Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-03-29
GOVERNOR VETOES
DALRYMPLE'S PET
COMMITTEE BILL
Fort Knocks Out Leaders Plans
for Party's Control Here
This Fall.
CHAIRMAN'S SCHEME WAS
TO PREVENT ANY CHANGES
Executive Scores Measure and
Says Its Promoters Fear
the People. 80.

From STAFF oorrespondent.I
TRENTON. March Ex-Governor Fort
smote his party organization hip and
thigh today by vetoing County Chair
man Dalrynaple's Essex county bill to
stave off fight for control of the party
machinery in Essex this fall.
The bill aimed TO amend the primary
law so that the county comr1litteer1aen
elected last fall would serve for two
years and not be required TO fight for
reelection this year. The Governor
made his veto message the excuse for
a red-hot dissertation on the party pri-
mary.
He referred to the bill as a Scheme
of a few so-called or would be leaders
who fear the people and wish to get an
other year of power without their con-
sent"
The result OF the veto. unless the
Legislature mas the tenerity 10 repass
the bill over the executives head, is to
reopen the Republican wounds in Es-
sex. New Ideaites and Lentz and
Dalrymple regulars win battle once
more in September, and if the antj-Dal
forces win, they will at once demand
their seats and the right to manage
the party campaign for Governor Con
gress, United States senator and Leg
islature The same sort of battle will
be witnessed in Hudson. In part the
veto message reads:
This bill amends chapter 1o6 OF the
laws of 1909. That act provides for the
election of members Of county ana
city political committees at prirna ries
TO be held in the several voting pre-
c.ncts each year. The first primary
elections were held under this act III
of the county and city committees ar
Calls IL Vicious.
This act has been held TO be con-
stitutional by the Supreme Court 1t
is not the least ambiguous in its pro
visions as to the term Of a committee
man, and no person now holding the
office of county committeeman had the
slightest doubt, at the time he was
elected, Of the fact that when he was
elected he was being elected for but
one year. The statute reads as follows
" The chairman of each county or
city committee shall, on or before the
first day of July in each year, file with
the clerks of the several municipalities
the number of committeeman to be
elected 70 such county and city COM
nlittee in each year, as provided by the
constitution or bylaws Of such
committee
THE act herewith returned, notwitll-
extend the term OF some committeeman
in some counties mot all Of theni) fer
another year. without the consent or
the people.
Amy statute which extends term
of Office is Objectionable legislation.
10 me il is vicious legislation. More
than that, by the provisions of the act
herewith returned distinction as to
length Of term is made so that in some
counties and cities committeeman are
elected for one year and others for
two. This is also bad policy There
J should De uniformity throughout the
State. Either all should be elected for
one year o. all for two years. 1t is of
littje concern TO me which period 1t ss
| SO long as i is one or the other ana
! applies TO all
.'t htcanery and Irfckery.
After long and somewhat earnest
contest, the principle OF the selection or
members Of the county committee b. t1s
voters OF each Of the paliticai parties
was placed upon the statute books. 1t vsas
salutary and advanced legislation and
should only be changed for reasons
which are well considered and founded
in wise public policy
NO such reasons appear on the lace
I of the bill before me, nor could any be
suggested to me II certainly cannot be
/ successfully contended that 10 lengthen
the terms Of county committeeman By
an act of the Legislature is wise. Tn
der the old method 1t was just such
! proceedings as is now proposed TO be
taken by the law that led up to the in
sisrraent on the part of the public for
the enactment of chapter io6 of the laws
of 1909. which required county commits
/ tees TO be elected and fixed a definite
! term and time for their election.
/ .'Tr we are to extend their terms this
YEAR why not the next. and the next
WHY not. in fact, abolish all right for
the people 10 have any voice at all.
I 1t is this juggling with political com
,uittees which has caused so much dis
satisfaction in party matters in the
past What difference is there between
I fine LEGISLATURE itself enacting law TO
/ continue county committeeman in ofice
and the old method. which was pursued
in some counties, of having a county
committee vote to continue itself in
office for another year.
ssThe one is as great an abuse ex
power and as violative of popui4r
political rights as is the other II ~
/ lust such action as this that continual
/ " disgusts the men who stand by =
party from principle and dislike such