Evening star., 1953-10-25

Governors Sc Role
Hangs in Balance
By WiIliom Phelps

BY Williom Phelps
ALBANY, N. Y.-Gov. Thomas e.
Dewey, the only two-time presiden-
tial loser in Republican history, Is
currently involved in a pitched po-
litical battle on the State level, one
that seriously threatens his long
cherished White House dream.
On the surface the only question
at stake is whether a Republican
State senator, virtually unknown
outside New York, will be forced to
give up his post of temporary presi-
dent of the Senate and thus drop
out of the line of direct succession
to the governorship.
But behind this issue is a dir, ct
challenge to Gov. Dewey's continued
control of the Republican State ma
chinery. Without this control his
prospects of retaining the governor
ship in 1854 and thus keeping in
strategic position for a third presi-
dental bid in 1856 would be dim
indeed.
Seldom in his II years in New
York dingy Executive Mansion has
Mr.. Dewey tangled with a member
OF his own party as powerful, proud
and stubborn as his current oppo-
nent, Senator Arthur H. Wicks Of
Kingston.
Breoch Threatened
The Wide-open split between the
two men over the propriety of Mr..
WlckS' admitted visits to con-
vlcted labor racketeer still serving
time in prison has threatened to
open breach in party ranks un.
paralleled in the era of the Cover
nor's 1ron-clad political control Of
the State.
The Dewey-Wicks clash was an
lndlrect outgrowth of the current
investigation of harness racing
scandals in the State. When q union
leader with considerable influence
at one of the trotting tracks was
murdered in a Bronx apartment
late in August, New York City news
papers began probing the careers
OF other union leaders.
One OF the papers, from a source
still undiSclosed, obtained a list of
persons who had visited Joseph S.
(Joey) Fay at Sing Sing, where the
former vice president of the Inter-
national Operating Engineers Union
is serving 712 to 15-year term for
extortion in connection with an at
tempted shakedown on a city water
supply project.
High on Fay's guest list" was
the name of Senator Wicks. The
Republican legislator, who has been
majority leader of the Senate for
nVe years, admitted five or six"
visits to Fay but said he had only
been seeking the convict's aid IN
settling labor disputes that threat
ened public projects in his district.
Swift Reaction q.
The Governors reaction was swift
and harsh. He said he thoroughly
dlSapproved of such acts by public
oflclalS and demanded an explana-
ton. He summoned Mr.. Wicks to a
four-hour closed-door conference, at
resign as legislative leader.
Mr.. DeWeys concern was based on
a chain OF events that gave the
senator posi- as majority leader
far more than its normal signifi-
canoe The lieutenant governor,
FRANK c. Moore, had resigned two
days before the Fay story broke.
thus elevating Mr.. Wicks to the role
OF actlng governor in case of Mr..
DeWey's death or absence from the
State.
The senator fatty refused to resign
as legislative leader but promised
Chat he would submit his reSigna-
Clon at the next session of the legiS.
Iature and seek vindication, prob
ably through reelection, from his
colleagues. Mr.. Dewey Immediately
scheduled a special session for No
vember IT,
This put the question squarely up
TO the 90 senators: Would they sup
port the Governor and refuse to
give Mr.. Wicks the vote of confidence
he sought or would they defy MIR.
Dewey and retain the senator as
their leader, despite his. association
with the imprisoned racketeer?
Ordinarily a State senator would
appear to be out-matched in this kind
OF bout with a national political
leader. But Mr.. Wicks is no push
over A crafty political in-flghter
who started as a taXi-driver and
worked his own way to wealth and
power, he has never been a man to
cross lightly.
Source of Embarrassment
Dewey's associates concede pri-
vately that a defeat on the WickS
issue could be very embarrassing.
II the Senate should stand firm
behind its beleaguered leader there
is no question that the Governors
party strength in the State would
be shaken and, accordingly, his
prospects of controlling the States
delegation to the 1856 national con-
vention.
There are those who maintain that
Mr.. Dewey, through typical astute
handling of ticklish situation, Is
bound to come out Clean" even If
Mr.. Wicks is reelected. They say
the Governor has done all he can,
under the law, to get the senator
out of his leadership post and could
not thus be challenged politically.
Most observers discount this view,
however, on the grounds that the
voting public is likely to blame Mr..
Dewey for the Senate's failure to
follow his lead, even though the
Governor technically has no power
to oust legislative leader or to
force the lawmakers to do so.
Although Gov. Dewey continues
to deny any national political am
hilton and cnnoE yicffI11ly IF va