Evening star., 1928-10-28
JERSEY INQUIRIES
HIT SMITH CAUSE
Observers Believe Probe of
State Irregularities viii
Play Havoc.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEWARK, n. J., october 27.-Gov
Smiths scheduled appearance here
Wednesday night is the climax of a
campaign that has found the Demo
Gratis struggling against tremendous
odds to overturn normal presidential
year majority of $4,000 for the Re-
publican candidate.
Impartial observers cannot see how
the Democratic candidate can win in
New Jersey. The majority for Hoover
will be cut, possibly to 100000, but 1t Is
extremely doubtful that even the hyS-
terra created by Smiths appearance in
this denSely populated section of the
State will win for him.
Never has there been such interest,
or such registration as this in New
Jersey. The 1924 registry of 100000
has jumped to 100000 The greatest
increase is in the urban counties of
Essex and Hudson, but it is not all r
Smith registry. In Hudson. DONNA y ;
by Frank Hague, vice chairman of the
Democratic national committee, 10000
names have been added to the poll lists,
and most Of them are Smith votes. In
Essex, normally Republican more than
half of the 10000 new registration is
Hoover.
Hague Is on Run.
Smith is going to suffer in New
Jersey because of his own friends.
Hague has been under attack for sew
eral months at the hands of Republi-
can legislative committee and has
proved vulnerable. All kinds of ques-
ttona5le transactions have been laid at
his door and for the first time in nine
years the Republicans have him on the
run. Election irregularities in Hudson
were uncovered and public sentiment
forced legislation that is bound to raise
havoc election day
The Republicans have legal weapons
whereby $4,000 names on the Hudson
registry will be questioned. In Essex
about 10000 names are to be stricken
from the lists. and for one of the ques-
toned persons to vote he must go into
court and prove his right
The Democrats are making last
minute capital of the Republican at
tampt to diSfranchise voters and are
getting some sympathy. They are fear
ful, however, that many people will be
frightened away from the polls. The
Republicans have asked the United
States district attorney, Republican,
to place Department of Justice agents
In the polling places, and the Republi-
can State chairman has declared the
Army would be called. if necessary, to
insure an honest election This kind of
campaigning by the Republicans has
disgusted many Independents and may
yet prove boomerang.
Religion Is Factor.
Unquestionably the religious issue is
playing as much part in New Jersey
as in any other State. Some Democratic
leaders say they have been asked to do
too much in putting over Smith. If
the issue was liquor, alone, or Tammany,
or the personality of the candidate,
Smith could be winner in New Jersey,
but with the religious issue joined to
all of these the task is declared virtu-
ally impossible
This is borne out by predictions of
what viii happen to the respective State
tickets of the two parties. William L.
Dill, Democratic gubernatorial candi-
date, is strong favorite over his Re-
publican opponent, Morgan r. Larson
Only a Hoover landslide viii carry
Larson In. Hamilton F. Kean, the
Republican senatorial candidate, is In
almost as bad a position. If the Hoover
majority is kept to 100000, Senator
Edward I. Edwards, Democrat, is likely
to slip back for another term at
Washington. JOHN j. FARRELL. Jr.