Evening star., 1932-10-10
The Political Mill
BY C. Could Lincoln.

hind legs and fighting. They are not
admitting publicly or privately that
the Democrats can carry this Rocky
Mountain State. In fact, they insist
that when the showdown comes in No.
vember Colorado will be found in the
Hoover. column. There is a different
spirit here from that which has existed
up until the present time in the Mid
west States which ordinarily roll up
big Republican majorities. The Repub-
licans here believe they can win, de-
pressicn or no depression, and they are
going after the Democrats. And in the
last few days the Midwest Republicans
have been perking up, encouraged by
the great enthusiasm with which Presi-
dent Hoover's address in Des Moines
was received.
Inquiry on railroad trains coming
West indicated that the travellers are
talking now of voting for Hoover in
stead of Roosevelt. A distinct swing
back toward the Republican national
ticket is manifesting itself.
In the West the politicians, both Re-
publicans and Democratic, show keen
interest in what is likely to happen In
New York and the rest Of the big in
dustrial States Of the East Generally
speaking. they regard the East as NOR /.
favorable to President Hoover than is
the West. The developments of the
last week in New York. however, have
greatly encouraged the Democrats They
look on the New York Democracy as
at least solidly lined up for the national
ticket, after many heartburnings and
ructions. On the surface, at least, the
Democratic party in New York has ac-
quired harmony. The Tammany threat
to nominate former Mayor Jimmie"
Walker in the mayoralty race has lifted
at last. Gov. Roosevelt and his forces
do not have that to look forward to
any more. Had Walker been the party
nominee for mayor, he could not have
supported Roosevelt for President. and
Roosevelt never would have supported
Jimmie" for mayor.
But Walker beat retreat-"for the
good of the party"
1t appears now quite plain that 1t
was forced retreat, that Boss Curry
found 1t just would not do to nominate
Jimmie" and that If he tried to go
through with it, he would seriously
jeopardize his own position as Tam
many leader. So Walker walked the
plank. This is his second withdrawal.
His first was when he resigned in order,
as most every one believed. to prevent
his being ousted by Gov. Roosevelt.
Any way you look at the picture. Gov
Roosevelt and his immediate followers
in New York State seem to be at last
on top of the heap in the democracy
of the Empire State. At the Demo-
cratic National Convention. Alfred E.
Smith, Boss John F. Curry, Walker and
1nr-Ol lltr o.
Welt should not have the presidential
nomination. How he won the nomina-
ton. with the great bulk Of the New
York delegation voting against him to
the bitter end. is history now. Even
after Roosevelt had been nominated,
the threat of Tammany and what It
might DO in New York hung over the
Governor like a cloud. Smith was sore
as a bear. Walker, under investigation
was defiant. Roosevelt's handling Of
the Walker inquiry did him LOT OF
good. however. in New York, as well as
in the rest OF the country.
X X x
In the end Al Smith had to make
I'D his mind between Roosevelt and
Curry so far as New York affairs were
concerned and he seems to have turned
to the Governor. Curry was made
Tammany leader over the protest OF
Smith when George Washington o.
vany stepped out of the leadership few
years ago. There has never been any
love between the two. Both Roose-
velt and Smith favored the nomination
of Lieut.. Gov. Lehman OF New York
for Governor.
Curry tried his strength against theirs
at Albany and lost. Smith greeted
Roosevelt cordially at the State Con-
vention amid a deafening din raised
by enthusiastic delegates.
The only thing that Curry has saved
out of the wreck is the nomination Of
a Tammany man for mayor. Sur
rogate John P. OBrien, his friend, was
the choice
If the Democrats had nominated ir-
stead Acting Mayor Joseph F. McKe
Curry would have been finally beaten
down. But he saved the nomination @.
the mayor and. after all. that is tn
biggest thing in politics for Tammany
1t is expected that Curry now will go
through for Roosevelt in the national
election: that Tammany will not knife
the Governor. The enthusiasm with
which Mr.. Curry and his particular
friends in the organization will fight
for the election of Gov Roosevelt may
the Democrats say that everything is
lovely in New York, and they will carry
the State for the Roosevelt Garner
ticket. Perhaps they will, but the Re-
publicanS seem still to have a good
chance there.
If Al Smith takes the stump, as is
now reported he will. for Roosevelt in
New York, undoubtedly the Governor
will be helped.
Jimmie" Walker is reported to be
considering running for the Senate at
some future time. That has been in
the air for months 1t is no secret to
those who are informed that Walker
has been rather in favor of trading
places with Senator Royal S. Copeland.
II was even suggested last Summer that
Copeland might be substituted for Wal
ker as mayor, the mayor resigning to
make the race for the Senate. At pres
ent Walker has nothing to offer the
Senator in trade for the senatorial
nomination
Copeland must run again two years
hence. There is no indication that the
Senator plans to step aside for Jimmie"
Copeland has a big following in New
York and has shown himself a real
vote getter He won in 1928 with
greater plurality than was given Gov.
Roosevelt or President Hoover that
year. The Democrats nominate their
senatorial candidates in State conven-
tion in New York If Tammany under
took to oppose Copeland in 1884 it
might make it hot for him. But SEN
ator Copeland without being of Tam
many. has eased along in the midst of
the Democratic factions and has twice
been elected Senator. a considerable
record. Tammany might like, however.
to have another Senator in Washing
ton. 1t already has Senator Wagner, a
very able legislator.
X
The Republicans out here are saying
now that at least the rank and file of
the voters are beginning to realize the
Democrats have no program to offer;
that the Democrats are banking on a
crouch" the voters have against hard
times The failure of Roosevelt during
his Western trip to talk anything be
yond generalities has opened the eyes of