Evening star., 1943-10-28
BY GOULD LINCOLN.
Star Staff Correspondent.

lldS tIlc cusc Ill NcW Jersey.
Indeed, the prospects are the Re-
publican nominee. former Gov.
Edge, will win over his Demo-
cratic and labor supported opponent,
Mayor Vincent C. Murphy. with a
lead of more than 100000 votes. 1t
may run as high as 10000.
If Mayor Murphy should win, un-
expectedly, it would show a great
change in political sentiment. So
great that the Republicans might as
well fold up their tents and forget
about carrying the country next
year. For year ago, Senator
Hawkes., a former president of the
United States Chamber of Com
merce, comparatively unknown in
politics, was elected over former
Senator Smathers, ardent New
Dealer and backed by Mayor Frank
Hague of Jersey City, with a ma
iority of $4,000 votes. In addition,
the Republicans elected IL out of
IA members of the House of Repre-
sentatives, most Of them with greatly
increased ma jorities.
1t Is true that last year Gov. Edi-
son did not lift finger for Mr..
Smathers and he is now supporting
Mayor Murphy, along with Boss"
Hague. The Governor, however, in
the last three years has done rather
complete job of excoriation of Mr..
Hague and all his works. This has
tended to divide the Democratic
Party, and the sores have not been
healed.
OvercOnfidence Feared.
What worries some of the Repub-
lican leaders is a fear that many
Of the rank and file of COP voters.
believing that the election of Mr..
Edge is IN the bag, will neglect to go
to the polls next Tuesday. They
are seeking in every way to discour-
age overconfldence.
The vote in the coming election
is expected to be light. The same
reasons for a light vote exist here
as in other parts of the country
where elections are to be held. The
people are more interested in the
war, in their war jobs; thousands
are away in the armed forces, and
other thousands are now living in
other States to which they have
gone to enter war plants.
The hope of the Democrats rests
in light vote-except in Jersey City
and Camden-the Hague machine
is expected to get out the complete
Democratic vote in jersey City
Camden, the scene of vast war
plants of various kinds, is reckoned
strongly Democratic A further
Democratic hope is that many thou
sands OF Jersey men aid women who
work in New York and commute
every day, will not go to the polls.
This commuter vote is very largely
Republican. When it comes out in
force, the Democrats are usually de-
feated in this State.
COP Retains Strength.
Ihere seems no reason to believe .
that the COP is not at least as
strong in New Jersey this year as it
was last year or to believe that the
New Deal government is more popu- /
lar than it was in 1912
The name of the Republican cam
dldate, Mr.. Edge, is widely known
throughout the State. He was Gov
ernor during the World War. and
according to all accounts, a success
1ul Governor. Then he was twice
elected Senator. He topped this off
with service as Ambassador to
France. Mayor Murphy is compare
lively little known to the voters.
A good part of the Republican |
strength lies in the rural counties.
though not all by any means. In
the rural counties MANY of the voters
are both antilabor and Catholic.
Mayor Murphy is the secretary
treasurer Of the State Federation of
Labor and Catholic. What is
called South Jersey, therefore, is ex-
pected to turn in heavy vote for
Mr.. Edge. The religious issue has
not been raised in the campaign. 1t
exists, nevertheless.
Boss Hague is expected to roll
up 100000 majority or more for
Mayor Murphy in Hudson County,
Jersey City. He can do it. In fact.
he gave Mr.. Smathers a 1000 lead
from Hudson County last year. But
that he will be able to give the