Evening star., 1934-05-03

National comment on the ousting
of John F Curry as leader Of Tam
many Hall discloses general doubt
that the development means reform
in the New York Democratic organi-
zation or anything else except the
fall of chieftain who guessed wrong
too many times.
Lack Of harmony and enthusiasm
within the organization is held by
the Brooklyn Times Union to be due
to lack of understanding with the
Democratic Federal administration
and the Democratic State admins
tration." The Scranton Times de-
scribes the deposed chief as the old
type leader who, at heart, has no
regard for men; who. like President
Roosevelt and former Gov. Smith, be-
lieve there should be new day and
new methods in political organiza-
tions"
The New York Herald Tribune, a
Republican newspaper. offers the ex-
plantation: Like other Tammany
leaders. Mr.. Curry had many amiable
qualities To the best Of his ability
he stood for and tried to uphold the
standards of that organization, such
as they were. His loyalty to his
friends and to the machine. doing his
duty to them as he saw it, brought
about his downfall in the end"
He was the victim of conditions"
says the Newark Evening News, with
the conclusion: With all his po-
litical shortcomings, Curry is loyal
friend and a gentleman. Nothing in
his remarkable rise was more i'm
pressive individually than his de-
parture from the seat of power. So
continues the peaceful revolution un-
der Franklin D. Roosevelt"
The Cleveland News finds the ex-
planation in the fact that "he didn't
pick winners" and the Roanoke
Times believes that his foes "have no
intention of repeating his mistakes" 4"
The Kansas City Star voices the
judgment: Curry might have over
come the handicap of having opposed
Roosevelt for President and the nomi-
nation Of Lehman for Governor had
he not already weakened himself by
his defiant and irritating support of
James j. Walker for denomination in
1882, after the mayor was thoroughly
discredited. Support of Walker under
the curcumstanceS-although Curry
finally yielded-was a prime political
blunder. This was followed by his
stubborn support of John P. O'Brien
for mayor in the last city campaign,
which resulted in the overthrow of
Tammany and the election of F. H.
La Guardia. Such stupidity is un-
forgivable in politics"
Regardless of all this" thinks the
Austin (Tex) American, Curry Is
a game cock. He took it on the chin.
He smiles friendly smile to all alike
friend or foe-and let 1t 60 at that.
Scrubs are ever whimperers or Crouch
ers in defeat, but this deposed king of
the Tiger tribe is just the same in de-
feat as he was as the head of the
famous Tammany organization. Now
the Happy Warrior has the last
laugh. He advised against the elec-
ton of Curry five years ago. He
warned the district leaders that Curry
would be a man Of blunders and would
lead the 150-year-old organization into
the ditch of defeat. The Happy War
rior' is man Of vision, a man of in
tegrity. a man Of courage and he never
straddles an issue or turns his back to
make getaway from his foes"
Doubt as to evidence of Tammany
reform is expressed by the Long Beach
(Calif) Press-Telegram, the Roanoke
World-News, the Harrisburg (Pa.)
Patriot, the Columbus Evening Dis
patch, the Hartford Times and the
Buffalo Evening News. The Asbury
Park Evening Press thinks the Tiger