Everyone Doing His Duty

Nothing was too good for William O'Dwyer as he abruptly bowed out last week as mayor of New York. Grover Whalen, the man with the carnation in his buttonhole who officiates at the city's ceremonial greetings, turned himself inside out and whipped up a ceremonial farewell. All that was missing was a turnout of a few million New Yorkers.

On one of the hottest days of the summer, a parade of about 5,000--military and naval units, city employees, policemen, firemen and seven bands under limp silk flags--marched up Broadway. In front of City Hall, party bosses, military commanders, the consuls of some 50 foreign nations, City Council President Vincent Impellitteri, the mayor's pretty wife in an aqua velveteen hat, and Bill O'Dwyer arrayed themselves on a hastily constructed platform. Seven policemen and an octogenarian deputy fire commissioner collapsed in the heat. O'Dwyer presented Grover Whalen with a $450 gold medal for "extraordinary public service."

"I Have Been Summoned." O'Dwyer, off to become Ambassador to Mexico, said, with what he described as "a heart filled with strong emotions": "I have been summoned by the President of the U.S. to undertake a job of vital importance to our nation's interest. I feel it my duty in this period of national crisis to accept this assignment." (Another duty in a period of national crisis he left unfinished: that of preparing the nation's biggest city against atomic attack.) That evening the O'Dwyers left New York.

He left behind him his one-sentence resignation, effective as of Oct. 2 so that he could qualify under the law for a $6,000-a-year pension (payable to Mrs. O'Dwyer at his death). He also left a city somewhat groggy, after, his erratic administration, and a sizzling political situation.

The Democratic Party slate had sizzled so merrily on the political stove that last week it disintegrated. The bosses, who think in terms of racial and religious blocs, had figured out a proper recipe to dish up to New York voters: a Jewish candidate for the U.S. Senate, an Irish Catholic from Brooklyn for governor, and an Italian Episcopalian for mayor.

Greying, septuagenarian Herbert Lehman was still solid last week as a candidate to succeed himself in the U.S. Senate. But C.I.O. leaders had landed with all fours on the gubernatorial candidate, a little-known judge named Albert Conway. Using some of their favorite labels, they yelled hotheadedly that he was "reactionary, anti-labor and anti-Negro." The intimidated Democrats pulled out Conway; C.I.O. presented as alternates a list of Fair Deal names, including Congressman Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr. Democratic bosses shuddered.

Impy's Ideas. As for the mayoralty, the bosses' choice was New York Supreme Court Justice Ferdinand Pecora. But rangy, smiling Vincent Impellitteri ("Impy" to tabloid headline writers), who will serve in the interim as acting mayor, had other ideas. Impellitteri wanted his temporary lease to the mayor's mansion extended for another four years.

Democrats, gathering for their state convention, seemed to have too many Italians, were still scurrying around for an Irish Catholic from Brooklyn.

Although New York's Republicans had also been cooking, they had been doing it mostly behind closed doors so the smell of frying would not spread all through the house.

Until O'Dwyer quit, it was understood by all that Governor Tom Dewey would retire to private life, leaving the field to his lieutenant governor, 74-year-old Joseph R. Hanley. But Republicans knew that a New York mayoralty election would rouse up an otherwise apathetic, big-city, Democratic vote; as a matter of fact that was one of the reasons why O'Dwyer had been encouraged to resign. In some panic Republicans looked again to Dewey. But there stood Hanley, defiantly repeating his intention to run. All of a sudden, Hanley gave up.

In one breath he withdrew, in another he wrote: "My Dear Governor-- . . . Because you are more experienced in handling the affairs of this State in time of crisis than any other citizen, I feel impelled ... to urge that you consent to seek re-election." Said a Republican leader: "May God bless Joe Hanley for his gracious and patriotic act." This week Tom Dewey cut short his political "retirement" and announced that he would run for a third term as governor. "There is one condition I should like to attach," said Dewey in a letter to obliging Joe Hanley. The condition: that Hanley run for the U.S. Senate. ". . . Our people need you there."

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