Evening star., 1942-08-20
Mead backer
Makes Ballot
Unanimous
Attorney Generals
Selection Held Bio
Victory for Farley
BY GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Staff Correspondent.

Star Staff Correspondent.
BROOKLYN. Aug. 20. At
torney General John J. Bennett,
jr., supported by Big Jim" Far
ley, was unanimously nominated
for Governor by the Democratic
State Convention this afternoon.
The vote was 623 for Mr.. Ben
nett to 393 for Senator Mead.
That makes a total of LOIS deie-
gate votes, with two added for
Suffolk County.
This is a major defeat for the New
Dealers who have been trying to
nominate Senator Mead in place Of
Mr. Bennett.
The convention overrode Presi-
dent Roosevelt when it gave the
President had gone on record for
Jim" Mead He had also sent to
a group of leaders Tuesday night
proposals for avoiding knock
down drag-out fight in the con-
vention.
The victory for Mr. Bennett was
at the same time a triumph for Mr..
Farley, former member of the Pres
ident's cabinet and manager Of two
Roosevelt presidential campaigns.
1t was the plan Of the New Deal
ers not only to knock down Mr..
Farleys candidate, but also to get
rid of Mr.. Farley as political fac
tor in New York State.
Farley Faced Great Odds.
Facing great odds, with the Presi-
dent, Democratic National Chair
man Edward Flynn, Gov. Herbert
H. Lehman, Tammany Leader
Michael j. Kennedy. and Senator
Wagner against him. Mr.. Farley car
ried his candidate through to win
in a wide-open roll call in the State
convention.
The charge had been made by
Mr.. Fariey's opponents that he was
afraid of such q vote in the con-
vention-tnat If the delegates were
stood up and counted by name,
Senator Mead would have a major
ity. That proved untrue by large
margin.
The big Brooklyn delegation, into
whose ranks the Mead followers
hoped to break. voted 1872 to l for
Mr.. Bennett On the other hand
some 80 members of the New York
County delegation, Tammany. turn
ed from their leaders and voted for
Mr.. Bennett.
There was tremendous excitement
in the convention as the roll call
proceeded-until the Brooklyn del
egation had been polled. Then it
was conceded Senator Mead had no
chance of nomination.
1t took upward of two hours to
call the roll of the LOLA delegates.
Farley Thanks Delegates.
Immediately after the roll call had
been concluded, and before the vote
was announced, Mr.. Kennedy asked
for recognition to move to make the
nomination of Mr.. Bennett unani-
nous.
II extend my congratulations to
John J. Bennett, jr.," said Mr.. Ken
nedy. "He will be the next Gov
ernor Of New York" II
11lClC WCIC ASuA oAlodtSs
A leader from the Bronx sec
onded the motion offered by Mr..
Kennedy.
There were loud shouts for
Farley"
SThe State chairman, his face
shining, thanked the delegates for
their support of Mr.. Bennett and
said the latter would win in Novem-
ber.
With complete unanimity, Mead
leaders stepped forward to declare
they would give their support to
Mr. Bennett in the coming cam
paign. Senator Mead, it was an
nounced. would do his best to bring
about the election of his successful
rival.
Gov. Lehman gave his heartiest
congratulations to Jack" Bennett
and Jim" Farley and wished Mr..
Bennett all success. The Governor
had been one of the leaders for SEN
ator Mead.
In the opinion of many politicians
the nomination contest shaped up as
one for control of the State organi-
zation and possibly have important
bearing on the Democratic delega-
ton to the national convention in
1914.
On the other hand, friends of the
President emphasized that under no
circumstances was this the case, and
the Chief Executive was represented
as feeling that Senator Mead would
make better race than Mr.. Ben
nett, who has long been staunch
party man in New York State poll
tics.
Labor Party Set Down.
Not only did the convention take
a swat at interference from WASH
ington in State politics. but 1t also