Evening star., 1939-12-06

SOyS VVNSIS WIN SOSSSSSs~s
Businessmon-Lowyer as
G. O. P. Candidate
To the Editor Of The Star:
For years the undersigned has tead
Mr.. Frederic william Wiles "Washing-
ton Observations" In your columns with
great admiration and appreciation, and
has often marveled at his splendid
analyses Of political situations. How
ever, the writer believes that Mr.. Vile
greatly erred when he suggested in The
Evening Star of November 13 that Dis
trict Attorney Dewey Of New York is
the Republican party's most available
candidate for the 1910 presidential
campaign.
In the first place, we should not be
misled by the bailyhoo that has been
built around Mr.. Dewey because he was
successful in convicting Tammany Hall
leader No one wishes to take away
any glory or honor that may have been
earned by Mr.. Dewey in his courageous
fight against the racketeering and graft
ing that has been rampant In New
York these many years, but aside from
this, what has Mr.. Dewey ever done or
accomplished that pronounces him avail
able timber for the presidency?
In 1888 Mr.. Dewey was the Repub-
lican standard bearer for the governor
ship, running against Mr.. Lehman. This
campaign apparently is what Mr.. Vile
has in mind in suggesting that Mr..
Dewey seems to be the most available
candidate. At first blush. by reason of
the fact that Mr.. Dewey came within
about 10000 votes of defeating Gov
Lehman, it would appear that Mr..
Dewey was a very strong vote getter,
but again, Mr.. Vile should analyze the
facts.
First. While Gov. Lehman did carry
the State in 1886 by $40, ,491 majority,
Mr.. Roosevelt, on the same ticket, car
ried the State by 1,1l2,552 majority,
clearly showing that Mr.. Lehman was
not the strong vote getter that many
have believed him to be.
Second. One must remember that in
1888 the general trend Of the elections
was strongly in favor of the Repub-
licans, and many Democrats who had
been elected to Congress and high posi-
tions In their respective States in the
landslide of 1884 and 1886 were defeated
by Republican candidates. For example.
Massachusetts, overturned a Democratic
majority of 1O905O in 1894 for Governor
and elected Mr.. Saltonstall, a Repub-
llcan, by more than 100000 majority.
In Connecticut Democratic Governor
elected In 1896 with about 100000 ma
jority was succeeded by Raymond Bald
win, the Republican nominee. with
about 5000 majority. In Pennsylvania
Democratic incumbent in the Gov
ernors chair who had been elected with
66,32S votes to spare in 1884. was Sue
ceeded by Gov. Arthur James with the
splendid majority of 279,156. In Ohio
Mr.. John w. Bricker, the Republican
nominee, defeated his Democratic on
ponent by 1925, although the Demo-
crat ne succeeded in the chair was
elected by very large majority in 1886
incidentally, Robert Taft was elected
United States Senator In the same 1e38
election with the fine majority of III ,620
In other words, 1898 was a Republican
year In those and other States.
Third. There were many factors, not
strictly political, that entered into the
New York fight 1t has always been
common knowledge that Gov. Lehman
was not very popular with Tammanv
Hall, and, unquestionably, a good many
Tammany voters also saw in the election
chance to remove Mr.. Dewey as a
prosecuting attorney by voting for him
for Governor. and at the same time
they could vote against a man they had
always disliked as Governor.
One more thing must be taken into
consideration. The voters of New York
State often enthusiastically support a
man for Governor that they refuse to
back for President. The most recent
illustration of this is AL Smith. who was
elected and reelected Governor by large
majorities, but when he became the
Democratic nominee for President, he
lost the State by 1884 votes.
The writer agrees with Mr.. Vile that
New York with its Al electoral votes. will
be big plum for either party in 1910,
and the leaders realize that Pennsyl-
vania, Ohio. Illinois and Massachusetts
are much needed. too.
Again, this writer believes that the
voters are begging for an able, successful
businessman, with legal experience to
lead this great Nation through the next
few critical years. Mr.. Vile should
easily be able to find such man for his
available candidate" Mr. Dewey is
young and can well wait until he has
become more experienced in national af-
fairs before aspiring to the presidency.
AMERICAN PATRIOT.
November II.