Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-05-29
C. 0. P. MAY DIVIDE
ON JERSEY TICKET
Dry Issue May Inject Note of
Disharmony at Con.
vention.
BY EDWARD M. GILROY.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
TRENTON. N. j., May 28.-Demo-
cratic and Republican State organiza-
tons completed preparations this week
for their respective national conventions
by Endorsements of Alfred E. Smith and
President Hoover.
Endorsement of Smith by the Demo-
cratic delegates to the national conven-
ton was the device of Mayor Frank
Hague OF Jersey City. State leader. to
hold his forces in line for whatever
candidate is the choice Of the Smith
Raskob Hague group There is no ex-
pectation in the Hague organization
that Smith will be the candidate, but
the 80 votes will be at Smiths service.
The Republican State convention pre-
pared plank. scheduled for ratification
Tuesday, commencing the efforts OF the
President to balance the budget and re-
habilitatc credit. This half-hearted in
dorsement. with no mention of the
President on the floor of the convention,
was the work of a group in the Legis-
lature who are openly opposed to brack-
citing local candidates with the national
ticket.
Opposes Hoover.
Senator Emerson L. Richards Of At
lantic City, floor leader of the Senate
and of the convention, is the head Of
the anti-Hoover movement. His fol-
lowers are making every effort to pre-
vent candidates for the Legislature TAX
ing a definite stand for support OF the
President. These leaders contend too
close an afiiliation with the President
will hurt chances of the local candi-
dates, in whom they are much more
interested
This contention was strengthened by
results of the primary election. Am
bassador Walter E. Edge, alone OF the
seven candidates for delegates at large
was pledged to President Hoover. The
others, including United States Senator
Kean. were unpledged. MI; Edge mn,
ished sixth, more than $4,000 behind
Kean. Since Mr.. Edge is former Gov
eynor and United States Senator. these
totals were regarded as significant.
The convention drew further away
from the Hoover supporters by taxing
the wettest position any Republican
group has adopted here since prohibit
ton became law The wet plank de-
mands repeal of the eighteenth amend
ment, immediate modification OF the
Volstead act and repeal OF the Hobart
State enforcement law. This is the flrst
time the party has gone on record lor
repeal of the Hobart act. and Is the
reply to leaders who believed 1t va
return to a somewhat dry position AFTER
the death Of Senator Dwight w. Nor
row.
A definite wet plank in the Repub-
lican convention is the goai Oh ,as
party in New Jersey. All the de.egates
are prepared to fight to the end for
either wet or reSubmiSsion plank.
They believe such a stand on prohibi-
ton would arouse enthusiasm in New
Jersey. and that nothing else Will. A
dry or straddling plank, they declare.
will mean the State campaign will be
run without regard to the national
ticket
AT present the chief interest OF Mayor
Hague is in aiding the Smith forces to
block nomination Of Gov. Franklin D.
Roosevelt of New York. Privately,
friends Of Mayor Hague declare there
will be more than 500 votes in the con-
vention opposed to Roosevelt and that
he cannot be nominated on the first
ballot The greatest fear Of the Smith
Raskob- Hague group now Is the second
ballot They are seeking ways to hold
the votes for the many favorite sons
in line and prevent them going over
to Roosevelt when he undoubtedly will
be high man on the first ballot.
One move of the Hague organization
that aroused speculation was the with
drawal of Gov A. Harry Moore as a
delegate at large William J. Egan,
Essex leader. will go in the Governors
place and be the New Jersey member
of the Resolutions Committee. Gov.
Moore carried the State by 232 900 last
November. a turnover of 100000 from
the Morrow Republican sweep the pre-
viouS year.
Moore a Factor.
Some leaders interpreted this as a
move to keep Moore away from the con-
vention voting and hysteria so that he
would be available as presidential or
vice presidential candidate should a
deadlock ensue In Moore's favor would
be his unquestioned vote getting ability.
his wet sentiment and thorough organi-
cation record. This is admittedly a
hope that the lightning will strike where
least expected.
There is little likelihood Mayor Hague
would permit Gov. Moore to become the
vice presidential candidate even if it
were offered. The Republicans control
the Senate and, unless upset in the
next election, a Republican President
Of the Senate would become acting Gov
ernor if Moore resigned. Organization
leaders cannot conceive of the Hague
organization relinquishing the hard-Won
patronage of the Governors Office.