National Affairs: The Brown Derby

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Belle Lindner Israels Moskowitz—a calm, fine-minded Jewish woman, widowed and remarried, whose social work led her into politics in 1912 as a Roosevelt supporter. Smith enlisted her to organize the women's vote for his first gubernatorial campaign, ten years ago. She became and has remained his publicist-extraordinary, editing his speeches, smoothing his rough accents, advising his policy to a surprising extent. It was she, for example, who saw the significance of his guardian stand on water power. She kept him, and made the New York voters, increasingly conscious of water power. With Muscle Shoals and Boulder Dam now nationally headlined, the Smith position thereon is well-established and not campaign cant. If she went to Washington, as it seems she would have to, Mrs. Moskowitz, would not be Secretary of State but she might be something, short of secretary, in the Labor Department.

Robert Moses—a young Jew of independent means and unusual abilities. Nominally a Republican he accepted the Secretary of State portfolio in the State Cabinet, chosen by Governor Smith last year. Should there be such a person as President Smith, it is more than likely he will keep his Moses by him in some capacity.

George Graves and James J. Mahoney—smart executive assistants at Albany, eminently qualified for private secretary desks at the White House, both are used to wearing cutaways.

Robert ("Bobby") Fitzmaurice—for years "Man Friday" to the Candidate. Smaller, balder, older than his patron, he still seems much younger. He arranges trips, receives pressmen and callers, personifies loyalty. He would doubtless perform the same functions at Washington.

Why He May. Above everything, the unique asset of Candidate Smith as a public figure is his famed "human touch"—the wide smile, throaty laugh, instant humor, lowly origin, the tilt of the Brown Derby. Under his ease among the mob, moreover, responsibility has developed an innate dignity which is now perfectly at command as occasion requires. His ability and integrity in office have never successfully been questioned. The lack of another Democrat combining trusted power with a warm personality will be what causes the Dry Protestant South to swallow a Wet Catholic if he is nominated. The lack of an equivalent Republican will be the cause of his election, if any.

Why He May Not. Unless the U. S. is at heart intolerant, bigots of the Heflin type will have eliminated Roman Catholicism as a consideration in June and November. Then comes the Smith wetness. Candidate Smith is not a drunkard, he does not favor the saloon's return, all he does favor is a Prohibition referendum; but many will refuse to believe that this is the worst. The charge that the Smith administrations at Albany were financially extravagant may contrast effectively with Coolidge Economy, despite the Smith answer that Republican legislators invariably voted the appropriations of his time and that he frequently pared down "pork" with his veto.