Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-08-15
REPUBLICANS MAY
LOSE GOVERNOR,
SAYS JOHN KEAN

tCoAAAnueu AEbm EIEnh FAkesI
-
would result disastrously. would bt
willing to submit the question of the
election Of a United States Senator to
the primary If the Democrats were
equally frank. and IL by so doing
should not ~jeopardize the success OF
the Republican party this fall. The
Republican party appears to be full OF
dissensions and in no county in the
State that I am aware of have the
Democrats a serious primary fight. A
Republican Governor Is in doubt (the
leaders OF the Democratic party claim
that they can elect anyone Governor
this year,, and as I have always stood
for the Republican party. I am an
willing that any action of mine should
jeopardlze the chances of Republican
success.
There are no Democratic candidates
who talk of fling petitions for en-
dorsement for the position of United
States Senator, nor has n Demo-
cratic members of the Legislature or
candidate for election as such said
that he would vote for the choice Of
the primary for United States Senator.
Furthermore, the result Of primary
contests have been disastrous to the
Republican party, a notable case being
In your own county. Mr.. Colby was
nominated by a majority at the pri-
maries but on election day he was
defeated In a county where the Presi-
dental ticket received some $1,000 votes
out of $1,000 votes. or nearly two-thirds
of the entire vote cast. In Middlesex
County last year in the primary fight
each faction succeeded In nominating
part of the ticket, yet on election day
while the coroner was elected, showing
that a majority of the ballots cast
were Republican, each faction succeed
ed in defeating the candidates of the
other. Therefore. judging from ex-
~perience. 1t would seem to me that a
primary contest would ~jeopardize the
chances of eiecting q Republican Gov
ernor and Legislature and probably re-
suit in the election Of q Democratic
Legislature unpledged tc any candi-
date for United States Senator.
as 1t not better in a State which
has continually Endorsed the policies
Of the Republican party to continue
that party in power than to rend 1t
asunder by personal controversies? 1t
seems to me that 1t is wiser for US
to all unite in electing q Republican
Governor and Legislature rather than
to spend our time and energies In
advancing u personal ambition to-
ward an election to the United States
S~enatorship.
SIT may be that the course I have
adopted is the wrong n 80 far as
my own candidacy is concerned. How
ever that may be ! shall have the sat
isfaction of knowing that 1 have act
ed in accordance with my own best
Judgment toward my party. Very
sincerely yours,
"JoHN KEAN."
Senator Kean supplemented his let
ter by remarking that the controversy
Is at an end so far as Mr.. Murphy and
himself are concerned He adds, that
1t is, to say the least, passing strange
to have two former Republican govern
ors, one at present chairman and the
other vice-chairman OF the State com
mittee, leading a movement which he
fears may result in the election OF 9
Democratic Governor and Legislature
Raps Ex-Governor stokes.
The senior senator, after reading for
mer Governor Stokes's plea for indorse'
ment, sarcasticaliy remarked that this
man from Cumberland. seemed more So
| licitous over the enforcement of the
permissive features of the primary
which he likened to a straw vote-thar
he was, while chief executive, in hav
ing the organic as well as te statutor,
law obeyed.
when Stokes was Governor" SAIL
Senator Kean, "he sought to subver
the constitution Of New Jersey b,
having himself elected to the Unite'
States Senate. The State constitution
| says that the Governor shall not b
elected to n office under the gov
eminent Of the State or of the Unite'
States during the term for which h
shall have been elected Governor
That did not deter Stokes, when Gov
ernor, from seeking the United State
Senatorship. He now shows great so
licitude for the primary law. Hi
curse as Governor was an induce
ment to the members of the Legisla
ture to disregard their oath of office"
Senator Kean did not receive NJ
Murphy's second letter until yesterday
having been away on the annual oul
ing of the Union County Republica