Jersey's Hague

Jersey City, N. J., once a little aristocrat among U. S. cities, now a sooty relic teeming with foreign blood, low politics and eager business men whose affairs are deeply complicated by those politics, is governed by a board of five Directors elected by the People. The Director of Public Affairs is elected Mayor by his fellow Directors. For many a tumultuous week, Jersey City voters have been exhorted to change Directors. A Reform-Fusion organization has been fighting bitterly to turn out Frank L. Hague, Tsar of the North Jersey democracy, vice-chairman of the Democratic National Committee, three times (for the past twelve years) Mayor of Jersey City. Dictator of Private Desires, said the Fusionists, would be a better title for Mr. Hague than Director of Public Affairs.

Mayor Hague has been under investigation by a Republican legislature at Trenton. The charges against him have been municipal graft and corruption. The potent Jersey Journal has raked him with editorial criticism. Chief exhorter against him has been one James Burkitt, a rangy Alabaman and self-styled "Jeffersonian Democrat." Not a candidate himself, "Jeff" Burkitt sought to "sell good government" to Jersey City. His loud, vote-swaying cry was against the exorbitant taxation which has driven many a manufacturer out of Jersey City during the Hague era.

The campaign was rough, personal. Hague called Burkitt "a contemptible scoundrel and carpet-bagger." The question of whether Mrs. Burkitt worked or not became a political issue. The Fusionist candidates--a nurseryman, a plumbing contractor, a motor salesman, an attorney, a roofing contractor--were obscured by the battle of Burkitt v. Hague.

Last week came the election. Poker-faced Mayor Hague and his Democrats won. But his usual majority of 7 to 1 was reduced to 3 to 2.

Peace did not follow the election. Burkitt declared: "I am the most disappointed man in New Jersey." Said the Mayor: ". . . Deeply grateful . . . splendid vote . . . personal enmity . . . slanderers silenced . . . return to peace and prosperity."

Hague supporters rioted jubilantly in the streets. The Reform headquarters were raided and wrecked. The morning after election Burkitt called to congratulate a Hague police captain at his station. Leaping to his feet, the officer met his well-wisher with "Now you lousy faker, get to hell out of here." Thereupon the "Jeffersonian Democrat" was shunted into the street, to be cursed and stoned by a Hague crowd.

Meanwhile, the State investigation of Mayor Hague prepared to go forward. He had already twice defied his inquisitors to pry into his "private affairs." Well circulated among Republican politicians in the State was a report that he would defy them once more, send his case hopelessly to the U. S. Supreme Court, then slip quietly away to England, where he had bought a permanent home and banked a fortune.