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Originally published in 1939
Some of this information may no longer be current and in that case is presented for historical interest only.
Edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2002
Parties and Elections: Governor Woodrow Wilson advocated the direct primary as a means of taking the nomination of candidates and the
selection of party committee members away from the bosses and giving
the parties back to the people. Although the old-line politicians fought
for retention of the convention system, Wilson won. It is a tribute to the
ingenuity and the steadfastness of purpose of the political leaders of both
parties that the direct primary appears to have had little effect upon control of the parties.
In the Democratic Party, the result perhaps has been to strengthen the
State organization led by Jersey City’s present (1939) mayor, Frank Hague.
His Hudson County organization is held by students of practical politics
to be probably the most smoothly running machine in the country. Substantially one-third of all the votes cast in the State Democratic primary
come from his county.
Republican leadership is more scattered, and the party's primaries often
present lively contests in striking contrast to the peaceful balloting of the
Democrats. Usually the party is controlled by a semi-permanent coalition
of leaders from Republican strongholds.
The overwhelming Democratic vote in Hudson and Middlesex Counties,
and considerable Democratic strength elsewhere, make it relatively easy
for the Democrats to elect a Governor. But apportionment in the legislature based on counties seriously handicaps their efforts to win a majority
in either house. Since 1910 the Democrats have elected their gubernatorial
candidate six times out of nine, whereas they have controlled both the
assembly and senate in only two years-19I3 and 194. This constant
division of State machinery between the two major parties has been cited
as justification for the system (roundly attacked by Woodrow Wilson)
under which leaders of the two parties unite in political action. This system, it is said, tends to prevent a deadlock on appointments and legislation.
Minor parties have played practically no part in New Jersey politics.
Great efficiency of the two major party organizations, and the support of
organized labor for candidates of one or the other party, have prevented
the Socialists and other groups from showing any considerable strength.
Annual conventions for preparing party platforms are held after the
primary elections. An interesting law names as delegates the members of
the State committee of the party, the candidates for the legislature, governorship and Congress, as well as hold-over members of the legislature.
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