Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-25
Roosevelt, il, Prepares
For Governorship Race
Writer Sees Significance
In New York Contest /
BY Frank r. Kent

By Frank R. Kent
with the convention only month
or so away. the prospects that young
Franklin d. Roosevelt. jr.. viii be the
Democratic nominee for Governor Of
New York have steadily grown more
favorable. Informed observers now say
that he Is practically 10-to-1 bet
for the nomination. There are, several
reasons for this: ~ He Is the only
Democrat avidly campaigning for the
nominations; ca he has the support Of
organized labor. the Negro leaders. the
Americans for Democratic Action and
the Tammany bosses: go his name Is
supposed to be big political asset.
How valuable that Is remains to be
seen. Two years ago when his brother
James was nominated for Governor In
California Ii was his asset, too. This
was long before the unsavory revela-
lions of his wife's divorce action. Yet.
before these were known. In State
with much more than o million Demo-
cratic registrations, James was defeat-
ed by more than million votes. Now,
in the States heaviest Democratic dis
trict he has been nominated for the
House Of Representatives and brazenly
says he Is running to vindicate his
fathers name. At any rate, James Cali
fornia candidacy is not helping Frank
Inns New York candidacy.
The latter's advocates publicly try to
discount 1t, but privately they label it
a handicap. The truth is that this
young man cannot stand much Of q
handicap. He has few qualifications to
be Governor of New York and in his
three terms as member Of Congress
has not made an enviablel record. He
is q glib. though not a gifted, speaker.
has shown neither initiative nor
ability. in the House and his most
ardent supporters are the labor bosses
of the Go and the left-wing leaders
Of the ADA. Of which both he and his
mother are members.
OF course. it is well understood that
he Is eager to become President and
regards the New York governorship as
a big step toward that goal, which 1t
undoubtedly is, There are many Demo-
Gratis in the State who shudder at the
prospect. These regard him as a shall
low imitation of his late father. He Is
not personally popular in Congress. He
got there solely because Of his name and
If he becomes his party's candidate for
Governor that may be enough to pull
him through. His real hope for sue
cess, however, lies In the inability OF
the Republicans to induce their strong
est man-Gov. Dewey-to run for a
fourth term.
It generally is believed that either
Gov Dewey or Senator Ives would
beat Representative Roosevelt by
a considerable margin. But neither
of these men wants the Republican
nomination. Mr.. Dewey has had three
terms as Governor and wants to get
back to private life. Senator Ives has
four more years to serve in the Sem
ate and wants to stay there. If neither
is his opponent. young Mr.. Roosevelt's
chances of becoming Governor, and
possibly President, will improve.
knowledge of these facts lends great
force to the effort to draft Gov.
Dewey. He, will be strongly appealed
to in the name Of his party and
also in the name of the country. The
Eisenhower administration naturally is
anxious to have him make the fight
not only because it wants to run no
risk of New York going Democratic
but also because it wants to keep Sen
ator Ives in the Senate, where the
Republican margin Is exceedingly
slender. wi
Neither Gov. Dewey nor Sem
ator Ives as yet has closed the door
on the gubernatorial nomination, but
Gov. Dewey definitely will have to
reach his decision in a very short
time. He has made a great record as
Governor and. while his two defeats
for the presidency make it almost
impossible for him to run third time
(though 1t has been done). his con-
tinuance as Governor would seem def
nitely In the general interests. In the
meantime. the propaganda to build
young Franklin up to acceptable
stature already has been started. Sew
eral magazine articles are in the works
and ghost writer's brigade is being
formed. Some Of these will be drawn
from the ADA publicity setup;
others from the CIO organization. With
such help, Representative Roosevelt is
capable Of waging campaign well cal
culated to appeal to the prejudiced
groups which are supporting him. He
can be depended upon to use every
weapon in sight and not to let facts
hamper him. The stakes in this fight
are great. It has immense national
significance and will affect both parties
in 1856.