Evening star., 1949-11-06

OOIO OSA
The third important participant
in the melee is Democratic Jersey
City Mayor John v. Kenny, a
former protege of Boss Hague,
who pushed the Hague machine
of the road in Hudson County
by defeating Hague's nephew, for
mer Mayor Frank Hague Eggers,
in the municipal race last May.
Kenny now aspires to take over
as the undisputed State boss and.
while he has given lip service to
Wene's candidacy. most of his
subordinate leaders and the
Mayors Of Camden. Paterson and
Hoboken have been critical of
Wene because of his refusal to
cut loose from Hague. Former
Democratic Gov. Charles Edi-
son has come out Fundamentally
for Driscoll as a means of pre-
venting Hague's return to power.
Bin9o Is an Issue
But overtopping the issue of
bossism, social legislation, taxa
ton, veterans bonus and hous-
ing is a bitter controversy over the
|legalization Of bingo, which Wene,
"a Methodist, favors because the
Catholic church uses bingo par
ties for fund-raiSing purposes.
Driscoll, q Presbyterian, kept this
issue from being presented to the
voters by opposing q referendum
on Tuesdays ballot. His Repub-
|lican-controlled Legislature re-
fused to pass the bill that would
have authorized the referendum,
by . judicial decision. bingo Is
illegal in the State. ..-
The Catholic church has taken
an active part in the Wene cam
paign by circulating literature for
the return Of bingo. In the arch
diocese Of Newark the church il
openly calling for the election OF
Wene and . Democratic Legisla.
ture on the bingo issue. Local
political experts say this church
support will be valuable to Wene
In the cities. but viii backfire In
the rural Bible belts. which are
predominantly Protestant.
Much more than the Governor &
chair Is q stake. In conformity
with Driscoll,s 1916 campaign
promises and under his super
vision, . new constitution sup
planted the -100-year-old charter
that had thwarted efficient gov
ernment. At the Governors in
sistence, the new document in
cluded . bill Of rights that for
bade racial discrimination. q Sec
ton guaranteeing the right Of col
|lective bargaining and other pro-
visions reducing the number Of
Government agencies from more
than 100 to 20. Under 1t, Driscoll
was able to get the then Secretary
Of the Army, Kenneth Royal Of
North Carolina. to agree to end
ing segregation In the States Ma
tional Guard.
Will Name 81 Judges
Under the new constitution the
next Governor viii appoint 81 out
Of the 104 judges on the superior
county and municipal benches
and. more important, 10 county
prosecutors. including the oficia.
for the powerful political County
Of Hudson. In addition. the new
Governor will name the heads OF
Il important State agencies. who
used to be elected by popular vote
Many Democrats and Repub-
licans are fearful that should
Wene be elected. Hague would be
the power behind the throne and
would rebuild what used to be
thought an unbeatable organiza-
ton.
Republicans have cleverly capt.
talized this fear by replying to
Democratic billboards, plastered,
TT Looks Like Wene." The Re-
lpublicans have rented nearby bill
boards to answer. "But It's Really
Hague" "
Kenny. the new Democratic
boss Of Jersey City. hopes to cash
In on the new State patronage If
Republican DriScoll Is elected.
This will be possible because the
State has many bipartisan COM
missions to which the minority
party members must be appointed.
Apparently an understanding has
been reached by Kenny and Dris-
coll. In q recent speech, the Gov
#ernor announced:
John Kenny is the Democratic
State leader that I recognize when
/ need advice where that side of
the political fence Is concerned"
Cut Hague Ties
In politics. that's all a loyal sub
ordinate needs to know. Kenny's
henchmen have already cut their
ties with Hague, who, they now
realize. will get no patronage from
Driscoll.
Wene was given his chance to
repudiate Hague In q characters
tic Jersey gesture. Kenny ar
ranged 9 huge rally last month
ostensibly for Wene In Jersey City.
It was estimated obably exag-
gerated that as 900 loyal Demo
Gratis turned out to hear the cam
didate. But, scattered among the
crowd were several hundred Kenny
men and ct every pause Ii Wene's
speech this clique chanted:
Kenny Tor State leaderi"
Wene missed what the Kenny
crowd thought was an opportunity
for Z graceful tribute 10 their new