Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-22
New York Democrats,
Accorded Lead, Find
Cheer in Primaries
Rieht-Wing Victory
In American Labor Party
Called Signal Success
Special Dispatch to The Star.

SuiiSO SIS IVt SuSSSSS
Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, Sept. 21.-The most
important political development in
New York State this week was the
victory of the right-wing faction
of the American Labor party over
the anti-Roosevelt left-wing ele-
ment in the State primaries, thus
assuring the party conventions in
dorsement of the President and
Senator Mead. Democratic incum-
bent, later in the month.
With the left-wingers retaining
only Manhattan as a stronghold,
the right-wing victory was viewed
here by Democrats as a signal vic
tory in their campaign to win the
Empire States Al electoral votes,
and the State, as a result, must be
listed at present as leaning Demo-
cratic.
This Democratic margin in New
York, however, is at best only a
slight one, and Republican chances
to overcome it are by no means i'm
possible.
For while local Democrats hailed
the right-wing victory and pointed
out that Endorsement of a slate of
Roosevelt presidential electors by
the Laborites would give the Presi-
dent two lines on the ballot, Repub-
licans were also able to get hope
full signs from the primaries and
other political developments during
the week.
Expect to Profit by Split.
The left-wing Laborite defeat is
in itself an important gain, Repub-
licans believe. In 1886 the Ameri-
can Labor party gave President
Roosevelt some 275,00O votes, but
this year with a bitter intraparty
fight the labor vote is not expected
to exceed 10000 and Republicans
are confident that they can get the
support of many of the left-wing
element, or keep it from voting for
the President. The left-wing
strength in the State is estimated
at between $4,000 to $4,000.
Republican leaders here also saw
an advantage in the victory of
Samuel S. Leibowitz, regular Demo-
cratic organization designee, for
county Judge In Brooklyn, over
George J. Joyce. insurgent. Mr..
Joyce was supported by the heavy
Irish vote in Brooklyn and while
he was defeated in the Democratic
primaries by Mr.. Leibowitz by 81
majority, he polled over $4,000 votes.
The Leibowitz-Joyce primary cam
paign was quite bitter and the Irish,
who are of the reservation" here
in the city as far as the Democrats
are concerned, may, according to
Republicans. stay of" and vote for
Mr. Willkie in the presidential cleo
ton.
In addition, Republican leaders
were confident that the lag in the
Wendell Willkie campaign. which
had been apparent during the last
few weeks, has picked up with the
start Of Mr.. WILKES first campaign
tour. They admit that the tour may
we'll turn out to be the crucial
point of the campaign. but contend
that he is strengthening himself
throughout the country and that re-
action to date has been excellent.
Willkie Missteps Pounced Upon.
The Democrats, on the other
hand. insist that Mr.. Willkie is los
ing ground rapidly and that the
President is gaining in the same
proportion. They have made an
issue here of the Republican NOM
inees TO hell with Chicago" re-
mark in Cicero, ILL.,. as we'll as his
statement, later referred to by an
aide as "misspoken,' that the Presi-
dent "telephoned' Reichsfuehrer
Hitler and Premier Mussolini Just
before Munich and urged them to
sell Czecho-Slovakia down the
river"
The Republicans also contend that
the New York Times support of
Mr.. Willkie. announced Thursday,
will greatly aid their cause, particu-
larly in New York City, but the
Democrats deny it will have any
material effect.
Both Democrats and Republicans
readily admit that the battle lines
are just beginning to form and will
not be completed until after the
State conventions of both parties
are over at The end of the month.
Once those are out of the way, the
big guns" will open up and the
State will be the site of a bitter
campaign.