Evening star., 1938-10-01
Gambling OH Dewey.

The Republicans of New York have
chosen as their candidate for Governor
Thomas E. Dewey, thirty year old
racket busting district attorney. They
have picked the youthful Mr.. Dewey be-
cause he captured the imagination of the
public with his successful onslaught
against crime in its meanest-and one of
its most menacing-forms. They picked
him, too, because they wished to get
away from the Old Guard leadership
which for SO many years has dominated
the G. o. P. in the Empire State.
Mr.. Dewey is at once new and a
striking figure. He goes into the cam
paign fresh from the courtroom in which
he sought to connect at least one leading
Democratic politician of New York City
with the underworld. The picture which
he and his aides unfolded during this
trial was mpressive-althoug the
prosecution of the case ended in a mis-
trial.
date for Governor of New York-an office
which has in the past been a stepping
stone to presidential nominations-is in
dicative of the demand of many Repub-
licans that drastic steps be taken to
bring the G. O. P. back to life. Two or
three years ago Mr.. Dewey was an
unknown. Even today, with his wide
reputation, he would not have been
considered for the gubernatorial NOM
ination had there been older and more
seasoned-and able-possibilities Not
since 1920, however, have the Repub-
licans in New York elected a Governor
The party has progressively sunk to lower
and still lower levels of influence.
The Republican party of New York
and MIR. Dewey himself are gambling.
The one for place in the sun again and
a possible presidential candidate in 1e4O
and the other for a position of real
leadership in national as we'll as State
affairs. There is no blinking the fact
that if Mr.. Dewey can win election in the
most populous State in the Union-the
home State of Franklin D. Roosevelt
himself-and during the next year and
half can prove his ability as an execu-
tive, he will be an outstanding proba-
bility for the G. o. P. nomination for
President.
Mr.. DeWey's youth doubtless will be
used against him. That, however, is not
an insurmountable liability. Upon the
manner in which he bears himself
great deal will depend. He enters now
upon new stage-vastly different from
the office of the district attorney and
the courtroom. 1t is true that the Re-
publican platform has been drafted with
his nomination in view for it declares
most prominently for complete elimina-
ton of "the alliance between the under
world and certain forms of politics."
Beyond doubt, however, the Democratic
opposition will seek to broaden the field
of conflict materially
Try as he may, 1t is unlikely that Mr..
Dewey will be able to confine the cam
paign to local affairs. He will have to
face the national issues, too. And when
he does, it will be more possible to
measure his stature as a statesman and
leader
The Democrats have put Governor
Herbert H. Lehman forward to halt the
youthful candidate of the G. O. P.
They tacitly admitted their fear of the
crusading Dewey when they virtually
forced the Governor, by their pleas not
to 60 back on the party, to take nomi-
nation which he did not want.
Governor Lehman has been a great
vote getter in New York He has, more
over, made an excellent Governor. He
has paid off the hundred million dollar
deficit or debt which Franklin D. Roose-
welt left when he retired as Governor of
the State, bringing the State budget into
balance. However, it is doubtful that he
is as loyal a Roosevelt man as he was
in the past, for he has split with the
President on some major issues.
Mr.. Dewey has great following In