Evening star., 1937-09-10
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN,

La Guarda, who has been Socialist
and more recently an ardent supporter
OF the Roosevelt New Deal and the Dem
ocratic President. or Senator Copeland,
a Democrat. The thing has split the
Republican ranks wide open. Copeland
is favored by many of the Rep,lblica n
leaders because they dislike La Ouardia
or because they take to Copeland for his
opposition to President Roosevelt. LA
| Guardia, on the other hand, Is supported
by Republicans as fusion" candidate
because he is anti-Tammany. the heredi-
tary foe of the G. o. p, and because he
has given the city good government.
| They believe they can beat the Demo-
| cratic nominee with La Guardia and 40
| weaken the Democratic hold on the city
| government.
Kenneth F. Simpson. New York Coun-
| ty chairman of the Republican party.
has thrown in for La Guardia. There
are plenty of other Republican leaders
here, however, who hate the Mayor and
who are favoring Copeland Simpson
has caused new sensation by virtually
lndorSing the platform written by the
American Labor party, which John L.
Lewis and his allies In this city are back
ing. The Republican county chairman.
1t is true has refused to swallow the
entire platform. baking at the proposal
for Government ownership of all the
utilities. But he has gone far enough
to make many of the more conservative
Republicans see red and express them
selves accordingly.
The present outlook is for 4 victory
for La Guardia in the Republican pri-
mary, although the outcome Is still in
doubt. And certainly it looks as though
the Mayor would win reelection later
In the Fall no matter what happens in
the primaries. 1t might make 1t easier
for him II Copeland should win the Re
publican nomination, and Mahoney, the
candidate OF the pro-Roosevelt Demo-
cratic leaders in New York City, should
win the Democratic nomination, making
it q three-cornered race. But whether
IT be a ,tWo-man race or 4 three man
race, the odds appear to favor the Mayor
in the election.
Copeland has the backing of Tam
many. He will also have the support,
actively, OF former Gov. Al Smith, who
is to make at least two speeches for the
Senator. The other Democratic leaders
in the Bronx and other boroughs. are
supporting Mahoney, generally speaking
Tor the Democratic nomination. for
Copeland Is running in both the Demo-
cratic and the Republican primaries.
with labor, as represented by the
american labor party. actively working
Tor the reelection of La Guardia. the
race seems more than ever favorable
to the Mayors reelection Politics
makes strange bed-fellows, and never
more SO than when 1t aligns Chairman
Simpson and his Republican orgAn MIA.
ton and the American Labor party
which means John l.. Lewis-in this
mAyoralty campaign. Simpson Is no par
lor pink. He is 4 conservative Repub-
lican, and that means plenty in New
York City.
Copeland has the support OF Mrs.
James Russell Parsons, former chairman
OF the Republican County Committee
and many others who have not been able
to stomach La 0uardia, whom they
accuse Of "subversive" policies. They
INK the Mayor not only with President
Roosevelt. whom he supported for cleo.
ton to the presidency, but also with John
l.. Lewis. 1t is just too much for them
even II they can use La Guardia to head
OH the election Of the Democratic Mavor.
Inc Mayor is playing along with the Re-
publicans in this nght,, although some
OF his friends would be perfectly willing
to see him reelected without wearing
the Republican label.
Whether La Guardia is reelected or
Mahoney is chosen in his place would
make really little difference to President
Roosevelt and the New Dealers. La
Guardia has been as solid a Roosevelt
man as any in the State. What would
give the President q pain in the neck
would be the nomination of Copeland on
the Democratic ticket, over Mahoney.
or the election of the Senator in Novem-
Der. Neither is likely to occur. Indeed
despite the Presidents attack on the
Supreme Court, the Chief Executive is
still tremendously popular in the great
City OF New York and If he were running
today would carry the town by a huge
vote. He still has the popular mind and
he still has hundreds of millions of dol
lars to expend for all kinds of relief.
4
In preparation for the congressional
campaign next year, the Republican Ma
tional Committee, under the leadership
OF John Hamilton, is already laving
plans to win as many seats now held bv
Democrats as possible. There is to be
meeting of the Executive Committe.
OF the national committee September
%, and following 1t a meeting of the
whole committee in Chicago. according
to reports At that meeting the COM
mittee will be in a position to dump Mr..
Hamilton out of the chairmanship and
elect 4 successor, If it sees fit to do 40.
Ihere are several reasons against q sue
cessful revolt in the committee against
Hamilton. In the first place, he is en-
gagged in paying off the debt of the Re-
publican party-which amounted to
more than million dollars at the close
OF the 1895 presidential campaign He
mas reduced this to about $500 900 in
addition to providing enough money for
the Republican headquarters to keen
right on functioning. In the second
place, he has a goodly number of friends
IN the committee and thirdly, the oppo-
nents OF Hamilton do not seem to have
any one to offer in his place.
X
Hamilton has been In tough spot ever
since he became chairman. More par
ucularly has this been true since the
overwhelming defeat which former Gov.
banoon OF Kansas sustained in the presi-
GENITAL race last year. 1t was Landon
VINO picked Hamilton for chairman.
Hamilton has been the target for sneer,
on the mart NJ Capafnr Mona r,, - -.