Evening star., 1941-08-03
BY WilIiam II. Glover, J.

mosphere of politics was more con-
genial. At 10 he connected with the
public payroll and soon after became
an attendant in the Hudson County
courthouse. At 80 he was selected TO
lead the second ward. In 1917 he became
mayor and has stayed there ever since,
declining more important posts.
When Edison completed his formal
education, he travelled about the coun-
try for a year or so, then he joined
his father in business.
He reorganized the Thomas A. Edi-
son Industries and became president
and director at 35.
Backed Roosevelt in 1888.
In 1890, Mr.. Edison recalls, his life
long loyalty to the Republican Party
began to waver In 1888 he enthusi-
astically got behind President Roosevelts
recovery program and distributed IS to
each of his several thousand employees
with the exhortation:
Buy something, buy anything, any
where
The next year he entered public service
as vice chairman of the National Re-
covery Administration in New Jersey.
Then he was State Director of the Ma
tional Emergency Council, member of
the National Industrial Recovery Board
and Assistant State Administrator of
the Federal Housing Administration.
He was appointed Assistant Secretary
of the Navy in 1886 and three years
later became Secretary. the first New
Jersey man to enter presidential cabi-
net in % years.
When he resigned to seek the gov
ernorship the President wished dear
Charlie lots of luck.
Hague also is on good terms with the
President as my old friend the Mayor
of Jersey City" But things weren't al
ways peaches and cream between the
two.
In 1882 he campaigned against RoOse-
velts nomination at the national con-
vention The battle over. he whipped
into line for Roosevelt and has delivered
the State in the Democratic column
in the last three presidential elections.
For the Mayor is an avowed machine
politician who knows full well the value
of organization.
"A truly representative organization"
says the Mayor, functions 365 days
year. 1t never sleeps. Its district leaders
are in touch with every voter and his
family. The organization is there not
only on holidays; it is there all the
time. A voter knows this and he re-
wards us with his confidence -
Hague's Power Great.
Mayor Hague hasn't enjoyed unani-
nous good will outside his own baii-
wick although he has elected five gov
ernors since 1919 in nominally Re-
publican State. usually has at least one
Democratic Senator at Washington and
has strong ties throughout the State.
The State Legislature has investi-
gated his affairs twice, but each time
he has won.
The first time he refused to answer
questions and was jailed for contempt
after he had instructed Democratic
leaders to vote for his arrest so things
could be speeded up. Then he was re-
leased. and the Supreme Court upheld
his right to refuse to answer concerning
his personal affairs.
The Legislature tried to investigate
the gubernatorial election of 1887 when
A. Harry Moore was elected to an un-
precedented third term. Jersey City bal
lot records were locked up, and the
Supreme Court ruled the Legislature
had no authority to Investigate.
In 1888 Mayor Hague plunged into
stormy dispute when the c. I. o. at
tempted to organize Jersey City labor.
He called c. I. o. organizers Reds"
and the Jersey City police prohibited
distribution of pamphlets without per-
mits, forbade public meetings. The Su-
preme Court of the United States ruled
invalid the city's anti-pamphlet and
| speaking ordinance.
People have often asked how he could
afford to maintain a big duplex apart.
ment in Jersey City, summer home
ct Deal On the Jersey coast another