Evening star., 1936-09-18
BAY STATE FIGHT
ROOSEVELT PERIL
Old Lines Reforming-Smith
May Speak Against CurIey
and New Deal.
BY JAY G. HAYDEN.
ecial Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BOSTON. September 18 (NANA).
Not the least OF the counts which are
weighing against President Roosevelt
in Massachusetts, and neighboring
States Of New England is the part that
he played in bringing James Michael
Curley to the governorship of this
State.
Curley, in 1881, appeared to be def
initely on the down grade politically.
In the previous Autumn he had been
soundly licked for the Democratic NOM
ination for Governor by Joseph B. Ely.
The latter had been elected and, in
league with the veteran Senator David
!. Walsh, was administering the party
with the sole idea Of putting Curley
out and keeping him out as soon as the
mayoral term he was then serving was
ended.
More than that, the State Finance
Commission, created by the rural leg
islators with the special purpose of
keeping Boston mayors in order, was
conducting an investigation of the Of
nee of Edmund L. Dolan. Curley
closest personal friend and business
associate, whom he had appointed as
city treasurer.
just at that time, as it so happened,
Franklin D. Roosevelt was beginning
his quest Of presidential delegates and
Massachusetts, was one of the States
in which he was making scant head
way. This State had passionately sup
ported Alfred E. Smith for President in
1928. Ely and Walsh had been saying
that Smith must be nominated again in
1882 and, as it appeared, all other
democrats in Massachusetts, felt the
same way about it.
Meeting on Train.
Curley was returning to Boston
after landing form a European trip at
New York, when he heard Roosevelt
was on the same train. He introduced
himself and the two had a long talk
Just what was said between them
never was revealed, but, following the
conversation, Roosevelt, who was on
his way to meet group Of Democrats
at the home of Col. Edward M. House
at Magnolia. Mass, managed to have
Curley included in the parley.
When the meeting was over and the
group was asked to say something
for the movietone cameras. all of the
others. including Roosevelt. House
and Senator Walsh, confined them
selves to pleasant trivialities, but
Curley launched into a speech.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Is the hope
Of the Nation" he said and proceeded
to hail Roosevelt as the next Presi-
dent of the United States.
From that time on the Roosevelt
Curley union was very much in evil
dence in Massachusetts,. James
Roosevelt, son of Franklin, then living
ut Cambridge, was the mayors con-
stant companion, and the two insti-
tuted vigorous effort to bag the
States delegation to the Democratic
National Convention.
Messrs. Ely and Walsh were highly
pleased. They were perfectly conf
dent of Smiths continued hold on
Massachusetts, and they saw the drive
for Roosevelt as just another chance
to give Curley a beating And so it
happened. The entire group of can
didates for delegate, pledged to Smith
were overwhelmingly elected.
But Curley had an ace in the hole
He turned up at the convention with
credentials as delegate from Puerto
Rico. He announced the vote of the
entire Puerto Rican delegation fol-
Roosevelt and ultimately sat in the
inner conference between James A.
Farley, William G. McAdoo and
others, which produced the trade that
made Roosevelt and Garner the nomi-
nees, respectively. for President and
Vice President. Curley made one of
the speeches seconding Garners
Nomination
From that time forward until after