Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-22
Presidential Electors
Likely 10 Be Decided
By Winner Of Struggle
Republicans at Trenton
Order Ballot Machines
For Jersey City
By EDWARD M. GILROY,

Special Correspondent OF The Star
TRENTON, N. j.. Sept. 2l.-Re-
publican election prospects were i'm
proved this week by direct assault
by the Legislature upon Mayor
Frank Hague's Democratic machine
in Hudson.
The Republican majority in the
Legislature stood together for the
first time in 10 years and passed a
series of bills to curtail Mayor
Hague's Hudson County vote. The
Democratic machine has rolled up
pluralities in excess of 10000 in
Hudson with monotonous regularity,
but Republican leaders believe they
will cut into it deeply this year. The
huge advantages there have offset
the vote of the rest of the State in
several recent elections, and without
them the Democrats have little
chance of winning The States
presidential electors thus may be
decided by the outcome of this battle.
The legislative program was passed
with approval OF Wendell L. Willkie
and his campaign management.
State Senator Robert c. Hendrick-
son, Republican nominee for Gov
ernor. led delegation of Republican
officials to Washington and obtained
Mr.. WILKES sanction Representa-
tive Joseph w. Martin, jr. Repub-
lican national chairman, also as
sured Senator Hendrickson and the
delegation the move to curtail Mayor
Hague had Mr.. WILKES approval.
The delegation also was given to
understand Mr.. WilkIe would make
Mayor Hague the target for one of
his principal addresses probably to
be delivered in New Jersey.
Machines Ordered for Hudson.
Piqued by refusal Of Mayor
Hagues lieutenants to install voting
machines in compliance with a re-
cent State law, the Republican leg
islative majority ordered the State
to buy or rent machines and charge
the cost to Hudson. State road aid
and other subventions will be with
held from Hudson until the ma
chimes are paid for Other bills in
the program permit use of State po-
lice in Hudson County election day
and create new criminal courts with
exclusive jurisdiction t. hear Hud-
son election law disputes. The
judges will be named ty the Repub-
lican-controlled Legislature.
The program is expected to be
vetoed by Gov. A Harry Moore,
Democrat, but Senator Hendrickson
claims the votes to override the ex-
ecutive. Mayor Hague is prepared
to make a court test of the legisla-
ton and his lieu.enants say there
will be no voting machines in Hud-
son November 5 regardless of what
the Republicans do.
While national polls show Mr..
Willkie losing g1ounj in New Jer-
sey, spot checks by the Republican
organization do not bear them out.
Republican managers say they have
found an average of to 10 per cent
of 1886 voters shifting from Presi-
dent Roosevelt to Mr.. Willkie. A
shift of 10 per cent would make the
New Jersey election almost even, or
give Mr.. Willkie a slight edge In
1886 President Roosevelt carried the
State by 100000.
G. o. P. Shake-up Hinted.
Reorganization of the Republican
campaign management has been
limited since Senator Hendrickson
and party leaders returned from
their conference with Mr.. Martin
While leaders refused Official COM
ment. the story leakec out Mr.. Mar
tin was not too pleased with the way
the New Jersey campaign has been
running Friction has been evident
between the Willkie for-President
Clubs and the regular Republican
State organization.
A few days after the conference
Donald j. Smith of Montclair re-
signed as chairman of the Willkie
clubs. He said he would continue
to make speeches for Mr., Willkie,
but is out of the active campaign
management. Some changes are
probable in the personnel of the
regular organization management,
also.