Evening star., 1933-09-30
New Deal" in New York.

WASHINGTON. That is the plain I'M
plcation of the entry of Joseph V. Nc
Kee into the mayoralty race at the
eleventh hour. No one doubts that Mr..
Mckee is the candidate of the Roose-
yelt Democratic leaders. No one doubts
that he was thrown into the race at
the last moment for two reasons, one OF
which was to make possible the building
of a Democratic organization in New
York that will be dominated By the
Roosevelt Democrats. and the other was
to prevent election of fusion" candi-
date for mayor who happened to bear
the Republican label. Should Mr.. Nc
Kee be elected mayor at the behest OF
the Roosevelt administration, the
Roosevelt administration not only be-
comes responsible for the leadership In
the metropolis, but also for the kind
of government which the metropolis is
handed. That kind of responsibility is
something new for Washington.
1t is possible, of course, that New
York may put fast one over on WASH
ington yet in this mayoralty race. de-
feating Mckee and electing either
Mayor O'Brien, the Tammany entry, or
former Representative La Guardia, who
carries the fusion banner. Indeed, 1t
would appear on the surface that Tam
many's chances for another victory have
been materially enhanced; that the
Mckee candidacy has split the strong
opposition to O'Brien and Tammany,
thereby giving O'Brien a chance to
squeeze into Office again. Tammany,
however, has a particularly black eye
just now because of the terrible state of
the finances of the city and ever
mounting taxation. There have been
many signs of revolt by the rank and
file and the lesser Democratic leaders.
The Mckee candidacy is predicated
on this sentiment for revolt. 1t Is
hoped that many of the Democrats Will
flock to his banner. He has, Of course,
the backing Of the Democratic leader
of the Bronx, Edward j. Flynn. He
will have all the power Of the Demo-
cratic administration in Washington
back of him, although it has been Off
cially announced at the White House
that the President is keeping his hands
off in this mayoralty fight. Mckee,
like Flynn, has long been an arcent
hackers hope, too, is that he. will ap-
peal to a very large number OF Repub-
lican voters in New York City who do
not like La Guardia, considering him a
radical. La Guardia has been elected
to the House in the past both as So
cialist and as Progressive Republican.
1t is the more conservative vote OF
Republicans and Democrats in New
York City who are disguised with Tam
many and its tactics which the Mckee
forces expect to win to their candidate.
The fusionists are inclined at this
point to be far more bitter against
Mckee than they are against Mayor
OBrien, If that be possible. They are
charging Mckee with bad faith. point
ing out that he could have been the
fusion candidate for mayor If he had
been willing to accept. They also de-
clare that McKee's entry into the race
is merely playing into the hands of
Tammany. They insist that if Mckee
should be elected the system" will con-
tinue in New York City, with some new
faces in places of leadership, but with
the great majority Of the leaders un-
changed.
Undoubtedly there are, however, a
large number Of voters in New York
who care for neither O'Brien nor La
Guardia. The Mckee candidacy gives
them a chance to express their pref
erence more definitely in the mayoralty
race. Mckee won host Of friends
when he served as acting mayor after
the resignation last year of Jimmie
Walker He has pleasing personality.
He will, it is predicted. make a strong
campaign. He has denounced Tammany
and the bosses. On the other hand,
O'Brien personally is weak candidate,
the weakest put forward by the Tam
many outfit in many long day. And
La Guardia, while he is fiery orator
is regarded in thousands Of New York
homes as an uncertain quantity.
The new deal' is reaching out, ap-
parently, for New York, the greatest OF
American cities.