Evening star., 1954-08-19
The Political Mill
Roosevelt or Horrimun
To Run for Governor
Democratic Chiefs Believed
To Fuvor Ex-MSA Head
By Gould Lincoln

10 TUVOr 6A-MSA 1eU0
By Gould Lincoln
NEW YORK, Aug. 19-The selection
Of Democratic nominee for Governor
OF New York seems to have narrowed to
a choice between Representative Frank
lin d. Roosevelt, jr.. and w. Averell
Hartman. former Ambassador and Mu-
tual Security Administrator.
They are the two avowed candidates.
and In recent weeks Mr.. Hartman Is
said to have been making some gains,
certainly with the Democratic leaders.
There are reports, too, that Senator
Lehman would be glad to see MIR. Harri-
man nominated. although the Senator
has publicly maintained hands OF
policy.
One thing was set down as certain by
Democratic leaders and observers here:
Mayor Robert r. Wagner Of New York
will not run for Governor. The city
leaders want him to remain Mayor, an
Office to which he was elected only q
year ago. Further. the Mayor wishes
eventually to run for Senator. Should
Senator Lehman decide not to be a
candidate to succeed himself in 1866,
when he win be 76 years old, Mayor
Wagner would be in position to seek
the senatorial nomination. Or he might
try FOR the Ives Senate seat should Sen.
ator Ives. Republican. be elected Gov.
ernor next November. which may well
happen.
StiM Unannounced.
Gov. Dewey has still to announce his
NsI&
good reason to believe he viii adhere
to his determination, formed q long
time ago. not to run for q fourth term.
He may make an announcement after
Congress adjourns. Senator Ives Is the
logical Republican nominee for Cover.
nor with Gov. Dewey out Of the picture.
Gov. Dewey's delay. therefore, in max.
Ing public announcement of his plans
makes little difference, outside Of keep
Ing the Democrats guessing. For Sena.
tor Ives is widely known to New York
voters, and does not require build-up
in advance.
Senator Ives is in the enviable posi-
ton OF having nothing to lose. Should
he run for Governor and be defeated.
he would still remain Senator for an.
other four years. He was overwhelm-
ingly reelected Senator in 1852. Should
he win as Governor, he would be able
to appoint Republican to fill the SEN
ate seat he vacates.
The Democrats obviously are relying
upon economic conditions as an issue
to bring them victory in the guberna-
torial election. They are trying to scare
the voters with the possibility of q de.
preston under continued Republican
rule. This tactic did not win for them
in 1852. From the present outlook, it
will not work for them this time either.
There is no drastic unemployment, de-
spite Democratic talk. On the contrary,
figures indicate that employment is
far better than 1t has been in any
peacetime year for long period. Those
Democrats backing young Roosevelt
maintain that he has q better chance
of getting out the lower and lowest in
come bracket voters to support the
Democratic ticket than any other po-
tential candidate.
More Of 1882?
If he runs, therefore, it may be a rep
etition of the old anti-depression cam
paigns, put on by the Democrats when
IGOOSCo
velt in 1882 and thereafter.
Democratic leaders. particularly In
the city, look on the Roosevelt can
didacy with some skepticism. They are
not too sure he can win, despite the
name he carries. He has been q mem
ber Of the House for three terms with
out having made any particular mark.
He may inherit some Of the old Roose.
velt hates, as well as New Deal sup
port. Also, some Of the leaders are said
to be anxious not to have the guberna-
torial nomination handed to Mr.. Roose-
velt on a platter. They want him to
struggle for it, at least For they do not
look forward with pleasure to q Gov
ernor who might run roughshod over
their wishes. So the city leaders are
holding of. The Democratic State Com
mittee is conducting polls of it's own to
determine, If it can, which Of the Dem
ocratic possibilities for Governor has
the greatest support among the voters.
The results of these polls have not yet
been disclosed.
September Conventions.
The Democratic State convention will
be held in New York SeptembaS n and
%. The Republican conventicn IL Get Tar
September % and 23 in Syracuse. It IL
entirely probable that the gubernatoria.
nominations of both conventions will bO
known before the delegates meet-de-
pending on the decision of Gov. Dewey
and on the decision of the Democratic
leaders in the city, which is the Demo-
cratic stronghold. If by any chance
there should be split among the Dem.
ocrats over Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr.. Har-
riman, the Democratic convention
might be as dramatic as that held IL
years ago in Brooklyn when the then
President Roosevelt backed former SEN
ator Meade for the gubernatorial nomi-
nation, and James A. Farley, still
chairman Of the Democratic State COM
mittee in those days. supported Ben
nett. Mr.. Bennett won. The party row
paved the way for the election Of Gov.
Dewey, the first Republican to hold the
Office In many years. Gov. Dewey has
%xvytno Al a..