Evening star., 1940-10-08

turbed over a possible Statewide
reaction favorable to the Repubh-
cans, as a result Of the destruction
Of the Hudson County records.
Mr.. Willkie lost no time in seizing
upon the issue. He said that follow
ing the 1887 election legislative in
vestigation group was refused access
to the poll books of Hudson County.
Recently, he explained, the Republic
can Legislature ordered the books
turned over to the superintendent
Of elections, only to find they had
been destroyed in January. The
Democratic contention is the records
were only required to be kept two
years, but the Republicans argue the
law required preservation for five
years.
The Republican presidential NOM
inee also revived charges of sup
preston of civil liberties-freedom
of speech-in Mayor Hague's juris-
diction.
Cites Norman Thomas Incident.
I'm Jersey City," Mr.. Willkie said
honest men and women have been
beaten and dragged to the ferries
and told to leave the city. This has
happened to labor leaders. Norman
Thomas, the present Socialist candi-
date for President. was denied the
right to make speech.
Il am not in agreement with Mr.
Thomas. But I would defend his
right to speak as I would my own
I will do the same for every man.
And I will go down the line for the
right of every man to cast his own
vote-for me, or against me.
But where is that right, today,
in Hudson County? You know as
we'll as I that the votes of honest
citizens do not count in that part of
America. The ballot boxes in that
county are stuffed with illegal votes
obtained from fraudulent registra-
ton lists-votes made out of thin
air. The political machine uses
chem to keep itself in power"
Mr.. Willkie also sought to draw a
parallel between Nazi methods In
Germany and city political machines
in this country.
Recently" he said at Newark
your New Jersey Legislature tried
to install some voting machines in
Hudson County. What would hap
pen in Germany if some one tried
to do that? Why, the Nazi party
would prevent it. To keep you
people happy 1t might give some
sort OF excuse. 1t might say that
voting machines were too expensive
I think that excuse sounds familiar
to you here in New Jersey"
Machines "Just Like Nazis."
After referring to what has hap
pened to labor unions in Germany
Mr.. Willkie continued: Don't fool
yourselves. We are committing those
very same errors. Right here in the
midst Of our free country we have
political machines just like the Nazi
party. They are operated by little
pigmy Hitlers."
The thin, silent lines along the
sidewalks or Jersey City yesterday
as the Willkie automobile caravan
passed by led some observers to be-
lleve the large Democratic popula-
tion there decided to stay away. II
seemed to those in the procession
that every available bluecoat in the
city was out to see that nothing
happened to interfere with Mr.. WILL
kie'S visit.
AS the nominee moved on into
other cities. however-Hackensa
Paterson, Kearny and finally New
ark-the crowds grew larger and
more enthusiastic. Many of the
school children all along the route
yelled for Roosevelt, as they have
done in other parts of the country
In Paterson a crowd estimated by
police at 10000 gathered in anG
outside of the armory to hear Mr.
Willkie. and at Kearny at least 5000
assembled in the high school sta
dium. In downtown Newark, dense
crowds were on the streets when he
arrived and his automobile wa.
showered with confetti.