Evening star., 1932-09-05
The Political Mill
By C.. Could Lincoln.

Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Demo-
cratic nominee for President, has today
the bitter enmity Of Mayor James j.
Walker Of New York, resigned. A great
deal may depend upon how many of the
New Workers who enthusiastically cast
their ballots for the wisecfacking mayor
couple of years ago will stick to him
and join with Walker in opposing Gov.
Roosevelt next November. 1t does not
seem possible that Walker himself will
vote for Roosevelt for President, though
stranger things have happened. It
must be remembered that Mayor Walker
was anxious to prove, If he could, that
there had been a plot fashioned in
Washington by the Republican high
command to bring about an investiga-
ton of the government of the City OF
New York, SO as to embarrass both
Walker and Roosevelt. Roosevelt. dur
ing his investigation of the mayor, de-
clined to permit him to summon wit
neSses in support Of this charge, hold
ing that the manner of the starting Of
the inquiry was not so important as
what the inquiry had developed.
x X Il X
Walker Is out Very likely he Is
through" SO far as being a major po-
litical factor himself is concerned. The
longer he remains "out," the less chance
he is likely to have to stage comeback.
1t is not even sure that Tammany in
the end will be willing TO risk beating
by nominating the former mayor again.
There Is talk now by some of the hot
heads in the organization that they in
tend to run Walker and elect him again.
1t will be just as well to wait and hear
what John F. Curry has to say on the
subject.
II a mayoralty election is held in
New York next November and Walker
should be the nominee Of the Demo-
cratic organization, what a situation
will be presented. Roosevelt, heading
the Democratic national ticket, might
be in very difficult position. 1t is
not conceivable that Roosevelt would
support Walker for mayor, or that Wal
ker would support Roosevelt for Presi-
dent.
Gov. Roosevelt has the enmity Of
two New York Democrats who have
been extremely prominent. Walker Is
one The other is far more important,
Alfred E. Smith. Mr.. Smith is no dis
credited Democratic executive. He has
wide following all over the country.
Mr. Smith may yet come, out for
Roosevelt, although he returned to New
York from Chicago at the close Of the
Democratic National Convention in a
bitter frame of mind toward the New
York Governor. Until Mr.. Smith an
nounces himself for Roosevelt he will
be regarded as an enemy. During the
Democratic National Convention, Wal
ker, a delegate, stuck to AL Smith, de-
clining ever to cast vote for the
nomination of Roosevelt for President.
And, indeed, practically the whole
, Tammany contingent-a large one
voted to the end for Smith and against
Roosevelt. 1t looked then, and it con-
tinues to look, as though Tammany had
determined that it would be perfectly
open in its warfare against the Gov
ernor. If 1t undertakes to knife Roose-
| Welt in November, the Governor will, in
all probability, have little or no chance
Of carrying New York, with its AZ cleo
toral votes.
On the other hand, undoubtedly Gov.
Roosevelt will gain strength in the rest
CT the country because he has de-
clined to back down to Tammany and
| to Mayor Walker. Neither Tammany
nor Walker is highly regarded in the
rest Of the United States outside OF
ICW 4O1A SAby-dIld lAAC ASos VA eAAS
United States Is considerable matter,
( as Tammany found when it tried its
best to head of the presidential nomi-
nation of Roosevelt during the Chicago
convention It Is possible for Roosevelt
to win the election in November even
if New York State goes against him,
but much more difficult. Undoubtedly
the Democratic high command in
| charge of the presidential campaign
will move heaven and earth to prevent
such a split In the Democratic ranks
in the metropolis as now seriously
threatens. Woodrow Wilson won elec-
tion as President in 1916 although New
York went Republican. But Mr.. Will
son carried California. At that, Sena-
tor Hiram johnson, ignored by Charles
Evans Hughes, the Republican nominee
for President, Is reported to have turned
his forces against Hughes. johnson is
more bitter by far against President
Hoover than he ever was against
Hughes. But also johnson Is not so
influential in California as he was 16
years ago.
Two months remain Of the presi-
Dental campaign. Ordinarily, a presi-
Dental campaign does not get well
under way until after Labor day This
year, however, the fight has been on
for weeks, indeed, ever since the ma
tional conventions closed in June. Be-
tween the rows in the Democratic fold
over Roosevelt and Smith-and now
Walker-and the disturbance in the Re-
publican party over prohibition, there
has been a lot more activity than usual.
President Hoover In his acceptance
speech showed himself wet enough to
please most of the vets in his party and
also sufficiently anti-saloon to please
the great bulk Of the dry Republicans.
The Democrats, however, are still
widely split. Their differences only
serve to accentuate the divergence in
the Democratic party between the Demo-
Gratis of the North and East and those Of
the South and West. 1t did look as
though the Democratic party this year
would act with some degree of harmony.
Ellt personal ambitions plus inherent
differences in points OF view have
threatened to destroy harmony and
make Democratic victory exceedingly
difficult.
Joseph v. Mckee, president Of the
Board Of Aldermen of New York City,
has become acting mayor with the res
ignation Of Mayor Walker, 'the little
Mayor" as Gov. Roosevelt used to re-
| fer to Jimmie" Walker not so long ago.
If Mckee shows himself a capable,
hard-working mayor, able to curtail ex-
penditures and prevent higher taxes, he
may very well be the party nominee sor
mayor the next election. He is highly
regarded by many New Yorkers and has
a reputation for good, solid work.
It is inevitable that the name of Al
fred Z. Smith should be brought into
the picture as possible candidate for
mayor of New York. The former Gov
ernor and former candidate for Presi-
dent might not accept the nomination
II it were rendered him. Tammany,
knowing Al, might not wish to have
him as the citys chief executive. But
as a successor to Walker, Smith would
certainly be. a great boon to the people
of New York.
n X
The defeat of Senator Shortridge of
California for denomination last week