Evening star., 1942-10-25
BY GOULD LINCOLN,
Star staff Correspondent.

BY GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Staff Correspondent.
NEWARK; N. j., Oct. pa ham
ner and tongs battle between Sena-
tor Smathers, Democratic irfcum-
bent, and Albert w. Hawkes., Re-
publican and millionaire industrial
ist, features the political campaign
in New Jersey. Senator Smathers,
not himself a strong candidate, has
the active support of all the labor
leaders. He also has the support of
Mayor Frank Hague, of Jersey City.
Mayor Hague has no particular
love for Senator Smathers, with
whom he has had many run-ins
over patronage. However, the Sem
ator went down the line for the
Mayors candidate for Federal
judgeship Judge Thomas F. Meaney.
Gov. Charles Edison, Democrat,
who has no use for Mayor Hague,
strongly opposed the Meaney ap-
pointment, declaring that was an
attempt on the part of Hague to
get his finger on the Federal judi
ciary, Judge Meaney was confirmed
by the Senate, however, with Sena-
tor Smathers' support. Gov. Edison
has little more use for Senator
Smathers than he has for Mayor
Hague.
This breach in the Democratic
party gives the Republicans hope
for their candidate. They figure
that Gov. Edison has a following
among the Democrats, and they
hope that this faction will not vote
for Senator Smathers, even if they
do not go the full route and vote
against him.
Won in 1886 Landslide.
Senator Smathers rode into office
in 1896 on the coat tails of President
Roosevelt. The President carried
the State that year by 364, 900 votes.
Senator Smathers defeated Senator
Barbour, Republican, by 175,OCO.
Two years later, Mr.. Barbour staged
a comeback. He was elected to fill
the unexpired Senate term OF
former Gov. A. Harry Moore with
a majority of 10000 votes when
Senator Moore resigned his seat.
In 1910, Senator Barbour was re-
elected by 100000 votes over his
Democratic opponent, James H. R.
Cromwell, while the President was
carrying the State by $4,000 cNer
Wendell L. Willkie.
Mayor Hague, who was instru-
mental in getting Mr.. Cromwell into
the Senate race, didn't fancy him so
much as a candidate. Mr.. Crom-
we'll, millionaire, stuck to the idea
that the $4,000 legal limit on sena-
lorial campaigns meant something.
Hague Predicts Big Majority.
Mayor Hague is talking now about
rolling up 100000 lead for Senator
Smathers in Hudson County (Jersey
City, his own bailiwick. He was
able to get 101 900 majority for
President Roosevelt there two years
ago. It does not seem probable that
the Mayor can produce 100000 for
the Senator. If he does, Mr.. Hawkes.
probably will be licked.
Mr.. Hawkes. is president of the
Congoleum- -Nairn Co. A year ago
he was president of the United
States Chamber of Commerce. He
also has been a director of the Ma
tianal Association of Manufacturers.
Senator Smathers and his allies, the
labor leaders, hammer on these ac-
tivities of Mr., Hawkes. and charge
that the Republican candidate al
ways has been an enemy of Or
ganized labor.
Mr.. Hawkes. replies that he has
employed thousands of workers and
has gotten along with them-and
that he has been able to meet pay
rolls, which he says Senator Smath-
ers never has had to do.
LabOr's Interest in Fight.
Labor's interest in this campaign
goes beyond the mere reelection of
Senator Smathers. Mayor Vincent
J. Murphy of Newark, secretary of
the State Federation of Labor, has
labor's Endorsement for the Demo-
cratic nomination for Governor next
year. If organized labor can put OH
a good show in this senatorial fight
and help materially in bringing
about the reelection of Senator
Smathers, it is expected to go to the
mat for Mayor Murphy in 1943. How
Frank Hague will like that remains
to be seen. He is still the Demo-
cratic boss of this State, as we'll as
Of Hudson County.
Incidentally the Democratic Or
ganizations in many States this year
have enlisted the aid of the labor
unions-as organizations-in the
political campaign. This is true, for
example, In Pennsylvania. They may
have started something that viii
give them pause in the future, if the
unions find they can work as eff
cient political organizations, ir
precinct, district, county and State.
The American Labor party in New
York, set up few years ago as ar
adjunct of the Democratic party tt
help re-elect President Roosevelt, is
case in point. 1t now wants tt
dominate the Democratic party II
the State, and because it could mo-
this year and insisted on putting {
ticket of its own in the field, 1t may
we'll bring about the election of 6
Republican Governor.
Bitter COP Primary.
Mr.. Hawkes. won the nomination
for Senator in bitterly contested
primary. While there were six can
didates, his principal opponent wa
Gill Robb Wilson, State aviation di
rector, veteran of the last war
Mr.. Wilson had strong support, bu
little money. Before the end of tn
primary campaign many of the lead
ers who had been for him driftet
away to Mr.. Hawkes., who finall,
won by about 5000 votes.