Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-04-09
COLBY LEAGUE
IN UNION GO.
Prominent Men of Elizabeth and
PIainfield Organize to Fight
Republican Machine.

ELIZABETH, Apr. "Details of
the formation of the Republican
League of Union county, which was
started at a meeting Saturday night
at Elizabeth, will be worked out with
in the next week or two. A campaign
to bring about the defeat of the re-
publican machine at the primaries
next autumn will be conducted dur
ing a large part of the summer, and
active work will be done from now
on to strengthen the reform move
mcnt in the county. 1t is believed
by the Elizabeth and Plainfield men
who have been most active in the Or
ganization of the league that there
will be no o difficulty in wrestling
the control of the county from the
machine than Senator Colby had last
year in bringing about the political
downfall of Carl LentZ, the Essex
county boss, and his followers. They
the convinced that active work is all
that is required and that a large ma
jority of the republican voters will
gladly support the reform movement.
A mass meeting will be held under
the auspices of the new league on
April 2S.
Organization was accomplished
saturday night in the Grand Army
rooms, Johnson building, amid great
enthusiasm. About fifty county poll
ticians and other prominent men at
tended the conference, which was adj
dressed by Senator Colby, Corpora
ton Counsel George L.. Record, of
Jersey City, and Judge William n.
Runyon, of Plainfeld, who recently
bolted the regular ranks of the party.
Charles Mcbride called the meeting
to order and William f. Graves was
made secretary. Thomas Jones, OF
the Eighth ward of Elizabeth, was
chosen temporary chairman. With
Senator Colby was his cousin, Gard.
ner Colby, who is at the head of the
league in Essex.
Senator Colby told how the party
machine ran things in New Jersey.
He described the. peculiar ways Of
working" Legislators and smother
ing bills.
ut is true he said, that the
people of this state got together and
restored the old style of representa-
ton. Corporation representation is
not representation of the people. The
object of this gathering here tonight
is to enlist the aid of Union county
republicans who are tired of boss
rule and want to be represented
themselves by their chosen represen-
tatives.
Part of the effect of this new
movement is a law which will bring
up about $4,000, 900 more in taxes
from the railroads. This is only one
thing. The Legislature has passed
certain remedial measures which are
uppermost in the popular mind but
has failed to act upon other measures
equally worthy, which have not gain
ed sue widespread attention"
If, said Mr.. Colby, the railroads al
lowed n bill to go through they us.
ed this as leverage to crush other
measures inimical to their interests.
"As one who has been a machine
man. said Judge Runyon, " a man
who has fought hard with the organi-
cation, am glad to be in this gath
ering, which is the beginning of a
new condition of affairs in the poll
tics of this county | stand ready to
do anything within my power, in aid
of this e movement. 1t will need
more work to push it through, and
will need men, not only with capac-
ity for work, but with the quality OF
stick-to-it-ivenesss to win any kind
OF success"