By-Play

A bit of byplay to National Politics took place last week in New York. Republicans and Democrats both held state conventions and nominated candidates for Governor. The situation was this:

New York has a Democratic Governor, by name Alfred E. Smith. He is a man of immense popularity in his own state. He is what politicians know as a "vote-getter." Naturally John W. Davis and the Democratic National Organization wanted Smith to run for reelection because it would strengthen their rather dubious chances of carrying New York with its 45 votes in the Electoral College. Naturally, Tammany, the local Democratic organization, wanted Smith to run, to strengthen their local ticket which they feared might go down in a national Republican landslide. But Smith did not want to run. That was natural because he had the Presidential bee in his derby hat. He had nothing to gain by running this year, when he might be defeated as he was in 1920; although even in that Republican year he ran far ahead of his ticket. He could afford to retire in 1924, without risking a defeat, and take his chances of being elected again in 1926 and being in a favorable place as regards prestige for the Democratic nomination in 1928. But Smith changed his mind and the probable reason of his changing was this: He was a vote-getter, but he did not control the Democratic machine in New York; the machine said to him simply: "If you desert us in this crucial year, we will never go back to you when you want us." So Smith agreed to run again for Governor.

This decision was known when the Republican Convention assembled at Rochester. Senator James W. Wadsworth held the reins that controlled it. A man named Machold, Republican Speaker in the State Assembly and arch-opponent of Smith, was one of the prominent candidates for the Republican nomination for Governor. Almost at the last minute he withdrew. The Wadsworth machine, with neatly oiled precision, nominated the man whom Wadsworth had picked in advance. He was chosen on the first ballot without the slightest excitement. It was all cut and dried. Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, son of the late President, was to be the man.

It was known for some time that it was planned for him to imitate his father's record--a romantic touch that surely would appeal to the voters. First he was made a Lieutenant Colonel.* Then he was made Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Soon Governor of New York. Then--

A few days later, with equally little to do, the Democratic Convention met at Syracuse and nominated Smith as per schedule.

The quidnunes of National Politics now lean forward to watch the battle for the 45 electoral votes of New York--Coolidge raising the great war club, the prestige of a dead warrior's name; Davis lifting the shillelah of a great vote-getting Irish Governor.

*The present Theodore Roosevelt, Lieutenant Colonel in the World War, is commonly referred to as "Colonel."