The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-09
EXCISE PLANK
IN PLATFORM
PUZZLES
Convention Declared
for Local OptiOn--State
Declaration Stood PAT.

There promises to be a difference of
opinion, a number of differences of
opinion, in fact, as to just what the
Essex County Republican platforms
excise plank means. With the initial
session of the 1920 Legislature five
weeks away, there is already. a dis
tinct rumble that is taken as porten-
tous by those who have their ears to
the ground.
The State Republican platform of this
year drew attention to the fact that the
party had accomplished needed re-
form in excise legislation and pledged
Itself to the maintenance of the re-
form, meaning an Endorsement of the
Bishops law.
Eleven members of the Assembly
were chosen from this county on a plat
form that calls for new excise enact
ments. Just what the new laws or the
new bills OF Nbill to be introduced by
Essex members should be Is the ques-
ton ON which there promises to be
several opinions or sets of opinion.
The Interpretation of the county ex-
else plank that meets with approval Of
a number of regular leaders is that a
bill should be presented providing that
the people of any community. may, at
a special election. decide for or against
the regulation of the traffic by their
local excise authorities. That inter-
probation will find expression in a bill
to be introduced soon after the Legis-
lature convenes.
The general impression, or If not the
general expression the thought of thou
@- III. - ..-t--- ~ Is-1-A~I H. aA.,nfxy
party's excise plank, was that it COM
mitted the party here to local option on
the entire liquor question. 1t was
taken by many to mean that by direct
vote on the question of when liquor
or should not be sold each mu-
nicipality should decide the matter for
itself.
Here is the plank on the excise ques-
ton that was placed in Essex County's
Republican platform and is now said
to be capable of more than n inter-
probation:
Realizing that the question of the
regulation of the sale of liquor is a
troublesome one, and one upon which
public sentiment In some parts Of the
State differs widely from that in other
sections Of the State. we recommend
legislation which will permit the people
80 tAAC - I
their votes at the polls how the ues-
ton shall be regulated by their respec-
tive excise authorities"
Assemblyman-elect Rudolph A.
of this county. wants to intro
duce the proposed liquor law and will
probably do so. 1t will not be of his
own creation, however. 1t is planned
to have it represent the thought of the
delegation as we'll as of the
men In the party who had Il
part in the late campaign and its pre-
convention.
A majority of the eleven Essex AS
sen blymen-elect, Chairman Alfred N.
of the county committee,
and other Republicans from this local
ity will go to Trenton tomorrow for
Governors day.
The Essex members elect of the As
will meet at Republican head
tomorrow night to select a
Ieader and talk about proposed legisla-
Ion.
State Comptroller J.. Willard Nor
term of Office expires with this
and he will have to look to the
majority in the House for
reelection. There is some talk of whip
ping South Jersey into line with Nor
yan's continuance in office depending
what is done in the way of organiz7
ing the House. As has been heretofore
told, the slate that has come nearest to
.weathering storms is that of Professor
John d. Prince. of Passaic County. for
Speaker, and william P. Martin, of
Essex, for leader of the majority on
the floor.