Evening star., 1941-11-05
La Guurdiu's Victory

For the third time in succession
the forces of good government versus
machine politics the system
have succeeded in electing a Mayor
of Americas greatest city. 1t is a
good omen. Tammany Hall, for years
the citadel of the organization which
ruled the city and dispensed patron
age and contracts, is so starved as
to be scarcely recognizable.
There was more in the reelection
OF Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia yes
terday than the mere triumph Of
good government. Although his
Democratic opponent. Brooklyn's Dis
trict Attorney William O'Dwyer, early
in the campaign had declared him.
self a supporter of President RooSe-
velt's foreign policies, it Is no secret
that those elements in the city who
are opposed to these policies intended
to rally to Mr.. O'Dwyer's standard
and they did. A defeat for Mayor
La Guardia would have been misin-
terpreted abroad, however, as an in
dication that the Empire City's peo-
pie were in majority actually opposed
to the all-out demand for defeat of
the Axis powers. No such majority
would have been existent, even with
the election of Mr. ODwyer. A large
proportion of his supporters were
heartily back of the Presidents pol
icies-as for example Governor Her
bert Lehman. The Mayors re-elec-
ton gives Berlin and Rome no chance
to gloat, for Mr. La Guardia has been
a foremost opponent of both Hitler
and Mussolini.
The victory OF Mr. La Guardia was
achieved by a combination of Re-
publicans, American-Laborites indie
pendent Democrats fusion of the
forces which fought for years to rid
the great city of machine rule 1t
was won. however, by much smaller
margin than that of four years ago,
when the Mayor was reelected with
a lead OF 453, 1000 votes. Yesterday his
plurality was 1884.
The narrowness Of the Mayors
triumph may have chastening in
f1uence. 1t may cause Mr.. La Guar
dia to bride tongue which in re-
cent days has done him i'll service.
Calling names is childish activity
or worse. 1t is practice in which
others in public Office beside the
Mayor OF New York have been too
prone to indulge in recent years.
1t Is habit that grows on those
who resort to it. 1t is bad manners
worse compounded. The Mayors
recent attack on Governor Lehman
and the New York Court Of Appeals,
unjustified by any facts presented,
probably cost him many votes.
The mayoralty election is bitter
pill for the Democratic State organ
ization of New York. Except for
President Roosevelt, who declared
himself unequivocally for the re-
election Of the Mayor, all the party
leaders. State and city, supported
Mr.. O,Dwyer. Mayor La Guardia
again had the nomination. OF the
Republican party in New York-not
because the party loves him, but be-
cause of its desire to prevent re-
turn of the Democratic machine to
power in the city. Arrayed in sup
port Of Mr.. O'Dwyer was Edward J.
Flynn, Democratic national chair
man. as we'll as Democratic State
Chairman Jim" Farley and Gov
ernor Lehman. What repercussions
this alignment of President Roose-
welt against his party chieftains in
New York may have it is too early
to declare with accuracy. 1t is this
State organization-and city-which
will be relied upon to carry New York
for Governor next year, and for
L.