The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-07-10
|Rv|NG1ON MAN
CANDIDATE FOR
THE ASSEMBLY
William L. Brice Tells Why He
Seeks Nomination by Di-
rect Primary Vote.
To the Editor Of the Evening Star:

To the Editor Of the Evening Star:
May I. through the columns of your
paper. make statement to the public
in regard to becoming a candidate for
the Assembly.
1 have been urged to believe that the
direct primary law. enabling the voters
of any particular party TO place in nom-
nation candidates within party lines
without the Intervention of faction in.
~luences, was largely for the purpose of
converting the contest for these offices
from a fight between factions for place
and power to an ample opportunity to
any and all of the voters of the party
to elect those members of the party by
a direct vote Who come the nearest TO
representing them individually. For
this reason, at the solicitation of friends.
l have determined to become a candi-
date, and desire to state the position l
will assume at Trenton on questions
likely to come before me-.
l am a Republican. l believ in the
principles of the Republican party as
laid down in the national and State
platforms, embodied in the personality
of President Roosevelt and promised
by Candidate Taft.
AS the question before the people of
the State demanding the most universal
attention is the excise question, | Will
state the l agree with Mr.. Taft on
this proposition and shall work and
vote for a measure granting to the
people by a direct vote the power to
determine for themselves in each city
and township of the State the question
of whether they desire to have liquor
licenses issued in their communities or
not.
This is commonly spoken of as local
option laW-local choice of the people.
The daily exposes of inspectors and
license authorities betraying their
trusts and denying the appeals of the
people emphasizes the necessity for
a law granting to the people, the source
of power, the final jurisdiction in the
matter. / propose to be their servant
and not their boss, and will support a
measure granting them the power of
ballot on this matter, in harmony with
American Institutions n in keeping
with the advanced legislation of nearly
all other States.
In the same manner I am for the lar
gest measure of home rule in all phases
of our municipal life consistent with
the maintenance Of those institutions
which are incident to a proper safe
guarding of our people. Consistent with
this | shall support amendments TO our
State constitution providing for Assem-
bly, districts and separating Il munich
pal from our national and State cleo
tons. favor the direct nomination
of all officers elected by the people
within the State.
And while 1t Is impossible for me to
state in this letter my position on all
particular questions, | will say: If i
am elected l shall represent the people,
including women and children. as well
as the voters. | will Judge of the ques-
tons of their merits. but as the repre-
sentative of the people and not as the
representative of special interests,
whether they are looking for an UNI
fair franchise, or trying to continue
unjust conditions, or fighting the people
In their struggle for the right to vote
on the question of the issuance OF
licenses.
| will make no promises behind tie
scenes" to any a clique or faction,
but only to the people in the open. If
l am nominated and elected. it will be
by them. n to them. and to them
alone, will owe allegiance.
WILLIAM L. BRICE,
10 Colt street.
Irvington, July 10, 1908.