Evening star., 1943-10-27
BY GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Stan Correspondent.

bJaT StAH. NOITespouuche'
NEWARK, N. j., Oct. 27.-Or-
ganized labor is out to demon
strate it's political power in the
New Jersey gubernatorial elec-
ton next Tuesday.
1t has a candidate OF its own kid
ney and choice, Vincent J. Murphy,
Mayor of Newark and for the last
TO- years secretary treasurer of the
State Federation of Labor. He is
the Democratic nominee for Cover
nor, since New Jersey has no po-
litical labor party of its own as has
New York. His Republican oppo-
nent is the veteran Walter E. Edge,
former Governor, former Senator
and former Ambassador to France.
Mayor Murphy was being groomed
by his labor friends for the Demo-
cratic gubernatorial nomination as
long ago as last year. At that, how
ever, he would not have made the
grade had it not been for the re-
fusal of former Gov. A. Harry Moore,
three times elected Governor and
once Senator, to become a candidate.
Mr.. Moore was the choice of Mayor
Frank II Am the Law" Hague of
Jersey City, the Democratic boss of
Jersey for many years.
Called Gamble" by Hague.
When Mr.. Moore said no." Mayor
Hague finally acquiesced in the
nomination of Mayor Murphy. Mr..
Hague, at the time he gave a re-
luctant approval. dubbed the choice
OF Mr.. Murphy IAN experiment and
gamble" With Mr.. Moore out of
the picture, and with Mr.. Murphy
already Endorsed by Gov. Edison,
Mayor Hague's arch enemy, the
boss" saw no one else.
This tie-up between Mayor Hague
and organized labor is just another
example of the strange bedfelloWs
politics makes. 1t was only a short
time ago that Mayor Hague was
running liberals and labor leaders
out of town. Even more strange is
the Endorsement which Earl BroWder
and other Communist leaders have
recently given to Mayor Hague in
this fight to elect a Democratic Gov
ernor of New Jersey this year.
1t all adds up, however. These
radical and liberal elements are
backing the Mayor because of his
ability to deliver huge Democratic
majority in any election in Hudson
County-Jersey City. They need him
to help re-elect President Roosevelt
next year, and they are anxious for
Democratic victory next Tuesday
as an augury of success for the
/ fourth term drive.
Labor Committee Set Up.
The Democratic organization In
| the State, outside of Hudson Coun-
Ity, is relying upon the efforts of
organized labor to put Mayor Muir
ply across. A special, joint labor
committee, representing the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor, the CIO
and the Railroad Brotherhoods has
been set up as the Vincent j. Muir
!phy for Governor Committee II
is functioning briskly. The Demo
Gratis are counting upon its efforts
TO turn the trick for them.
In measure, this reliance of the
Democratic party in New Jersey on
organized labor committees is on all
fours with what is going on in the
Philadelphia mayoralty campaign
A united labor committee is work
ing SIDE by side with the Democratic
organization in that city. In New
York. the Democrats are looking tc
the American Labor party to pull
the chestnuts out of the fire fol-
them in the contest for Lieutenant
Governor There the labor party
has lndorsed the Democratic nomi-
nee, 1t. Gen. William N. Haskell.
This is not entirely a new expert
ment. Last year, in the guberna
torial and congressional elections ir
New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New
York. organized labor played SINH.
lar roles. A joint labor committee
in this State did its best to heir
re-elect former Senator Smathers
New Deal Democrat. A similar com.
AiiAtttC WI hCU lIdI u 1OI Iile btIflO-
cratic candidate for Governor oi
Pennsylvania. The American Labor
party in New York had a candidate
OF its own for Governor last year
declining to support John J. Ben.
nett, the Farley nominated Demo.
cratic candidate. But it did 60 dovr
the line for the Democratic Lieu.
tepant Governor, Charles Poletti. II
all three States. these efforts of or.
ganlzed labor were unavailing. L
remains to be seen whether this en-.
trance of labor into the politica
field as a political organization il
any more effective this year.
! Philip Murray, national presiden
OF the CIO. yesterday issued state
ment to all workers in New jersey
urging them to vote for Mayor Muir
ply, and particularly all member
of the CIO unions: Mr.. Murra,
apparently understands that organ.
lied labor is on trial this year as {
political force if not a political or
ganization. He knows that the CIC
already has promised to retire from
public life those members of Con.
gress who supported the Smith.
Connally anti-strike law, when thu
elections take place next year. Now
is the time, in his opinion, for or.
ganized labor to give a preview oi
what it can do.
Significant Election
This is a significant election,
said Mr.. Murray, "inasmuch az
labor has united in support of Mr.
Murphy and the results will be fol-
lowed closely by opponents of la
Dor throughout the country"
Mr. Murray has shown courage in
making the political issue in this
case, for admittedly New Jersey is 8
tough spot The Republicans car
ried the State in big way last
year. AFL leaders, although they
are behind Mayor Murphy in this