Evening star., 1941-10-16
u. 5. Foreign Policy
Issue in New York
Mayora|ty Election
La Guordio Victory Likely
To Be Interpreted Abroad
As Backing Roosevelt
BY GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Staff Correspondent.

NEW oIbIA, wv 4U-1NCW VI
mayoralty campaign, involved as il
is, gradually is reducing itself to two
main issues. The first is the foreign
policy of this country The second
is: Shall the system" developed
under the rule of Tammany Hall be
restored as the controlling influence
in municipal government?
The election result will be
watched not only in Washington
but also in Berlin and London That
Is the belief of some leaders who
are tremendously interested in the
outcome. They say that defeat
of Mayor La Guardia will be inter-
preted abroad as rejection by the
voters of New York of President
Roosevelt's policy of all-out aid to
Britain and other nations now
fighting Hitler and Mussolini BY
the same token they contend that
a defeat of La Guardia will bring
a considerable measure of satisfac-
ton to Herr Hitler and his follow
ers and an equal measure of dis
appointment to Winston Churchill
and the British.
This view is taken, obviously, by
supporters of La Guardia. If any
of the supporters of William O'Dwy-
er, Brooklyn's district attorney and
Democratic nominee for Mayor, be-
lieve that his election will be an en-
couragement to Hitler they are
keeping the belief carefully to
themselves. In fact, the ODWyer
campaign leaders, from Mr.. O'DWy-
er on down the line, are insisting
that the war abroad and this coun-
try's attitude toward it have Moth
ing to do with New York's election
of Mayor Mr.. O'Dwyer has said
that he supports the policy of the
President toward Britain. He has
denounced the dictators He has
denounced racial and religious in
tolerance.
Issue Raised Early.
However, the war issue was raised
In this campaign long before the
campaign got underway, by the
simple fact that Mayor La Guardia
has been one of the most vitriolic
critics of Hitler and Mussolini in
this country and one of the strong
est supporters of the Roosevelt for
eign policy.
If anything is needed to bring
conviction that this mayoralty cleo
ton is turning largely on the war
situation, a canvass of opinion on
probable results of the voting will
be enlightening to the skeptical.
Whether Democratic leader is ap-
preached, Republican or an
American-Labor leader, invariably
the prediction is made that this
group or that, depending upon
racial or national antecedents, will
vote for O'Dwyer or for La Guardia.
For example, there is no one of
them who will fail to say that La
Guardia will have the support of
very large percentage, even up to 95
per cent, of the Jewish vote. Not
because the Jews are all opposed to
Democratic rule of the city-indeed,
most of them are probably enrolled
as Democrats-but because they
hate Hitler and they think that La
Guardia is the more willing that
this country should do its utmost,
even to actual war, to bring about
his overthrow.
In the same way, these leaders, of
whatever party or faction, will pre-
dict that a large percentage of the
Irish-Americans and the German
Americans will vote for ODwyer-
not because these voters really be-
lieve Mr.. ODwyer has any sympathy
for Hitler, but because they hate La
Guardia for his position.
Question InescapabIe.
Similar statements are made re-
garding the Italian American, the
Polish-American and other groups.
Always with the idea they will side
either for or against La Guardia
because of their feeling toward the
war abroad. No matter how
strongly, therefore, the leaders and
their principals may proclaim that
the war has nothing to do with
New York's fight over a Mayor, their
own statements disprove that fact.
Since the war and the admins
tration's foreign policy enter SO
strongly into New York situation,
the attitude of the President and
Gov. Lehman toward the La
Guardia candidacy becomes of pri-
mary interest. The President has
said nothing so far. Gov. Lehman
Is still to speak, but spokesmen for
him have declared he will announce
for Mr.. ODwyer, the Democratic
party candidate
The President is the chief ex-
ponent of the administrations for
eign policy. He has denounced Hit
Ter and all his works and demanded
his defeat. In view of the interpre-
tation which will be placed on the
outcome of the election, will he go
to the bat for La Guardia openly?
That is the question that is on the
lips of a lot of people in New York
today.
G. o. p. Sees Straddling.
Gov. Lehman has been a strong
supporter of the Presidents foreign
policy. He has gone along with the
so-called interventionist group. II
he comes out for ODwyer, in the
face of the fact that La Guardia's S
defeat will be considered a blow
abroad for the Presidents policy,
will he not be letting down the
cause for which he has spoken?
Some of the Republicans in New
York are rather bitter about what
they call the straddling of the ad-
ministration. with some of the aides
of the President speaking up for
La Guardia. while the Democratic
national chairman. Ed Flynn, and
the Presidents friend. Gov. Leh-
man, support O'Dwyer. Playing
both ends against the middle for
political purposes" is the term they
use.
Probably there is no Republican
In New York who believes more
strongly than Wendell L. Willkie
that Mayor La Guardia should be
reelected. Mr.. Willkie already has