The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-11-08

Without warning, former Governor
Franklin Murphy hurled his first mis-
sile in his fight for the United States
senatorship in the form of an article
which contained a tart criticism of rhs
Governor of the State The document
has created more excitement in political
circles than any bomb of the kind that
has exploded for long long time.
The Regulars are dumb on the sub
ject, with the exception Of some OF tlla
assemblynen-elect. The New Idea lnen
are not quite certain which way to turn.
The statement hits right and left
at their most treasured principles.
especially those espoused by Governor
Fort in the two years that he has been
- States chief executive. Many OF
them. however, would not read iae
statement. 1t was, they held, the per-
sonal opinion of a man who, by this
action, had put himself outside of his
party, and was an attack on man
whom he, Murphy, helped nominate anu
elect, and who. in turn, m ade him char
man of the State Republican Com
mittee.
This is the opening gun in the sena-
torship fight. All through the last ses
sion of the Legislature the fight was
going quietly on, but none of the con =
testants, avowed and otherwise, would
talk much on the subject. Governor
Fort has long been considered as .
rival for the position now occupied by
Senator John Kean, and it is appa
rently as his strongest rival that Cover
nor Murphy selects him as the target
for his arrows. Incidentally he takss
a passing rap at Governor Stokes, who
was a member of the commission which
drew up the bill for the direct 9fl
maries afterward passed by the Legis-
lature.
George L. Record, of Jersey City, one
of the prime movers in the New Idea
fight in Hudson, said:
Elk Governor Franklin Murphy ;
statement is both very interesting and
very significant. Apparently the Regu-
lars feel that the New Idea men IN
Essex and Passaic county are gain
ing too much ground. 1t would be but
natural therefore that they do not ike
the present satisfactory system that en-
ables their opponents to make gains.
They are not satisfied with the primary
law when it is considered that results
have evidently been obtained at .
heavy cost in money.
TT is evident that the State leaders
are dissatisfied and under the existing
primary laws cannot get togethsS
money enough TO last from year 30
year.
This is poor policy indeed on the
part of Ex-Governor Murphy. Indeed,
if he thinks the people will be satisfied
to go back to the cigar box primary.
with its ballot box stuffing, crooked
work and fraud of all kind, he is verg
much mistaken.
Mr. Murphy offers no real argument
against the present system, except that
the Progressive, New Idea, Demo
cratic and all parties make up states.
This, he seems TO think, is an argu
ment against the primary law as it
now exists.
THAT argument is not against the
law. 1t is for the law. There is no OBJ
lection to any party making up SLATE
The essential thing is that the primary
be safe to the party voters. The votev
must know whom he is voting for ana
under what conditions. The present
primary law gives him that protection.
Making up a slate is not in itself a bad
thing. 1t Is necessary that II be oons
by somebody. In the present day yon
cannot have town meetings for discus
sion of candidates. Each party or fac-
tion can put up its own slate. or ticket
and then the voters have srre right
TO choose the men they want when Il
is submitted to the party vote
"The vice of the old system was that'
not only We're a few able to make up
slate, but were also able to prevent
the party voters from passing freely
upon its merits. In other words, II VIZ
often crammed down their throats Ine
new primary law is still ineffective -
one way. That is, that ii allows tile
election officers TO be elected OF p8rned
from the members OF single factiof.
Governor Murphy's eEifieismn =