Evening star., 1950-09-28
The Political Mill
The Political Mill !
New York Democrats
Put in Tough Spot
Could Result in 6. O. P. Sweep
Of November Elections
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
New York Democrats have clubbed
themselves into tough situation which
could result in their loss of guberna-
torial and senatorial elections in Noyem-
ber-and even the Joss of the mayoralty
election in New York City to the Re-
publicans. A sweep Of those proportions
would be body blow to any Democratic
President other than President Harry s.
Truman, who at one time boasted he was
glad he had been elected without the aid
Of New York and the Solid South in
1948.
When the President, under the prod
ding of Ed Flynn, Democratic national
committeeman and boss Of the Bronx.
had given former Mayor William
ODwyer Of New York the ambassadorial
post In Mexico City, the Democrats
thought they had put over a fast one.
They had brought about an election OF
Mayor, calculated to bring out a big
Democratic vote In the Democratic
stronghold which would help them elect
Governor as well as Senator. It
hasn't turned out as they hoped. In the
first place. the regular Democratic nomi-
nee for Mayor, Justice Ferdinand Pecora
Of the State Supreme Court. finds him.
self opposed not only by Republican
candidate but also by Acting Mayor Vim
cent r. Impellitteri, running as a cam
didate Of the Experience Party" Mr..
Impellitteri, a Democrat, denied the may
orally nomination Of his party by the
five county leaders, who settled on JUS
tice Pecora because he also had the bless
ing Of the Liberal Party, insisted on
running independently. None Of the Dem
ocratic leaders were able to shake him
loose from that determination, though
they tried it,
ALP Has Candidate, Too.
To complicate the mayoralty fight still
further, the American Labor Party has
put its own candidate in the field, too
Paul Ross. The upshot is real chance
for the Republican nominee, Edward
Corsi. A Republican Mayor Of New York,
elected on the Republican ticket alone
with no fusion-would be an experience
for the metropolis, and perhaps happy
one.
Senator Lehman's best hope for re-
election lies in the big bloc Of Jewish
votes in New York City and the support
Of the New Deal-Fair Deal Democrats.
But Mr.. Lehman is worried. This year he
has in the field against him an American
Labor Party candidate, DR.. w. E. Du-
bois. Dr. Dubois will cut into vote which
has in the past been Senator Lehman'S
when he ran for Governor and Senatoa.
Before he left Washington, Senator Leh-
man went to the White House to urge
President Truman to come to New York
and make q campaign speech for the
Democratic ticket. How much good Mr..
Truman could do the Democrats in New
York is questionable. The late President
Franklin D. Roosevelt could go to New
York and campaign for candidates for
Senator and Governor with good grace
he was himself New Yorker. But New
Workers resent being told by outsiders
whom to vote for 1t. Gov. Joe r. Han
ley, Republican nominee for Senator
gains from the misfortunes of Mr.. Lehe
! man. ...
Racket Probe Adds to Woes.
Acting Mayor Impellitteri is increasing
the woes Of the Tammany Democrats in
New York City by pressing the investiga-
ton of the alleged close tie-up in Brook
lyn--and in the rest of the big city-be-
tween the police and the bookmakers.
This may get Mr. Impellitteri q lot Of
votes personally, but they will be votes
that otherwise might go to Justice Pc
cora, the regular Democratic nominee.
The fact that former Mayor O'Dwyer-
now Ambassador to the police.
bookie investigation as "witch-hunt"
is not going to be helpful, either, if tho
scandal breaks in big way before elec-
tion day.
Last but not the least of the Demo-
Gratis worries is Governor Dewey. They
had hoped fervently he would not run to
succeed himself. But there he is, a can
didate who twice before has been too
much for them-and by big votes. New
Yorkers have tradition of supporting
strong men for Governors Of their State.
The Democrats have come up with an
unknown Representative Walter A..
Lynch - as their candidate for Gov
ernor. In few weeks time, the Demo-
Gratis have to sell Mr.. Lynch to the people
Of A congressional districts. He ia
known only In his own district, the 23rd.
In this gubernatorial race, too, the
American Labor Party is hurting the
Democratic candidate by running can
didate of its own. John McManus. The
great difficulty the Democrats face to-
day grows out Of their reliance in the
past on the support of splinter parties"
like the ALP and the Liberal Party.
Without that support-even sometimes
with it-they have lost