Evening star., 1954-09-12
DeWeys Refusal to Run
Moy Help Junior T. D. r.
But Some Observers Think
Ives Could Win Election
BY Fronk R. Kent

Thomas II. DeWey'S refusal to run
again for Governor Of New York Is q
Disappointment but not surprise, to
the public as wen as the politicians of
his party. Those who know him best
were aware that long ago he had made
up his mind and they had no belief he
could be changed, though he would
have been nominated without oppoSi-
tion and almost certainly elected.
There Is no use pretending that the
Dewey retirement does not improve
Democratic prospects in that State. He
was the sure winner, though Senator
Ives. now regarded as the likely NOM
inee. Is considered by some almost
equally strong. largely because he lacks
the enemies Mr.. Dewey has collected
In the course Of IL years. The situation
tends to concentrate attention upon the
somewhat frantic effort to build young
Franklin D. Roosevelt. jr.. into for
midable candidate for Governor, thus
presidency. It is not inaccurate to say
that this effort seems more difficult
than was first expected.
No trouble until recently was expected
about his nomination. The real trouble
with which he was confronted was in
convincing the voters Of the State that
he Is fit to be Governor. To this end
there appeared few days ago In
national magazine q long and handsome
article written by two talented relatives
of young Franklin who have known him
since childhood. They certainly did
their best for him. They insist that he
has now grown up; that he has gone
on the water wagon; that he no longer
indulges in his "hyena laugh" but is
behaving soberly and even solemnly;
that he is working hard trying to mas
ter the complicated State issues; that
he has Brain Trust composed Of three
brilliant young men; that he is making
every effort to live down the name
Junior" which has been attached to
him and which he feels does him no
particular good.
In brief, no stone is being left un-
turned to scrap his reputation as O
playboy. The picture painted Of him
now is Of serious minded, ambitious
young man, eager to serve the people
Of his State and country. The painters
Of this picture, being themselves con-
scientious writer's, hardly disguise their
belief that it is all an act and they
carefully refrain from committing
themselves as convinced either that he
will be elected, If nominated, or that,
If elected, he would have the qualities
to make a good Governor. Nor do they
extol his record in Congress for three
terms. except to say that while in his
first term he was conspicuous abb
sentee, in the last term he has been
almost constantly present.
In brief. by CLOSING over his liabili-
ties and shortcomings. his literary
friends have managed to make him out
an attractive individual without per-
juring themselves as to either his char.
acter or ability. This Is about as much
as could be expected and no doubt
Junior" is grateful. OF course. as the
convention nears the handicaps OF
of young Roosevelt appear more clearly.
While he was favored to win the nonni-
nation, the chances of Averell Harri-
man have greatly improved in the last
few days and a number of Democratic
leaders are now quite sure he will be
named. While Juniors friends now
claim that his two brothers. James and
Elliott, have not hurt his chances
greatly, no one claims that they have
not hurt him some. ,sa
Other liabilities of course, include
the fact that he has made conspic-
uously negative record in Congress, has
not been q success as lawyer and
given no evidence Of ability in any di-
rection at all. He is good looking glib
talker and better than averaee cam
paigner. But. when you have said that
you have said everything, except that
his real asset is his name. Without 1t
he would not figure at all in New York.
Upon 1t he hopes to ride into get the
support Of all the elements that sup
ported his father-the CIO, the Ameri-
can Liberal party. the Negroes and the
Democrats. Most qualified judges OF
New York politics think that even
with that support Senator Ives could
beat him in the election.
But Junior" and his Brain Trust
do not feel that way. They are cer-
tainly hot after 1t. He may have
grown up" as his friends say, but
he still is bumptious enough to believe
he can beat anybody. Their faith, OF
course, Is in the magic" OF the name.
That is the way Brother James felt
about it two years ago when Gov. Earl
Warren beat him by more than q
million votes in State where the
Democrats had more than O million
registered majority.