Evening star., 1952-08-30
The Political Min
The PoiitieoiMn
Democratic Party Called
Still Split in New York
Cashmere Choice for Senate
Shows Leaders Uncertain
By Gould Lincoln

The decision of the Democrats. in State
convention. to nominate Brooklyn Bor-
ough President John Cashmere for
United States Senator shows the party
still divided and uncertain in the EN-
pire State. Mr.. Cashmere, no matter
how strong he may be in his own baili-
wick, is an unknown in many parts Of
the State. He will be running against
Senator Ives. Republican, strong candi-
date who six years ago defeated Senator
Lehman. his then Democratic opponent.
by some 250,000 votes.
A strenuous effort was made to get
w. Averell Hartman, Mutual Security
administrator and Six weeks ago a
candidate for the Democratic presiden-
tial nomination, to become a candidate
for the Senate. Mr.. Hartman wanted
none of it. Even at the eleventh hour.
State Democratic Chairman Fitzpatrick
was buSily engaged in trying to get the
promise of the candidates for the sena-
torial nomination. including Mr.. CASH
more and Robert F. Wagner, jr.. Man
haitian Borough president, to withdraw
so that Mr. Hartman could be drafted"
Mr.. Cashmere said mo-" which ended
the effort.
Plagued by Leftists.
The situation in New York is none
too happy, either for the Democratic
senatorial ticket or for the Steven
son-Sparkman ticket in the presidential
race. The Democrats are plagued, as
they have been in earlier years, by the
Liberal Party and the American Labor
Party. The Liberal Party, which counts
on polling something like 100000 votes,
looks with jaundiced eye on Cashmere.
while it was very willing to take Harri-
man or Wagner. 1t has named candi-
date of its own for the Senate, George
S. Counts, professor at Columbia Uni
versity and a vice chairman of the
Liberal Party. 1t may be that the
professor will be withdrawn, and CASH
more substituted on the Liberal ticket.
but even so. Cashmere may lag in the
Liberal vote on election day.
The left wing American Labor Party.
which used to be an asset too. to Demo-
cratic candidates in New York. also has
nominated senatorial candidate, Cor
liss Lamont, son of the late Thomas w.
Lamont Since the Democrats must rely
on getting both Liberal and American
Labor support to win in New York If
the Democratic nominees are to win,
the picture for Mr.. Cashmere is not
bright.
The Liberal Party has nominated
Stevenson and Sparkman as its candi-
dates for President and Vice President.
but the American Labor Party has not.
The latter'S candidates are Vincent Hall
inan, San Francisco lawyer, and Mrs.
Charlotte Bass, former New York Negro
newspaper publisher.
Real Sweep Vital to Victory.
So far as New York is concerned, 1t
looks now as though only real sweep
for the Stevenson-Sparkma ticket can
bring Democratic victory in the State.
either in the presidential race or in that
for Senator. The Democratic organi-
zation there, which at one time worked
so successfully under the leadership Of
the late AL Smith, and then under that
of James A.. Farley, has had tough
time in recent years. Three times it has
been overwhelmed in the gubernatorial
campaign by Gov. Thomas E. Dewey. 1t
has developed no new, important figures
to run for Office. Young Franklin D.
Roosevelt. now a Representative in Con-
gress, eventually may emerge. At present.
he has too many enemies among the So
called leaders He played leading part
in the recent Democratic National Con-
vention, supporting the candidacy Of Mr..
Hartman for the presidential nomina-
tion. His brother, James Roosevelt OF
California, went down the line for Sena-
tor Kefauver of Tennessee. Neither
landed his candidate.
1t may be that in 1854, when New
York must elect Governor, Mr.. Roose-
velt will be given his chance for spot
in the sunlight. James Roosevelt tried
for Governor Of California in 1850 and
was submerged by Gov. Warren, Repub-
lican, who beat him by more than
100000 in State which has million
more registered Democrats than it has
registered Republicans. ..,., ,..s.
Four years ago, New York cast its IS
presidential electoral votes for Gov.
Dewey Gov. Dewey was aided by
the fact that Henry Wallace. the
Progressive candidate, was on the ballot.
There is enough antagonism to the Ste
venson- -Sparkman ticket in New York
among the liberal, and other groups.
some of them racial. to give the State
this year to Gen. Eisenhower.