Evening star., 1924-09-04
NEW JERSEY RACE
HOTTEST IN YEARS
Both Parties Torn by Fac
tionaI Fight-state Re-
garded for Coolidge.
EDGE FACES HARD TEST
Religious Issue Still Rankles
Within Lines of Democrats,
Study Shows.
EDGE FACES HARD TEST
BY \. O. MESSENGER


NEWARK, \. j., September r.
Politics is sizzling in New Jersey
these early September morns, warm
ing up as the day goes along and
getting heated by night. The ku
klux klan, the wet and dry issue,
bitter factional fight over the United
States senatorship in the Republican
party and the ordinary run-of-the-
mill Of party issues serve to keep
things moving at a lively step. There
! is no complaint of apathy in Jersey
the days are hardly long enough to
serve the needs of the hour.
An unusually large vote is expected
in November. judging from the inter-
est of the voters in the issues of the
campaign. Just at the moment the
contest over the senatorship nomina-
tion is absorbing most immediate at
tention, with the issues of the presi-
Dental campaign somewhat in the
background.
State Seen for Coolidge.
The neutral belief is that New Jer-
sey is safe for Coolidge. and by the
same token that President Coolidge's
expected plurality may carry along
the senatorial ticket a well, despite
the present difficulties. New Jersey
is likely to reflect the prevailing SEN
timent of New York, and most neu-
trail observers class New York in the
Coolidge column in November. A few
words about the senatorial contest
may be timely before going into the
presidential outlook.
Senator Walter Edge is candi-
date for denomination. He is being
opposed by Hamilton F. kean, pres
ent Republicon national committee
man for the State. In addition Rev.
Erend James L. Shields, formerly
State superintendent of the anti
Saloon League has served notice that
if Senator Edge is renominated. he
will enter the lists as an independent
candidate in November. George L.
Record is an Independent candidate
for the nomination, appealing 10 the
old radical Progressive strength In
the State The Democratic candidate
for Senator is Frederick w. Donnelly,
Mayor of Trenton.
Foes Discount Shields.
The course of Rev. Mr.. Shields is
deprecated by Senator Edge and Mr.:
Kean both of whom have pledged
themselves to play the game and sup
mort the nominee of the primaries.
George l.. Record is supporting Sena-
Tor Ia Toilette for the presidency,
hut thus. far has not secured the IN
dorsement of the La Toilette men for
the senatorial nomination. Ihls rae
tional miX-up in the Repuollcan
marty is regarded by the Democrats
as enhancing their prospects or re-
nIacing the present Republican sena
tor with a Democrat The wet ana
drv isSue is very acute.
Edge is recognized as a wet ana
Kean is generally looked upon as
dry, although bis opponent cnarges
that he is only recent convert. Inc
democratic hope is enhanced py the
belief that if Kean is nominated Tor
Senator a large wet Republican vote
will go to Donnelly, the Democratic
c,ndidate. "It looks as if the Re-
nublicans are between the deVll ana
the deep sea over the senatorship,
said one New Jersey politician.
George L. Record, the lndepenoenl
candidate, polled 100000 votes TWO
wears ago in it's contest with Senator
Frelinhuysen, but he Is not eApec'eu
TO get that much now.
women Kean's Asset.
IN the senatorial contest. Mr..
Kean's largest asset IS the women
vote. while Senator Edge has the
state. The women are very bitter
against Senator Edge on account OF
his .wetness and his attitude against
polfcies and legislation advocated by
the women. They have thumbs
down for him with vengeance. 1
was present at conference where
I heard one of the women leaders of
the State fairly skin the Senator
alive. The main hope of the Repub-
licans in electing Republican Sena-
tor is in the fact that presidential
election is likely to bring out heavy
vote and that the Republicans will
vote the ticket straight who ever Is
nominated.
The religious question is running
high in New Jersey. Following the
defeat of Gov. Smith of New York
for the presidential nomination for
the reason that he 10 Catholic, the
New Jersey democracy was pretty
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