Evening star., 1942-07-23
ne TOTIT1COI MIIT
Struggle Between Farley and President Over
Nominee Threatens in New York Convention
BY GOULD LINCOLN.

NouLD
The big battle is on in the
campaign for control Of the New
York State Democratic organi-
zation, as well as for the Demo-
cratic nomination for Governor.
President Roosevelt has come out
in the open and thrown the full
weight of his inf1uence-which is
enormous-in support Of the
candidacy OF Senator Jim"
Mead for the gubernatorial nomi-
nation.
This joins the issue exactly
between the President and
Chairman Farley Had the
President remained silent re-
garding the Mead candidacy, the
supporters of Attorney General
John j, Bennett, jr.. Of whom
Mr.. Farley is foremost, would
have been in position to de-
clare that Mr.. Bennett, who has
been entirely loyal to the Presi-
dents policies, both foreign and
domestic, met the Presidents
specifications for a gubernatorial
candidate as well as Senator
Mead or any other contestant.
The Presidents statement to
Senator Mead yesterday, which
he gave the Senator permission
to quote, was: Il am a voter in
New York State, but 1 am not
a delegate to the convention.
If I were delegate to the con-
vention, would cast my vote for
Jim Mead" Just as simple and
conclusive as that.
The nomination for Governor
Is made in the Democratic State
Convention, not in a primary
election. There seems no reason
to doubt that the delegates to
the convention, who are still to
be chosen in the primary on
August IL. will take due notice of
what the President said to Sena-
tor Mead.
Majority Pledged to Bennett.
The New York State Demo-
cratic organization. has been
carefully manned by Mr.. Farley.
The county chairmen, with few
exceptions, are strong friends of
his. The county committeeman
are, too. The county committees
already have pledged, one way
or another, enough delegate
votes in the convention to nomi-
nate Mr.. Bennett. However. no
matter how strong friends they
may be of Mr.. Farley, the county
chairmen and the committee
men are also politicians. They
may well ask themselves a very
practical question-and ask Mr..
Farley the same question. 1t is:
'If We 60 along with you, Jim,
and nominate Mr.. Bennett in
the convention, shere do we go
from there? The American
Labor party, with its potential
4O0, 900 votes, has declared It will
not support Mr.. Bennett. but
that if he is nominated, 1t will
put a candidate of itsiown in the
field, making the election OF a
Republican Governor almost a
sure thing"
This is an exceedingly practical
way of looking at the situation.
1t may be that some of the Or
ganization leaders would rather
60 down to defeat in the elfttion
than relinquish control, OF have
control taken away from Mr..
Farley. But that q majority Of
Inem eWlll 90 80 is open 10 grave
doubt.
Political leaders thrive on win
ming elections, not on defeats.
They want te elect a Democratic
Governor in New York next No
vember. and the President is par
ticularly anxious that a Demo-
crat be elected. 1t is reported
that he became convinced that
Mr.. Bennett could not be elected
and that the Labor Party would
not gooalong with Bennett.
1t may be that this was what
the, President wished to believe.
Certainly 1t is what some OF the