Evening star., 1953-10-23
Jersey Democrats
Hope for Miracle
In 9Th District Vote
By Gould Lincoln
Sior Siuf Correspondent

GA4OAoG 1 IL ~ Oss wv SOs--
Democrats here. in New Jerseys
9Th congressional district, are
trying to pull a 18th Wisconsin
district" upset for the Republi-
cans. If they succeed, it will be
a political miracle. A victory for
their congressional candidate is
more unexpected than was that
registered by Representative
johnson, Democrat. in the recent
Wisconsin by-election. 1t would,
indeed. be heralded as an almost
certain forecast of Democratic
control of the next Congress.
Democrats speak hopefully Of
the chances of their youthful
candidate, Harrison A. Williams
of Plainield. Privately, how
ever. they say frankly they don't
see how he can win. The 9Th
New Jersey district has for years
been strongly Republican. The
last time it elected a Democrat
to Congress was in 1931-in the
depths of depreSsion-also to fill
a vacancy in the House. The
coming election is for the un-
expired term of Clifford P. Case,
who resigned to become presi-
dent of the Fund for the Re-
public of the Ford Foundation.
Victory Margin Predicted.
The Republican leaders in the
district say that their candidate,
George F. Hetfeld-alSo of Plain
f1eld-Will win with a lead over
Mr. Williams of $4,000 to $4,000.
Such margin of victory, how
ever, would be great dropping
off from the votes rolled up by
Mr.. Case. In 1948, Mr.. Case led
his Democratic opponent by 22,-
900 votes; in 1850, by $4,000, and
in 1852, by $4,000.
The explanation given by the
Republicans for such very con-
siderable reduction in voting
strength is that Mr.. Case, who
had five times been elected to
the House, had become tremen-
douSly strong with the voters
and received the support of many
Democrats as we'll as Republi-
cans. Their present candidate,
Mr.. Hetf1eld, a 44-year-old law
yer, is not widely known in the
district. His only political Office
was as a member of the Plain
field common council several
years ago.
Hope for Williams.
The Williams supporters are
taking hope from three factors
that may play a part in the
election. There has been a cleav-
age in the county Republican
committee. two factions seeking
control. Second, Mr.. Hetf1eld.
who was a native of Union
County, in 1851 transferred his
voting residence to a shore
county, where he had summer
home at Mantoloking. He served
two years as borough councilman
there. Last August, Mr.. Het-
field re-registered in Plainf1eld-
just in time to become can
didate for the congressional
nomination from the 9Th district.
Third, the possible effect which
the letter written by the Re-
publican candidate for Governor,
Paul L. Troast, asking executive
clemency for Joseph S. Fay,
might have on the whole Repub-
lican ticket, including Mr.. Het-
field.
But Mr.. Villains, although he
does not have some of the prob
lens which confront his Re-
publican opponent, is even less
known throughout the district
than is Mr.. Hetfield. His only
previous try for political Office.
which was not successful, oc-
cured in 1851 when he ran for
the State Assembly. He has an
engaging personality and is
working long hours every day to
win votes. While he has the
Endorsement of the CIO. his
opponent may have some of the
AFL support which apparently
is going to the Republican can
didate for Governor, Mr.. Troast.
Worked in Washington.
Mr.. Williams is a graduate Of
Oberlin College in the class OF
1941. After four years service
in the Navy during the war -
three years as a Navy aviator
he took law course at Colum-
bia University, graduating in
1948. He served briefly as a re-
porter on the Washington Post
in 1941 and after the war he was
employed by the National Tuber
Co. in Ohio as a steel worker, be-
coming member of the United
Steel Workers of America, CIO.
He is at present with a law firm
in Newark.
In his campaigning, Mr.. Will
liams takes a shot at "bossisrn,
which he says prevails in Union
County. He is opposed to a ma
tional sales tax and is for the re-
peal of the Taft-Hartley labor
law. He stands for economy and
against what he calls the give
away program" of the present
Congress. He is for a strong
national defense and the United
Nations.
Mr.. Hetfield is more cautious
in his declarations. He calls the
main issue today the preservation
of national and economic secur-
ity. He is for a strong national
defense program and for the
elimination of all Communists
and fellow travellers from Gov
ernment. He favors revision, not
repeal of the Taft-Hartley Act.