Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-03-29
0. P. MEMBERS
SMOTHER PRIMARY
EXTENSION BILL
Speaker Ward Breaks Gavel as
Baker ExcOriates Essex
~Assemblymen.
tF-,om a staff correspondent

I'm
TRENTON, March 29.-The House
last night refused to relieve the COM
mittee on elections of the further con-
%sideration of Assemblyman Bakers
bills to extend the principle of direct
nominations without intervention OF the
convention system, to selections for
Governor and Congress. Mr.. Baker, in
accordance with notice served last
week, offered a resolution to relieve the
committee soon after the House con-
vened. The debate which followed
lasted until almost midnight, and put
the Republican majority on record
against the extension of the direct
primary to nominate Governor and con-
gressmen.
The Republican ranks were broken,
however, Assemblymen Nichols, OF
| Cumberland, and Crosby, of ocean,
voting with the sixteen Democrats
present to force a report on the bills.
Mr.. Kackenmester, OF Hudson, Demo-
crat, was absent.
The vote stood Is for and 81 against
reporting.
Birch and Smith, of Morris, did not
vote, and Lee, of Essex, was out of the
chamber. Mr.. Baker protested against
| the bills being smothered in committee.
Majority Leader Edge in reply de-
clared that it was not the majority
party's policy to change the whole
political system in n fell swoop. He
said the direct primary system had
been established by the Republican
party and would be thoroughly tried
out before it was applied further
Minority Leader Sullivan in a ringing
address demanded of the majority that
it point to n defect in the direct pri-
mary system, which has been In oper-
alton in the selection of all municipal
and county candidates for W years.
Mr.. McCran, of Passaic, made the
longest speech for the Republican wing
of the House. taking much the same
stand that Leader Edge had assumed.
Mr.. Tumulty made the best speech he
has made during the session. In fur
therance of the Baker resolution.
scored by Nichols.
Mr.. Nichols repeated mis- speech OF
a year ago, declaring again that he
was a living illustration of the Ell
feet of the direct primary.
lime dlltI llllt j
this committee to report my own bill
to provide for the extension of this
system. but they have refused" said
the Cumberland reformer. IF there
was a convention system the political
boss in Cumberland would have said,
we don't want Nichols because we
can't control him. There is not a
man in the House who does not be-
- .t.. %L1e1 hinc ehO1ld he re-
ported and passed, but they have been
told to vote against them
Mr.. Minard. of Essex, pointed out
that the Republican platform of 1907
had been kept with the passage of the
present law and dwelt on the Repub-
lican contest in Essex as justification
for his opposition. Then followed one
of the most amusing incidents of the
session.
Mr.. Baker took the floor and in.
a speech thai sparkled with wit n
sarcasm excoriated Mr.. Minard. Speak
er Ward tried in vain to stop him,
objecting TO personalities. In fact, so
strenuously did the Speaker rap for
order that he broke his gavel, an al
most unheard of thing. MIR. Baker
went on serenely. He said:
1T has always seemed providential
that whenever a great cataclysmlc
force has imperilled the security OF
the Republic some sublimely heroic
character has forthwith appeared, su-
perbly equipped with ability to cope
with the e~xigencies of the situation and
inspired with the most exalted patriot
ism to exercise his miscellaneous tai
ents for the well-being of the nation.
Baker Amuses House..
And l firmly believe" said Mr..
Baker. that If traitorous hands sought
to take from yonder emblem one single
star there would arise in the village of
East Orange a patriot willing to sacri-
fee the felicity OF his Preside; the emol-
uments incident to a professional al
lance with r. Wayne and Cort. Par
ker, the defense of numerous district
court actions against the much
maligned Public Service; the enthusiast
tic plaudits of sedately inclined con-
stituency, extending from Essex Fells
to Hamburg place, including nine citi-
zens Of Glen Ridge, in order that the
patriotism of his burg might be inter-
nationally v~indicated.
And If it was decreed that he should
surrender his armor to an invincible
foe in battle no doubt the patriotism of
the people of Essex County would in
spire tie erection of a monument to his
valor. Methinks I see arising In thai
garden of Newark's great Military Park
in proximity to the shafts that tell OF
the bravery of Phil Kearny and the
craftsmanship of Frederick Freling-
huysen a column of death-like bronze
it's apex piercing the heavens, while at
It's base the astonished agriculturists OF
Roseland borough, Verona LAX and
Cedar Grove are reading this indellibly
capitalized epitaph:
Here lieth the body Of Duane Mfnard
Whose battle in life was bitterly hard.
He loved to indulge in Masonic" travel,
And rode the goat with Sir Knight
Flavel.
In life he was known as n good pal;'
When leaving earth. he said Goodbye
Dali"
In manhood's estate he fought many
shams;
In boyhood days he peddied clans