Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-01-16
EDITORIAL COMMENT.
If DRYDEN, Why?


Must New Jersey be represented in
the United States senate by John F.
Dryden for six years more? If so,
why? The voters of this state have
already answered this question. A
majority of 10000 or more have de-
clared by their ballots that John F.
Dryden must not be reelected. In
obedience to this imperative CON-
mand of the sovereign people three
republican senators and six or eight
republican assemblymen have declar-
ed their opposition to the nan whom
the voters overwhelmingly repudiat-
ed at the polls.
And yet John F. Dryden remains a
senatorial possibility. Why? For ex-
actly the same reason that he was
elected to succeed William j. Sewell,
deceased, five years ago. Simply and
solely because of the power of wealth
and corporation influence. AS against
Dryden in 1902 were John w. Griggs
and Edward c. Stokes. The former
has proven his qualities of statesman
ship. He had been assemblyman,
senator, president of the senate, gov
ernor and United States attorney gen
eral. The latter had been assembly
men, senator and president of the
senate. Both had records in the high
est degree creditable.
John F. Dryden had nothing in the
way of craftsmanship to commend
him. He had not been active in poll
tics. He had not been tried in Office.
He had no record except that which
he had gained as the wealthy head of
a gigantic corporation. Yet John F.
Dryden was elected over all other
competitors. Why? This question
has never been answered explicitly,
but no man of intelligence in this
state hesitates to frame an answer
suitable to his own judgment and
conscience.
John f. Dryden is once more a AN
didate for United States senator.
Why? Has he in the past five years
manifested any noteworthy quality of
craftsmanship? Has he ingratiated
himself with the people of New Jer-
sey? He has not, for they have de-
clared as emphatically as possible
that if he is reelected 1t will be with
out their consent, and in the face of
their protest. Mr.. Dryden is today
exactly what he FIVE years ago, a
candidate by the sole virtue of being
the wealthy head of, a gigantic finan-
cial institution, now allied with sew
eral others scarcely less gigantic,
wealthy and influential. Are the same
tactics to be employed now that were
employed in 1902, and are they again
to be successful in spite of the de-
mands of the sovereign people?
There are no formidable rivals to
Mr.. Dryden now; and it is therefore
claimed that he is the regular repub-
lican candidate and should be re-elec-
ted. Why had he, until very recently.
no opponent of noteworthy record
and no one possessing the qualities.
of craftsmanship !? Governor Stokes
gave his reasons only a few days ago,
and they were sufficient. Former
Governor Griggs gave his reasons
several months ago, and they, too.
were both enlightening and sufficient.
He declared that he had "had enough
of running against Dryden's money"
without his money, what would
have been Mr.. Dryden's strength in
1902? Without his money what is
Mr.. Dryden's strength today? If Mr..
Dryden must be forced upon the peo-
pie of New Jersey a second time,
why? Is it because there is no other
statesman worthy to be United States
senator? Or is it because. as former
Governor Griggs intimates, no one
wants to run against Mr.. Dryden's
money? The republican caucus is
soon to be held, If held at all. The
eyes of all the people of this state are
turned upon the republican members;
eyes that are full of questioning; eyes
that have in them the fire of determi-
nation. If Dryden must be reelected,
why?-Newark News.