The Lambertville record., 1924-07-03
K. K. K. AFFECTS
C0UNTYPOLITICS

The political situation in Hunter
don County has been hanging fire
for some weeks awaiting, to con-
siderable extent, the outcome of the
Democratic convention in New York
City. A dry man would help the
Hunterdon Democrats, this Fall,
while wet man would be a serious
handicap.
Another thing that has kept the
campaign solemn has been the alb
sence of Arthur w. England, for
three years Hunterdon County's
most famous sheriff. He kept in
terest alive, both through friends
and enemies, longer than any other
county officer.
Still another cause of the quiet
ness is that several IDEALS" are al
legged to be on, and there's nothing
so discomfiting to politician trying
to make friendly deal" as some
some unexpected publicity. 1t is be-
lieved, though, that some of the
Lambertville participants, who fear
that they are not faring as we'll as
they did few years ago, may talk
before election, and spoil a lot of
hard work for somebody.
The surrogateship and freeholder-
ship, both $4,000 jobs, will be sought
by several candidates, it seems
likely. The state senatorship and
member of assembly are liabilities
rather than assets, because the sal
ary wouldn't pay for any ordinary
mans lost time. Whether Senator
David Agans will be candidate to
succeed himself, remains to be seen.
His boosting of Governor Edward l.
Edwards a couple of years ago did
not sit well with many of his con-
stituents, and they promised them
selves a crack at him later on. The
North and South Road Bill last win
ter seemed about to rehabilitate him
in the county, but unless the state
actually takes the road over and
some of the bumps out pretty soon,
the restored prestige will again be
lost. Should the Democratic voters
get the notion into their heads that
the North and South measure was
designed chiefly to boost the Hon.
David's political hopes, with the af-
terthought that the measure could
be repealed after election, there will
be some real knitting at the polls.
Just what part the Ku Klux Klan
will play in the election remains 10
be seen. Persons suspicioned of
klan tendencies, say that any can
didate in Hunterdon who doesn't
meet the Klan specifications to the
last notch might as well keep off
the ballot and save worry election
night. They claim to have in
side data ON most of the proposed
IDEALS" The. anti-Klan faction say
it doesn't make any difference what
the Klansmen think or do, their op-
ponents will smash over victory
il they have to walk through fire to
do it.
The Klan voting strength in the
county has been estimated all the
way from 500 to 5000. The former
number would not have great effect
unless the voting was close, but the
larger number would determine an
election, if even one-fourth of the
followers voted opposite to their
usual way. One town in the county
is said to be about 90 per cent
Klan, and another over 70. Several
are said to be more than so per
cent. Whether any Of these figures
are correct, of course, has not been
made known by the Klan officials.
Several mayors of Incorporated
towns in the county are reputed to
be active Klan officials, and some
Of the alleged Klansmen say that
every candidates history, affiliations
and associates will be known to the
Invisible Empire" and its members.
Whether this information will help
the aspirant for office, or "can" him
only time will tell. 1t now looks as
though the Hunterdon camaign will
be lively enough after another month
Or so.
II. G. X.