Evening star., 1953-06-02
The Political Mil
M RAI1fIHAf MHH ~ -..-E
49, ...---.
Election in New Jersey
Significant Nationally
6. o. P. Foces Possibility
Of Losing 'FoithfuI' State
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
Republicans have walked up to a
dangerous situation which confrontS
them in the only major political con-
test scheduled for this "off year"-the
race for Governor of New Jersey. Should
that election be lost by the 6. O.P,
Democrats all over the country would
hail the result as an augury of Demo-
cratic success in the vital congressional
elections of 1854. Correspondingly, it
would send chill down the spines of
Republicans from coast to coast. It is
not surprising, therefore, to have Re-
publican National Chairman Leonard
w. Hall announce that the national
party organization will do all it can to
help win this race next November. Fur
ther, the Jersey Republicans are pre-
pairing to put their first team into the
contest. Overtures have been made to
"Ab" Hermann, former executive di-
rector of the Republican National Com
mittee. and at present administrative
assistant to Senator Smith of New
Jersey, to come home and take charge
OF the campaign for the electiel. of the
Republican gubernatorial nominee,
Paul L. Troast.
Mr.. Hermann has successfully man.
aged seven Statewide campaigns in
New Jersey. In addition, he helped
carry the State for Gov. Dewey of Jew
York in the 1948 presidential race and
for President Eisenhower. In 1850,
while he was serving as executive di-
rector Of the Republican National
Committee he was also campaign man
ager for the congressional elections
that year. which brought big Republic
can gains in Congress. Mr. Hermann
was at the helm in the campaigns which
twice elected the late Senator Barbour.
three times in campaigns for the elec-
ton of Senator Smith, and twice in
campaigns for Senator Hendrickson.
Rackets Problem.
The hazardous situation in which the
Republicans find themselves in New
Jersey today is due to revelations which
have involved several figures in the
State organization and in the Driscoll
administration, and to the fact that a
former Republican, Clendenin Ryan.
has filed and is running as an inde-
pendent candidate for Governor. MIR.
Ryan was strong supporter of the
late Mayor La Guardia. who was re-
SponSible in part for running some of
the racketeers out of New York and
into New Jersey. His candidacy may
appeal to the so-called independent
vote, which has largely been Republican
in New Jersey. Further still. the con-
trolled Democratic vote in Jersey City,
some of which was thrown to Gov.
DriScoll in the last gubernatorial elec-
ton, cannot be counted on this year
for Mr.. Troast.
A Republican defeat in New Jersey
would be all the more disastrous be-
cause the State was one Of the first to
rally to the G. o. P. back in the
mid '30s, when the New Deal was riding
high, wide and handsome. Last year.
President Eisenhower carried the State
by nearly 375,000 votes, and Senator
Smith was reelected by approximately
275000. The Democrats have NOM
mated for Governor former State Sena-
tor Robert P. Meyner, young, perSonable
and a good speaker. Mr.. Meyner de-
feated former Representative Wene in
the primary by only $500 votes. He had
City. Mr.. Wene in the past had the
backing of former Mayor Frank Hague,
the Democratic boss Of Jersey for
many years.
The Democratic cry in the Jersey
ampaign-against the Republicans
is crime, graft and corruption Gov.
Driscoll is in the clear personally, but
his administration has taken a black
eye. The fact that the gamblers have
contributed large sums to Republican
campaign funds has been developed in
Investigations conducted first by Nell
son Stamler. appointed a special in
vestigator to look into crime in Bergen
County, and later by legislative COM
mittee.
Democrats Split.
The Democrats, for their part, are
engaged in a bitter intra-party row.
particularly in Hudson County Jersey
City,. Mr.. Kenny has been reelected
Mayor, but the old Frank Hague forces
now represented by Frank Eggers-
made comeback in the municipal elec-
tions this spring. While the Republic
cans are Smeared by reports Of con-
nectionS with gamblers in big Republic
can counties, the crime investigations
of the waterfront have shown that the
Democratic leaders in Hudson County
have been involved with the waterfront
rackets.
The Jersey Republican campaign, it is
expected, will be made as strongly as
possible on the line that defeat for
Mr.. Troast will be defeat for the Re-
publicans nationally. and for President
Eisenhower. Mr.. Troast himself, how
ever is highly regarded. He was named
"the outstanding citizen Of New Jersey
and engineer of the year" in 1852.
1t will be the Republican argument that
he is capable Of giving the State good.
clean government.