Now-editorial Notes

President Zaimis of Greece has signed a decree abolishing the separate electoral list for the Jews of Salonica. Former Premier Venizelos, who had advocated a discriminatory anti-Jewish measure, was defeated in the Senate by a substantial majority. The new decree deals a severe blow to the elder statesman who, as a last resort, turned to anti-Semitism for his political resurrection. Venizelos had built his reputation in Greece and abroad as a liberal. When he met with defeat during the elections, especially in Salonica, he allied himself with the anti-Semitic elements in Greece in the hope of returning to power. He overestimated the Nazi agitation and influence in his country, and will in all probability meet with overwhelming defeat at the next elections.

THE HYLAN CANDIDACY

Judge John F. Hylan, former Mayor of New York, who afterward found himself eliminated from the good graces of Tammany Hall, is trying to run for Governor on his “Recovery” ticket. Hylan’s record as Mayor of New York hardly justifies that his candidacy for Governor of the Empire State be taken seriously. He was perhaps a well meaning but a distinctly ineffectual Mayor. He added to the gaiety of the nation whenever he discussed municipal or social problems. When he commenced to take himself seriously as Mayor and endeavored to disentangle himself from his Tammany affiliations, his intentions were good but his methods were crude and often ludicrous. But the pathetic Mayor had one good quality that made him rather sympathetic. On one point Mr. Hylan was always correct. He never identified himself with any special religious or racial, groups and never encouraged prejudice on racial or religious grounds. That would be the last thing that the people would expect of “Honest John.”

Now Mr. Hylan, through a peculiar irony of fate, finds himself the candidate for the Governorship of New York endorsed chiefly by the Nazified German-Americans. The program of these Nazified German-Americans is such that American candidates for office, municipal, state or Federal, are judged by Hitlerite standards, and the injection of racial and religious issues into the campaign is thus forced upon American political life.

By accepting the official endorsement of the Nazified German-Americans, any candidate gives his own endorsement to their alien, un-American and undemocratic program, unless he declares in unmistakable terms that he is definitely opposed to the introduction of religious or racial issues in American life.

If the lists on the Hylan petition are genuine, if they contain no fictitious names, and if no forgery has been committed in the preparation of the list, Mr. Hylan is, of course, entitled to run for Governor, whether it pleases the Democratic organization or not. But it will be interesting to see what “Honest John” will do with the Nazi noose that has been placed around his political neck.