Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-10-24
BY GOULD LINCOLN.

President Roosevelt today Endorsed
Mayor La Guardia Of New York for
re-election-Without using the word
"indorse." The Chief Executive de-
clared that the Mayor had given
New York City the most honest
and the most efficient" municipal
government within his recollection,
The statement made by the Presi-
dent did not come as a surprise.
Mayor La Guardia has been an ar
dent supporter of the President and
his policies. both domestic and for
eign He is head OF civilian defense
activities in this emergency. having
been appointed by the President.
The only question was whether the
President would issue a statement
favoring the Mayor or whether he
would remain silent during the
campaign.
In New York, the Associated
Press reported. Mr.. La Guardia
said. The President knows his
New York City. 1t was indeed
mt anu VI IlllIl 10 ElN6
me that strong Endorsement
In making his statement the
President places himself in OPPOSE
ton to Gov. Herbert Lehman of New
York, Democratic National Chair.
man Edward J. Flynn and Demo-
cratic State Chairman James A.
Farley, all of whom are in the
camp of District Attorney William
ODwyer of Brooklyn. the regular
Democratic nominee for Mayor.
The Democratic organizations OF
New York City are engaged in a
desperate attempt to regain control
OF the city government after eight
years of La Guardia administration.
The Presidents statement. it is be-
heved, will be an effective aid to Mr.
La Guardia, who is far more hard
pressed than he was four year ago.
Praised for Efficiency.
The statement of the President,
read at his press conference, fol-
lows:
Although my voting residence has
always been upstate. I have lived
and worked in the City of New York
of and on since 1904. I have known
and observed New York's Mayors
since that time
Il am not taking part in the New
York City election. but because the
city of New York contains about
half the population of my State, do
not hesitate to express the opinion
that Mayor La Guardia and his ad-
minlstration have given to the city
the most honest and, I believe, the
most efficient municipal government
Of any within my recollection. The
fact that the city's election has no
relationship to national policies. but
is confined to civic policies, is at
tested by the fact that the constitu-
ton of the State provides for the
municipal election in off years, when
neither a Governor nor President
nor members of the House of Rep
resentatives or Senate of the United
States are to be chosen
Position Painful to Flynn.
Mr. Roosevelt's statement had
been prepared in advance of his
press conference. He read it when
a question was asked about the may
orally campaign. When he came
to that part in the statement in
which he said he was taking no part
in the New York City election, but"
he felt he was entitled to talk about
it since the city contained about
half the population of his State, the
President emphasized but" drawing
a laugh from the large group of re-
porters attending the conference, in
which the President himself Joined.
The position taken by the Presi-
dent in this mayoralty campaign is
very painful for the Democratic
leaders of the State. according to all
reports. National Chairman FLYNN
is the Democratic boss of the popu-
lous Bronx. He has been attacked
again and again by Mayor La
Guardia.
Mayor La Guardia is the Fusion"
candidate, having the Republican
nomination as we'll as that of the
American Labor Party.
Chairman Flynn has two courses
open to him: To accept the Presi-
dents Endorsement of Mr.. La
Guardia in dignified sorrow or to
resign as national chairman. He
has said nothing about resignine.
so far as could be learned here
today
National Significance Denied.
In his statement the President
pointed out that mayoralty elections
in New York are supposed to have
no national significance and, in
deed, are held in years that offer
no presidential. congressional or
State elections. This may have been
intended to soften his opposition to
the course pursued by Chairman
Flynn. Gov. Lehman and other
Democratic leaders. And also to
give the impression that national
and international politics are not
mixed up in this mayoralty cleo
(See LA GUARDIA, Page AID