The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-06-09

ommittee would be and he felt that the |
roper move would be to read the existing |
nles by sections, allowing discussion or
mendment as they suggested themselves
Senator Robbins explained at length the
Importance of carefully considering the
ubject that was before the convention
md he thought a committee could look
,ver all the items with more deliberation
han to have them brought up and discuss
ID by the entire convention. as the latter
procedure would consume much time.
The motion to appoint committee was
then put and by viva voce vote was appar-
emily defeated, but division was called
for and the secretary was directed to call
a roll. The result was 70 votes in favor of
the motion and "a against The convention
was composed of 140 delegates, SO that the
motion was adopted by margin of one.
The chairman after looking around for
suitable members of the committee pro-
ceeded to read the list thatlhad been pre-
pared for him. It was as follows: Samuel
X. Robbins, Chester; Charles H. Folwell,
Charles r. Fenton, Northampton; Henry
j. Trick. Southampton; Harry L. Knight.
Medford.
A motion was made that the committee
be given five minutes to report the rules,
the idea being expressed that set had
already been prepared and that it would
be mere matter of form to look them
over. This statement was based on the
knowledge that many of the delegates
came to the convention with typewriter
copies of the proposed changes The
motion was amended to give the committee
an hour and this was further amended to
make the recess half hour, and the latter
was adopted.
The committee, however, found that it
had task on hand, as there were several
delegates present who had ideas which
they wished considered. The main point
of contention was the manner of selecting
a county executive committee. The plan
favored by the Headers" was that the
chairman of the county delegation at the
Congressional convention should make the
appointment. But there was strong OPP
position to this and Senator Robbins,
chairman of the committee, insisted that
the voters at large should have say in
the matter, and the rule which was finally
adopted was one that he proposed.
1t took an hour and half for the COM
mittee to reach conclusion, and many of
the delegates got tired and went home,
but there was large number who decided
to stay and see the affair end.
Senator Robbins presented the report of
the committee. He said there had been a
number of suggestions but none of them
had been adopted in their entirety. The
set of rules that would be presented had
been formulated with great care and the
committee had listened TO all who had
offered suggestions of any character.
After long discussion the committee I'M
animously decided upon the rules that
would be offered for consideration. The
Senator read the report and then the
rules were taken up separately
The first to promote discussion was Sec
ton 1 of rule 8 which provided for the
selection of county committee. The
rule as adopted will be seen in the full list
published below. George N. Winner offer
ed an amendment providing that at the
time and place for holding primary elect
ions the Republican voters of the several
election districts shall elect in each district
five members who shall constitute the
party executive committee for such elect.
ion district. The five should get together
and elect from their number a chairman,
secretary and treasurer, the chairman to
be the member of the county committee
from such election district. The COM
mittee thus formed to elect a chairman,
secretary, treasurer. and five members OF
an executive committee, the eight to con-
stitute campaign committee, with power
to call the entire committee together at
any time.
In support of his amendment Mr..
Winner called attention to the fact that
this system had been In vogue in Essex
county for a long time and he thought
Essex was as well organized as any county
in the State. He offered the same sort of
a resolution eight years ago but it was not
accepted.
Senator Robbins did not agree with Mr..
Hn Col hot ha
to have at least one convention each year.
To do away with these gatherings would
be serious mistake. The whole system
of our political existence depends On dele
gative action. 1t will be highly beneficial
to get members of the party together once
a year to discuss the problems of the cam
paign. The rule suggested would create
an interest and cause delegates to stir
around and select good ::men for the posi-
ton of county committee.
Mr.. Winner replied that the advisory
committee was supposed to represent the
people and he thought the voters in each
district were perfectly competent to name
five men who could control matters in that
particular locality. He Thought instances
could be recited where the advisory com
mittee appointed by the county committee
had not been as good as If selected by
those acquainted with all the conditions
of the neighborhood in question. The
nearer the politicians get to the people the
better it will be. The people are awaken
ing and are taking interest in politics.
Mr.. Winners amendment was lost and
the original rule adopted.
Then came proposition to allow the
members of the advisory committee to be
appointed by the county committee.
This caused more discussion, in which
Mr.. Roney, of Beverly township, led off
He thought the people should elect them
the same as they used to do. He was OPP
posed to this system of taking away from
the people the rights they had so long en-
joyed. So far as the county committee
was concerned he favored the rule that
had been adopted, for it provided for a
and he thought nothing could
keep up the interest in the party more
than having annual gatherings 1t gets
members of the party together and is val
liable in many ways. This convention
business was all right so far as the county
committee was concerned, but he felt that
the people knew better who to appoint on
the advisory committee than did few
who were not in touch with all the voters
In a district.