The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-08-06
THE LOCAL OPTION CAMPAIGN.

AS the. Antl-Sal0On League, through
its paid representative. is engaged in
a campaign in this county, and as
there is considerable Misrepresentation
in regard to the matter and mislead-
ing statements in circulation it may
be well to clear the air by setting
forth some facts in the case.
In the first place it is stated by the
representative Of the Anti-Saloon
League that the campaign in this coun-
ty is not for the purpose Of restricting
the liquor traffic in any sense, but to
secure the passage of law giving to
each municipality the right to decide
by special election whether licenses
to sell liquors shall be granted within
it's borders; that so far as the records
of ASsemblymen Chaplin and Buxton
are concerned only Republicans who
voted for them have any call to criti-
else them, and as for the Democrats
and Prohibitionists it is none of their
affairs anyway; that the program is to
ask the Republican assembly nominees
to pledge themselves to vote for a bill
prepared by the League las it is only by
that party can they hope to secure it's
passage) failing to secure these pledges
they will ask the Democratic candi-
dates to pledge themselves and will
turn to them all the Republican votes
they can, and if the Republican or
Democratic candidates will not make
pledges the League will nominate an
independent ticket. The situation
then, resolves itself down to this-so
far as the League is concerned the Re-
publican candidates, irrespective of
other important issues, must pledge
themselves to vote for local option
bill or be defeated, by Democrats if
possible in spite of the fact that that
party tried to pass open Sunday meas
ures in the present Legislature.
In regard to the charges against our
assemblymen. Early in the summer
it was understood that some of the
New Idea people were opposed to Mr..
Chaplin and he said that while accord
ing to party usage he was entitled to
second term if it was deemed wiser
to nominate some other man he would
acquiesce and do all he could to elect
him. He was re-nomiated and when
written to and asked to pledge him
self for local option made no reply. He
was black-listed and with the oppoSi-
tion from the other source ran two or
three hundred behind his ticket yet
had majority of 853 over his highest
competitor Mr.. Buxton, in answer
to similar inquiry, wrote frank
letter setting forth his position, and
saying in regard to the local option
pledge" Engaged as 1 am in chris
tian work, being the president of the
Y. M. G. A. of Morristown, N. j., l
stand firmly at all times for the up
lifting and upbuilding of the morals of
the community, and will vote for any
measure which l am convinced will
accomplish this purpose" On the
strength of this statement the League
sent ont a couple of hundred circulars
stating that Mr.. Buxton is with US.
How much this action helped Mr..
Buxton it is hard to say, but as he ran
seventy-eight behind Mr.. Fowler, it
would seem from a politicians stand
DOiDt, that the IIeaQUn failed To 01liV-
er the goods. In regard to the state
ment that our assemblymen were in
clined to vote for the local option bill
but voted against it under pressure,
which statement is being repeated
from some of the pulpitS of the coun-
ty, 1t is totally without foundation.
When pressed for direct asse rtion
that he knew the story to be true and
could Substantiate it, the agent of
the League answered g wasn't Buxton
told that if he did not vote for the bill
he could not have another term ?"
but could not say whe n, where or by
what person any such foolish threat
was made. The statement is absurd;
since the organization of the Republic
can party but one representative from
this county was refused renomina-
tion and he for selling his vote. Our
Assemblymen are always free to vote
as they please on any matter not
taken up and decided in the party
caucus. When local option comes in
New Jersey it will be in the form of a
bill that commendS itself to the best
wisdom Of the law makers, and they
will vote for it if desired by the people
and not because OF pressure.