The New York herald., 1921-11-10
Democrats Win New Seats,
but Republican Control
Remains Secure.
HARD BATTLE IN ESSEN
Returns Give G. O. P. Joint
Majority in LegisIature-As-
Sembly Margin Is Cut.

Sreeioi Despatch 10 rnE NEW YogK HERALD.
TRENTON, Nov. 9.-The success OF the
New Jersey Democrats in their cam
paign on the prohibition issue will not
change the political complexion of the
New Jersey Legislature for next year,
but it reduced the Republican ma jority
IN the State Assembly by fifteen votes
Rnd in the Senate by one vote.
The Senate will be composed OF six
Teen Republicans and five Democrats
and the Assembly of forty-four Repub-
Ecans and sixteen Democrats, giving
the Republicans a majority of thirty
nine on joint ballot. The present fig
ares in the House and Senate are SO
10 Hand 10 to 6.
The outstanding feat OF the Democrats
IN their fight against complete enforce
ment of the dry law was the defeat of
Mrs. Jennie c. Van Ness for the AS
Eembly frcm Essex county. who lost
to II. w. Lambert, Democrat. by fewer
than 1000 votes. Mrs. Van Ness was the
author of the Van Ness law. the State
Prohibition Enforcement statute, and
the Democratic organization in Essex
county, which includes Newark. made
O. particularly hard fight against her
She was the only Republican member
of the Assembly not TO be returned from
her county.
Complete returns from throughout the
State show that wherever prohibition
Figured as an issue the vets were de-
cidedly in the majority. The Demo-
cratic State platform advocated the re-
peal of the Van Ness law, while the
Republican platform was pledged to
strict law enforcement without speci-
fically endorsing the Van Ness act. The
Republican Committee, however, had
Endorsed the statute.
The defeat of the Democratic candi-
dates in Essex county by narrow mar
gins is attributed by politicians to the
nomination of an Independent labor
ticket which cut heavily into the Demo-
cratic vote. In all of the counties where
prohibition was an issue the Republican
majorities were greatly reduced This
was true also of Essex county, the
pivotal county of the State 1t Is con-
sidered likely that the was in the Leg
dslature this year will be strong enough
to modify the existing enforcement laws.
as many who have been con the fence"
probably will change from dry to wet
because of the heavy vote registered by
the Democratic wet candidates.
In Hudson county. which embraces
Jersey City and Hoboken, the entire
Democratic Assembly ticket was elected
by a majority of approximately $4,000
The Democrats also carried Hunterdon
and Warren counties, winning one AS
semblyman in each, but they lost their
usual stronghold Of Sussex county,
where Alfred B. Littell. Republican. de-
feated Charles II. Drake.
Two women We're elected to the AS
sembly. Mrs. Margaret Z. Laird. Re-
publican. of Newark. and Annie "
Reuss. Democrat, of Hudson. The num-
Der OF women in the Legislature this
year. therefore, will be the same as last.
While the Democrats in Essex
county have succeeded in defeating
Mrs. Van Ness they were not able to
defeat George S. Hobart. speaker of thu
House. who probably had more to d
with drafting the passage OF the Van
Ness law than did Mrs. Van Ness. Mr..
Hobart said to-day, however. that hs
did not expect to be a candidate for re-
election as speaker. He said he fa-
vored the candidacy Of T. Harry Row
land OF Camden, and taht he would not
be a candidate unless Mr.. Rowland
should die. Assemblynan William w.
Evans and Henry c. Hershfield, both OF
Passaic county. are said also 20 be can
did3tes for Speaker. Hershfeld is SAID
to be favored by United States Senator
Walter Il. Edge.
The Republican majority insures the
reelection OF William Il. Read as State
treasurer for another term of three
years. The Republicans will also con-
finue TO control the State House Com
mission, which has charge OF important
ktate properties.