Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-06-22
MACHINE CAMP IN
UNION CO. IN PANIC
RunyOn's Candidacy for Assembly
on Colby Ticket NettIes
Leaders Of the Ring.

PLAINFIELD, June 22.-Panic
reigns in the machine camp since
Judge William N. Runyon. who leads
the Colbyites in Union county, babe
defiance to the bosses by openly APP
pealing to the people of this city for
their support of his candidacy for the
assembly. County Chairman Frank
H. Smith, who's prefer to Runyon of
a $4,000 judgeship on behalf of Sen
ator Alderman, has passed into conn-
ty history, Is not the least among the
nettled ones, and 1t is regarded as not
unlikely that he has already made a
reportSo of the spread of heresy to ma
chine ways to former County Chair
man Hamilton F. Kean, whose chief
Lieutenant he is.
What ground have these newspa-
pers got to say that that j~udgeship
for Runyon was a machine bait?"
asked the county chairman of the
NEWS correspondent with no little
display of warmth yesterday. Run
yon was never offered the surrogate
ship, what's MORE" continued the
county chairman of the regulars, not
withstanding that it is an accepted
fact that both Governor Stokes and
former Governor Voorhees,, as well as
Mr.. Smith himself, made the tender
of the Office to the judge after he
"broke" with the machine.
Continuing, County Chairman
Smith asserted that Runyon had
-. - Ill.,. ao1 IIo million Knan acE-
ing for an appointment, and that IT
was because of that alleged fact that
the judgeship was offered to him.
"Mr. .Kean," he said, wanted to do
what he could for him, and when the
judgeship came along offered 1t to
him"
Denials by Runyon.
The allegations made by County
| Chairman Smith were brought to the
attention of Judge Runyon last night
by the NEWS correspondent, and the
Colbyite candidate for assembly ap-
peared to be very much surprised.
"I've never asked Frank Smith,
Ham Kean or any n else for an
office or appointment, and when
Smith speaks as he does he knows he
is not telling the truth" he declared.
"When | withdrew from the senator
ial fight last fall in favor of Senate
Alderman, Hamilton f. Kean asked
me what | would want, and said he
would try and get me something in
stead. although there was nothing in
sibht. quickly replied that | was
not seeking any position and neither
did | want one. Frank Smith re-
members that conversation.
"As for my not being offered the
surrogateship, Smith knows that is
untrue. Governor Stokes offered 1t TO
me, and when / declined he told me
to go home and consult with my
friends before finally turning 1t down.
A few days later former Governor
voorhees, asked me if | would accept
that surrogateship AID that he wouid
offer it to me. | told him also that
could not do so with any s~elf-respect.
Later Frank Smith asked me II l
would decline both Office, and stated
that up to that time the judgeship
had not been formally rendered TO
me. Well, darn 1t, | offer 1t to you
for Senator Alderman be declared.
| then told him | would decline. Then
will tell the senator that you refuse
bbth Offices said he. My answer was
yes. Now all l have to say Is that
I'll back my word against Frank
Smiths in this city, where we both
live. and | know the people will be-
lieve me-"
Applications for membership in the
Colby League continue to pour In on
Judge Runyon. Among the number
which the NEWS correspondent saw
last night we're those of clergvmen,
lawyers, doctors, real estate men,
merchants and mechanics.