammany has
found a candidate whose background is
SO little known to the New York public
at large that in effect he starts with a
clean slate. but not from scratch. be-
cause his quiet and unattached conduct
of the office Of surrogate gives him a
big head-start over any one else who
has made both enemies and friends in
politics. The office of surrogate is pri-
marily place where good politician
makes firm friends and has no occasion
for making enemies. The sordidness of
the choice is that it reveals Tammany