Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-11-02
JERSEY CAMPAIGN
PITCHED ON FIGHT
OVER PROHIBITION
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Ueased Wire Service to The Journal.)
Copyright, 1929

Copyright, 1929
TRENTON, N. J., Nov. l.
Booze or to phrase it more deli
cately-the wet and dry issue-is
the whole campaign in the state of
New Jersey.
Governor Edwards whose idea Of
prohibition is to make the state as
, wet as the Atlantic ocean" is run
ming on the Democratic ticket
against Senator Joseph Frelinghuy-
sen, Republican, who when ques-
toned on the subject of his wine
cellar, makes the promise that when
1t is all used up he will buy no more.
Broadly speaking, New Jersey has
the feeling that if the two parties
had thought less about prohibition
and more about the greater prob
lens of state somebody else might
have been nominated by both.
There isn't, as matter Of fact,
much to choose between the Repub-
lican and Democrat, so far as pro-
fundity of thought or senatorial
ability is concerned. The voters
know that Mr.. Frelinghuysen'
whole background is that of an ul-
tra-conservative and that Mr.. Ed
wards fastastic ideas of public of
flee are exemplified in his defiant at
tltude toward the eighteenth amend
ment.
But New Jersey is a populous
state, where political machines
abound and where the tricks Of the
trade are so widely practiced among
the Democrats that Messrs. Tweed
and Murphy and Penrose and the
rest seem as mere schoolboys in the
nf
instance, the far-famed Hudson
county, presided over by Boss
. Hague, Democratic chieftain. Calm
!" he estimates the majority that
Will be given Mr.. Edwards as some
thing near 10000
Ihls is huge wall to erect against
st Republican candidate who must
marshal Republican votes from the
whole state and come to the Hud.
son county line with at least $4,000
10 overcome the Democratic tide.
And that's where the rub comes.
Can Senator Frelinghuysen gather
enough strength throughout the
state to approach the Democratic
counties with substantial majority?
Normally he would have no trouble.
For most Of New Jersey is Repub-
lican. But this year with the wet
and dry issue uppermost in the cam
pa1gn, it is a puzzle. Atlantic coun-
ty which embraces Atlantic City
is naturally wet. Governor Ed
wards will get a heavy vote there.
Trenton has a big wet constituency.
In Essex county where the city of
Newark predominates the wet votes
will be strong for Edwards and in
this must be included thirsty Repub.
licans as we'll as Democrats. Should
Mr.. Edwards get better than an
even break in Essex county and
hold his opponents majority down
In all the counties outside of Hud-
son, he will win easily.
The outcome is uncertain in every
respect. Cross currents have elm
mated party lines. The women
will probably decide the election. In
Hudson county, of course, where
the machine works smoothly, the
feminine vote will merely double
the male ballots and most of these
will be Democratic. But elsewhere
in the state the women are bound
to vote dry and while they do not
look on Senator Frelinghuysen as
the most capable man in the state
by any means, they are to be sure
SO much as they are voting against
Edwards.
There are elements in New Jer-
sey's population who resent Gov
ernor Edwards ideas on the en-
fofcement of prohibition. They
think that one kind of law breaking
leads to another, that vice and
crime are natural sequels to a def
ance to the federal law and consti-
tuition.
Race in Doubt
They have a contempt for the i'm
preston which champions 'booze"
have given the world about the fair
name of New Jersey. Women's or
CARNATIONS are working night and.
day to beat Edwards. The Anti
Saloon League has Endorsed Senator
FreIinghuysen. Fear is believed
to have driven senator into the lea
CUES arms but whatever may have
actuated him to take the dry side
supporters are not quibbling. They
look upon him as affording the one
means of telling the nation that
New Jersey is not as fast and loose
as it may seem to the OUTSIDE world.
But will this element prevail?
The result will be close. Republican
leaders privately fear Mr.. Edwards
will triumph. Ten days ago they
were certain Senator Frelinghuysen