Palisadian., 1925-10-30
HnHn ~
"HAGu ElSM"

The widespread attention being
given to the gubernatorial race in
New Jersey has brought the leader
ship OF Frank Hague into national
prominence. The New York Times,
the World, and last the New York
Evening Post, have each given re-
Gently a great deal OF space to the
fight, and Hague Is hailed by the Eve
ming Post In a series Of special ar
ticles this week by Clinton w. Gil
bert, staff correspondent, as a man
OF extraordinary skill as politician
and leader. The Post says in its
headlines that an iron will rules
Jersey City," that "Hagueism most
attractive" Is yet the most perilous
thing In the United States" And yet
nowhere In his article does Mr.. Gil
bert state why Hagueism is the peri
ious thing ne calls 1t. He spent six
hours with Hague in Jersey City and
said of him:
"If Frank Hague. Mayor of Jersey
City, were the boss of New York In
stead of being the boss of New Jer-
sey, he would be as well known all
over the country as Governor AL
Smith is.
"For the leader of the New Jersey
Democrats-let US SO call him, as he
does not like to be called boss, and
he spent six energetic hours convinc-
ing me that he should not be called
boss-is in his way as remarkable a
man as the leader of the New York
Democrats.
"And his achievements as an ad-
ministrator are as noteworthy in the
smaller field of Jersey City as those
of AL Smith in the larger field of
New York State.
"He is one of the Big Three in the
Northern and Eastern Democracy. Al
Smith, George Brennan, and Frank
Hague, who are bent more firmly
than in 1924 on nominating the New
York Governor for President and on
making the Democratic party over
into q party of the urban voters, of
the industrial workers and of the
vets.
Most Powerful Machine In U. S.
"He may not equal AL Smith in men
tai range. He may not have the
diplomacy of George Brennan. But
his is the most powerful will Of the
whole three. He has the most ef-
fective political machine anywhere in
the country today"
The Post correspondent further
says that "if Hague continues his
plans the better element (of Hudson
and Essex counties) is going to be
happy and the Republicans will not
soon have a look-in in the state. ex-
cept, perhaps, in national elections" !"
Closing, Mr.. Gilbert had this to say
in the Evening Post
"Hagueism came up in another way,
earlier, in the Mayors office. when
he was replying to my question
What is Hagueism?' He rose and
led me to the window. When / be-
came Mayor he said, pointing across
the street, those workmen's houses
paid nearly all the taxes of Jersey
City, And he told me how he had
raised the assessment on one cor
poration's property from a few hun
dred thousand dollars to $19.000,000,
another from trifling amount to
$4,000, 900, and so on through list of
several.
do not pretend to say whether
this policy was just or not. But it is
at the basis of Hagueism. 1t is one
important side of Hagueism. Over
and over again in those six hours
he said to me, IF cater to the people
they will support me- He has in his
own words catered to the people,
"Hague's will" says this CORE
spondent, sis felt in every home"
''If l were to describe Hagueism in
few words / would say that it was
at once the most attractive thing and
the most dangerous thing in America.
1t Is attractive because 1t has given
Jersey City very fine government.
II is dangerous because a regimented
city vote such as he controls in this
industrialized county would give us
government by urban camorras, some
thing very different from the Amer
lea that most people have dreamed
of. But lest the prospect be too appall-
ing, let me say that it is not humanity
probable that Hagues will spring up
everywhere. He is almost unique"
This article gives a clear idea of
how Hague has obtained his strangle-
hold in New Jersey He alone elect
ed Edwards and Silzer. and all signs
point to a victory for Moore, his per-
sonal candidate, because the Repub-
lican organization is staggering be-
fore the onslaught OF Hagueism and
has grown apathetic in the face of it.