Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-10-08

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forts.
The first is the beat the
bosses" pitch that carried
Mayor Robert F. Wagner to
victory in last months bitter
New York Democratic primary
In the Mitchell variation, Mr.
Hughes is made to appear the
tool Of the Democratic bosses
Of Hudson and Essex Coun-
ties Including Jersey City and
Newark, John v. Kenny and
Dennis F. Carey.
The victor over Republican
organization leaders in an open
primary, Mr.. Mitchell pictures
himself as "a man with obi
cations to no one except the
people" while Mr.. Hughes, Sc
lected in a party caucus, would
bring Kenny. Carey and chaos
into State government.
The second theme Of the
Mitchell campaign is a pledge
to spread New Jerseys eco
nomic growth. A Mitchell
handout shows a collection of
newspaper headlines abou
plants leaving the State and
promises, Jim Mitchell will at
tract industry and jobs"
Meyner Still Popular
Just as Mr.. Kennedy in 1860
avoided any direct attack on
former President Eisenhower,
Mr.. Mitchell has made no
across-the-board assault on
Gov. Meyner, whose personal
popularity is still high. But the
Republican nominee took ad-
vantage of the idleness his
broken leg enforced last sum-
mer to bone up on State affairs
and now has his own 3l-point
program, many of them touch
ing on weak spots in the Mey-
ner administration. He has hit
particularly hard at the Gov
ernor's support for a Jet air
port in northern New Jersey,
a stand that is so unpopular
that Mr.. Hughes has also re-
jected it.
The skill with which the
Mitchell campaign has been
designed is reflected in the
Illustration evident in the
Democratic camp.
I'VE don't have a burning
issue in this campaign" one
high Democrat confessed. you
find one and bring 1t in and
we'll be glad to have it,"
Lacking any real bombshells,
Mr.. Hughes has been pepper
ing his opponent with small
arms fire. He has attacked his
record as Secretary Of Labor.
pictured him as a tool Of the
Republican National Commit
tee, charged that his work out
side New Jersey from 1898 un-
til this year has made him a
stranger" to the State and
tried to saddle him with blame
for what Democrats call the
"obstructionist" tactics Of the
Republican &C ontrolled state
Senate.
Debates Avoided
The only line Of attack that
has appeared to have any sig
nificant impact 50 far Is the
accusation that Mr.. Mitchell is
afraid to meet his opponent
in debate. The Republican
nominee, convinced that de-
batting Mr.. Kennedy was Mr..
Nixon's fatal error, has made
no secret Of his reluctance to
tangle with Mr.. Hughes. The
On the other hand, the alb
sence of debates has left the
Democrats floundering for a
way to solve their basic prob
lem in this campaign-build-
ing up Mr.. Hughes as a man
Of stature comparable to that
Of the former cabinet member.
In this regard, the Demo-
Gratis are now paying the price
for picking a compromise can
didate last spring in order to
avoid a primary fight of their
own. Mr.. Hughes was not the
best-known candidate for Gov
ernor, but he was one of the
few Democrats who were &C
ceptable to both Gov. Meyner
and to the county leaders
including Mr.. Kenny and
Mr.. Carey.
From the day of his selec-
ton last March, Mr.. Hughes
has been on the campaign
trail. His personal efforts to
make himself known have been
backed by q massive billboard
and radio advertising cam
paign, but he is still. by all
appearances, q vague figure to
most New Jerseyans.
The Democratic nominee,
like his opponent a Catholic,
is from a political family. His
ganda aimed at labor au-
diences.
AS the campaign enters its
showdown stage, Mr.. Hughes
can count as his chief asset
father was a Democratic State
committeeman and he himself
ran unsuccessfully for the
House in 1888 and served a
turn as county chairman in
Trenton before accepting ap-
pointment to the bench from
a Republican Governor.
In 1857, after failing to re-
ceivA fhA antooittnoay1t ha d.