Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-03-26
STRONG WlTHDRAWS.
Continued from page ID
Want No Successor.

When Judge Lyon, who has been
in conference with the governor ev-
eral times over the political situation
here, was asked this morning what
was the meaning of the governors
action he said it meant that Theodore
Strong is down and out politically.
The judge was asked who would
succeed Mr.. Strong and he replied
that he hoped no one would. He said
that bosses we're not needed. AS to
a leader, he declared that all the
prominent men of the party would be
consulted hereafter and if any one
develops force of character enough
to become leader thar one would
probably lead, but it took time to
, develop leaders. The Judge thought
the party could be run successfully
with everyone having an equal
chance.
Review of Fight Against Strong.
The fight against the rule of Theo-
dore Strong in the republican party
in this county began almost a year
ago. 1t was April 10, 1906, when
Alexander r. Fordyce, Jr.,. issued a
statement to the effect that he was a
candidate for the regular republican
nomination for state senator to sue
coed Senator William II. c. Jackson.
As. Strong had slated Jackson for a
denomination, Fordyce defied the
boss program and appealed direct to
the people, asking them to send dele
gates to the county convention
pledged to nominate him for the office
he sought.
The announcement of Fordyce's
candidacy was followed, April 81, by
a reply from Theodore Strong in
which he attacks Fordyce in bitter
terms. The battle was then on and
it vas waged with much bitterness
on both sides. So warm did it be-
come that 1t attracted no little atten-
ton throughout the state.
Former Senator Jackson came out
with a statement of his own May 3,
1906, in which he asked the people
to support him on his record as a
legislator.
Fordyce's campaign was conducted
by the Independent Republican
League of Middlesex County. This
was organized as a result of a con-
ference which Col. Fordyce called
June IA, 1906. This conference was
attended by seventeen men besides
Col. Fordyce, representing all sec
tons of the county. George J. Corey,
a veteran campaigner, former United
States minister to Holland and a per-
sonal friend of the late President
Mckinley, took the leadership and a
whirlwind campaign was carried on
in every section of the county. The
fight was against bossism and corpor-
alton control.
The Colby movement was interest
ed in the fight and Senator Colby to-
gether with Mark Pagan and George
l.. Record spoke in different places in
the county several times.
The climax was reached when Sen
ator Robert NJ. LaFollette, of Wiscon-
ON the same night.
1t was the first real fight Theodore
Strong had had as leader and it
shook his political machine to its
foundation.
The struggle was for delegates for
the county convention. Primary day
was September 25. Never before has
there been SO much interest in a pri-
mary in this county. Party workers
were out like on election day.
The result was a victory for
Strong's machine. Jackson delegates
were elected to the county conven-
ton, but it was not a clean sweep.
Twenty-four Fordyce delegates we're
elected and they prevented the con-
vention being unanimous.
In the election which followed all
the republican candidates were elect
ed excepting Jackson, who was de-
feated by George S. Silzer, the dem
ocratic candidate, by 106 votes.
In the appointment of the county
committeeman Strong lost several
districts and thus his absolute sway
was broken.
The fight thus waged has been on
tinued ever since with the result that
Mr.. Strong has, today, announced his
retirement from politics. The indie
pendent movement, which supported
Fordyce, is not in a position to take
up the reins, however, as the organ
ization disbanded after the primar-
les. The bossism of Theodore Strong
is at an end, nevertheless, and it is
evident that the fight, thus far, has
not been in vain.