Evening star., 1928-10-30

Just before his formal notification. It
was followed by a Democratic procla-
nation that 1t was all over except a
considerable amount of shouting, and
by a request by Republican leaders
that Mr.. Hoover show himself to the
Jerseyites.
MFR. Hoover obliged them, he selected
Newark for delivery of his "prosperjt''"
speech. All over the State Republi-
can leaders went to work with the
tariff and prosperity as their principal
issues They appealed in particular
to the million and half employees in
the Jersey factories. They dismissed
the wet and dry issue as inapplicable
here where such Republican leaders as
Senator Edge are as openly opposed
to the present dry laws as is Gov.
Smith himself The Republican vets
argued that the Smith modification
plan was not feasible. anyway and that
1t would not be desirable to have the
country half wet and half dry.
Many Catholics In State.
The Democrats. in turn, insisted
that New Jerseys many industries
would have nothing to fear under the
Democratic tariff plank of 1923. Thus
the parties have reached stage where
the Republicans deny that prohibition
is an issue, and the Democrats deny
that the tariff Is an issue, while the
voLers are showing increasing signs
of making an issue of their own out
of religion. There are many Catholics
in New Jersey. including Thousands of
foreign descent in the populous in
dustrial centers, while the Klan has
been factor in the dry, Protestant
sections out-State.
While ell of this was taking place,
some of the principal leaders of Mayor
Hague'ss Jersey City organization,
counted on as great pillar of Smiths
strength in the State, we're kept busy
answering subpoenaS and replying to
various charges before an investigating
Legislature The mayor himself, who
also is the Democratic national COM
mitteeman, was summoned before the
investigators today at Trenton.
Nor did this legislative thrust at
Hagues dominance in State politics
come singly. Under law just passed
over the veto of the Democratic gov
ernor thousands of names have been
erased from the polling lists in Hud-
son and Essex Counties, which contain,
respectively, the Democratic strcngholds
of Jersey City and Newark. The Re-
publicans charge that these rolls were
heavily padded. The Democrats deny
it, and charge a Republican attempt
to disfranchise Democratic voters.
Whether many of the deleted names
will be reinstated by election day is
problematical.
Hague Is Optimistic.
Despite this situation, Hague predicts
that Smith will go out OF Hudson
County with 100000 plurality, which he
insists will be enough to upset any
Hoover margin in the remainder OF the
State. The Democrats also count on
a heavy vote for Smith in Newark and
many other cities. although they con-
cede that the suburban and country
sections are likely to turn out strongly
for Hoover. Registration in the State
as whole has increased by about one
third, and the Hague organization
points out that the increases in Hud-
son and Essex Counties totaled around
100000.
Claims of a Democratic victory are
described by z. B. Mott, the Republican
State chairman, as wholly ridiculous
He declares his prophecy of 250,000
Hoover margin are based on detailed
reports of a definite Hoover swing all
over the State. He even is claiming
Essex County by 10000.
Nor do the Republican leaders fail
to point out to inquirers what heavy
turnover from previous presidential
counts would be necessary to swing
New Jersey to Smith. Although 1t has
been choosing Democratic governors
and Senators the State has been per-
sistently Republican in the electoral
college ever since the Tilden- Cleveland
era. After voting the Democratic ticket
for five successive times New Jerse,
quit the party in 1896. 1t has given
no Democratic presidential nominee 9
majority since, although in 1912 viii.
son did carry the State by minority
vote when the Republicans divided be.
tween Taft and Roosevelt.
Furthermore, the State gave Cool.
idge $4,000 majority four years age
over the combined vote of Davis ane
La Toilette.