Evening star., 1942-08-21
Mr.. Farley Wins

i>OW Olldp CilC UdttlC lOI CUIlLIOl Ol
the Democratic party in New York
State has been resolved in favor of
big jim" Farley, it becomes desirable
to draw a distinction between the real
and the false issues involved in that
significant struggle.
There was only one substantial
issue-whether the New York Demo-
cratic organization was to be con-
trolled by President Roosevelt or by
MIR. Farley. The outcome Is an i'm
preSsive triumph for the latter and
q notable defeat for the President.
Mr.. Farley went into the last lap
of the pre-convention race with a
majority Of the delegates pledged to
his candidate, Attorney General John
]. Bennett. He was able to obtain
these pledges because of his position
as State Democratic leader and, more
Importantly, because of his own per-
sonal integrity and his loyalty to the
men who worked in the ranks of the
party. 1t was time when his un-
questioned reputation as square
shooter" stood him in good stead.
After Mr.. Farley had been given
these pledges, Senator James M.
Mead, probably with considerable
personal reluctance, announced his
candidacy, and received the blessing
Of the President. Then began the
drive for Mead delegates, with the
New Dealers and the political lieu
tenants Of the President leading the
way. Immediately, those delegates
who had pledged themselves to Attor-
ney General Bennett were put in a
position where they had to- choose
between running out on Mr.. Farley
or refusing to go along with the
Presidents wishes. And, to make
matters worse, the managers of the
Mead campaign made the foolish
mistake of demanding roll call vote,
In order, as one of them expressed
1t, to separate the sheep from the
goats.
The result of all this, in effect, was
that each delegate pledged to Mr..
Farley was put on the spot. To re-
main in the good graces of the Presi-
dent, it became necessary for the
pledged delegate to violate publicly
his pledge to Mr. Farley. The alter
native was to stand by a promise
made to a man who has always kept
his own promises, and to take the
consequences of administration dis
pleasure.
To the credit of the pledged dele
gates, and for the ultimate good of
democratic system which is not
supposed to be wholly dominated by
the power of Federal patronage, the
promises which had been made to Mr..
Farley were kept by the delegates,
almost to man.
The other principal issue-that a
vote for Mr.. Bennett would be con-
sidered as a vote OF no confidence
In Mr.. Roosevelt as the Nations war
time President-was strictly of the
synthetic variety. 1t had not the
slightest foundation in fact, and if
enemy propagandists should seek to
capitalize on the conventions rejec-
tion of the so-called war" candidate,
those representatives of the President
who raised this false issue will have
no one to blame but themselves.
If the convention vote signifies
anything more than remarkable
personal Endorsement of Mr.. Farley
by the New York Democrats, it is
that the rank-and- are growing
weary of presidential interference
with State political contests. 1t may
be contended that this was the vote
OF the professional politicians, and
not of the people, but, granting that
this is true, it is all the more signifi-
cant by reason Of that fact. And the
country will be better off for the
duration of the war If this signifi.
cance is not lost upon those officials
in Washington who should be fully
occupied with running the Fedora
Government and directing the con
duct Of the war