Hague-Washington Axis?

The New Jersey State Legislature, never noted for its dignity, outdid itself one night last week. A hillbilly band twanged while some lawmakers applauded, some moaned. A fireworks bomb exploded. Members gave dozing colleagues the hotfoot. Dice and cards rattled in anterooms, and bars in the vicinity of the State House did a brisk trade.

Actually this whoopdedoo was a prelude to grim business. The Republican majority in the Legislature was out to get Boss Frank Hague, mayor of Jersey City. Hague-bossed Governor A. Harry Moore had vetoed a bill to install voting machines for Hague-bossed Hudson County. By New Jersey law, the legislators could not pass the bill over his veto on the same day. They were waiting for midnight and a new day.

Before dawn, they passed the bill. Over another veto they passed another bill giving the Superintendent of Elections the right to call on the State police to patrol Hudson (and Essex) County elections. They also passed a bill which revised the handling of election offenses. Then they went home with the milkman.

Cried Governor Moore: "The next logical move is for you to take the final step and pass legislation abolishing the Democratic Party."

It was doubtful whether the Republican triumph meant much. Hague forces hoped to keep the machines from being installed, at least until after Nov. 5. The Republicans did not kid themselves that they had Hague licked, but now was the time, if ever, to attack him on all fronts. Through his control of pivotal Hudson County with its whopping vote, Hague has elected five Governors, for years has euchred the Republican majority in the Legislature, has made "Hagueism" the dominating influence in the State. Both times Franklin Roosevelt ran for the Presidency, Hague delivered New Jersey's 16 electoral votes. Sixteen electoral votes, to the Republicans, were a lot of potatoes last week.

Superintendent of Elections William E. Sewell, searching for evidence of ballot-box stuffing and illegal voting in Hudson County, demanded to see the County's poll books for the last four elections, so that he could compare the signatures of voters with signatures in his registration books. Hudson County declined to surrender them. Sewell threatened to go to court. Word came from Hudson County that the books had been burned. Later, 1938 and 1939 records were grudgingly produced.

From Washington stalked New Hampshire's grim, trumpet-voiced Senator Charles William Tobey, Republican head-hunter on the Senate Committee on Campaign Expenditures. He expected to be joined by Arkansas's Senator John Elvis Miller, a Democrat but no New Dealer. Senator Tobey got a room in Newark, whetted his ax, spit on his hands and took a stance. Just as he was about to swing, word came from Washington that Senator Miller could not appear, no one else on the committee could be spared, it would be highly improper for Republican Senator Tobey to sit alone on an investigation of a Democratic county. He must abandon his plans, return.

"Consumed with righteous indignation," Senator Tobey charged back to the U. S. Senate, where he demanded: "Is there a Hague-Washington axis? Who are Hague's friends in Washington who step in and attempt to suppress Federal agencies of investigation?"

Committee Chairman Guy Mark Gillette (Democrat of Iowa) tried to explain that Senator Miller had had to resign because of his wife's illness. He had been unable to get anyone to fill his place. Roared Senator Tobey: "All through his career Hague seems to have been able to stop investigations just in the nick of time. But before God we're going to do our duty."

Unabashed, still secure, Hague forces held a mass meeting in Jersey City this week to denounce attempts at election reform and to celebrate with dances and songs.

Bellowed Boss Hague: "The question is --must the county of Hudson be crucified, humiliated and destroyed because you as citizens express yourself in behalf of its officials and their beliefs?"

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.