Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-06-04

housekeeping to be done by the
new organization that has been
forming for some time past in Hud-
son County
Now Is the time to go after the
puppet bosses Hague will set up to
protect him. Politically, Hague has
been a washout for several years,
losing election after election. 1t is
unfortunate that he does not, also
remove himself as blight on the
Democratic Party"
Announcement of the resignation
came in a dramatic scene in City
Hall, where Mr.. Hague has sat as
member of the city government for
"a years.
Never SHED From Battle.
The news of his announced re-
tirement spread swiftly and more
than 100 city officials quickly lined
up in front of the mayors Office.
Tears rolled down the eyes of many
and one white-haired city clerk
wept profusely.
Mr.. Hague's long career as mayor
of this city never has lacked for
excitement and struggle. He loved
q battle and never SHE'D from meet
ing opposition head-on.
+ Although he never smoked or
drank. Mr. Hague saw to it that one
Of his Governors, Edward I. Ed
wards, made New Jersey "as wet
as the Atlantic" and Mr.. Hague
himself was credited with writing
the 1892 national platform plank
that brought repeal of prohibition.
Mr.. Hague climbed to the top the
hard way. Born January IT., 1876,
one of eight children, he was ex-
PEELED from school for truancy and
went to work at is in the Erie
Railroad yards.
Built Up Organization.
Before long, though, he went into
politics as a vocation. He began by
building an organization, block by
block, district by district, and ward
by ward. Soon he was a constable,
then court clerk, sergeant-at-
arms of the New Jersey Assembly,
city hall custodian In 1911, director
of public safety in 1918 and mayor
in 1917.
Once in control of the city Demo-
cratic organization, Mr.. Hague's
elections, as well as those OF candi-
dates he supported, we're virtually
unanimous.
Once he was quoted as saying IT
am the law" in discussing a juvenile
delinquency case. The expression
arose continually during his lengthy
battle with the CLIO when the newly
organized industrial union was
growing in strength in 1886.
A famous civil liberties case grew
out of his orders to have CLIO and
left-wing speakers escorted out of
the city In 1887. 1t was carried to
the United States Supreme Court
and the rights of free speech and
assembly upheld.
In Democratic and Republican
election campaigns, Mr. Hague was
invariably one of the basic issues
He himself once said, I've been the
issue in every campaign in New
Jersey for 20 years. In that time
the reform shoppers and the legis-
lative committees have gone over
the records until they are tattered
and torn. All they can say is that
I am boss. Well, no man can stay
a boss for a quarter of a century
unless he gives the people the kind
of government they want and can
hold up clean hands"
Mr.. Hague's simple statement to-
day to reporters that Il am retir-
ing" came with members of his off,
cial family, including his nephew,
surrounding the Mayor.
Mr.. Eggers will be succeeded on
the City Commission by City Clerk,
Philip J. McGovern, while the new
city clerk will be Frank x. Burke,
war hero and Congressional Medal
Of Honor winner from Jersey City.