Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1910-11-14
MARITIME HAS
SENT SMITH
A CHALLENGE
Would Debate With Him
Their Claims on the United
States Senatorship.
SURPRISED AT SMITHS
IDEA OF PRIMARY
(snecial Corresnondence.

Plainfield, Nov. 14:--James e.
MARITIME, who received 48,458 votes
for United States Senator at the
Democratic primaries in September,
today sent to former Senator James
Smith, Jr. an open challenge to de-
bate, either in public hall in New
ark or elsewhere, or before Govern
or-elect Wilson and the Legis-
lature, their relative claims upon
the senatorship and their respective
merits for the office.
Mr.. Marines letter follows the
public declaration of Senator Smith
yesterday that he did not regard the
primary expression as in any sense
binding and that "if my friends
think I should enter the fight, l will
enter the race and | will win Mr..
MARITIME recalls how, three years ago,
at the Democratic gubernatorial con-
vention, Senator Smith sent down
his lieutenant, the present chairman
of the Democratic State Committee,
James R. Nugent, to vote the 186
delegates from Essex county to the
convention for MARITIME for governor,
and how he stepped aside when it
was thought to be in the best inter
ests of the party to nominate Frank
S.. KatZenbach, Jr. Mr.. Marines
letter to Senator Smith follows:
"Hon. James Smith, Jr.,
Federal Trust Company,
Newark, N. J.,
my Dear Senator: / was amazed
to read your public declaration of
yesterday to the effect that the. re-
cent expression of the Democratic
voters of the state, preferring me
for United States senator, had no
meaning and was not binding. AS
the duly selected choice of over 49,
600 Democratic voters, who went to
the primaries and voted for me,
must at once protest and resent this
declaration on your part. These
votes were cast at the same prima-
ries and by the same Democrats who
selected the delegates that nomina-
ted our splendid leader of the new
Democracy, Woodrow Wilson, for
whose nomination and election l was
ever as ardent and faithful a worker
asaurself
II s / was amazed because / had
come to DelfeVe that, inasmuch as
the Essex county delegation, three
years ago, came to Trenton at your
suggestion, and without any solici-
tation on my part, ready te support
me as the party's candidate for gov
ernor, / would have your support at
this time. 1t was deemed best at
that time to nominate some other
Democrat, and I cheerfully acquies-
ced. Again, when the Legislature,
In joint session, four years ago, Sc
lected United States senator, / was
the choice OF nay party and was COM
plimented by the Democratic votes
In the Legislature, you having given
me your support and likewise hav-
ing previously and emphatically de-
clared on several occasions that you
were entirely out of politics.
my faith In your intention not
to set aside the will of the Democra-
tic voters was further increased by
the attitude which you assumed in
your Newark newspapers, just prior
to the election. You came out bold
sion, and only two days before cleo
ton declared editorially: The con-
ditions are all prepared for one of
the most shameful chapters in legis-
latiye history in this state for the
purchase or attempted purchase of
q United States senatorship. True,
you were discussing our common en-
eny, the Republican party; but is
there any difference In Republican
morals and Democratic 6norals?
IF the Republicans We're bound
by the primary result, how much
more so our party, which has led the
good fight for permitting the voters
of the state to say who shall repre-
sent them in the United States SEN
ate.
AS you doubtless know, no state
in the Union has ever witnessed the
shame of it's Legislature going back
on the primary expression for Uni
ted States Senator, with the single
exception of Illinois; and ] am con-
fident that you are good enough
Jerseyman and staunch enough
Democrat not to want to place our
beloved state and party in the cate
CORY of Illinois. / entered the
primary contest as a matter of prin-
ciple, and / shall fight for the sue
cess of that principle. My personal
defeat or victory means little, but
the success of the vital principle OF
keeping faith with the people means
much more to our party.
you had ample time to present |
your name to the voters, after my
petitions had been prepared and my
platform of principles made public |
Now you come forward and publicly |
declare, How little the vote In the |
primary meant was shown by the |
fact that there were only two candi-
dates and one of them Frank M. |
McDermit. Until now I have been |
reluctant to credit the report so |
widely circulated at the time that |
you had, directly or indirectly. in |
Mr.. McDermit to enter the
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