Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-02-20

The New Jersey Freie Zeitung today
says ed1torially: 1T ia a direct insult
to the foreign born population. Old
citizens who have voted here for thirty
years or more. who have served in an
official capacity. held office In the city.
or sat in the legislature or In Congress,
must present their naturalization
papers before they can be registereI
And all this because Mr.. Record and
his reformers know that 90 per cent. of
these men do not want to know any
thing about their fanatical attacks
upon personal and political liberty, and
for that reason will vote against their
candidates.
1T is inconceivable that the Demo-
cratic House will adopt such a BILL and
surely Senator Osborne, who was
wholly elected by the votes of the lib
eral citizens, will fight this scandalous
measure with every means in his
power"
Major Lentz's Statement.
Major Carl Lentz, who is in cIoss
touch with the high class of cit1zen-
ship which the Geran bill Insults, said:
mo matter what legislation may be
concocted under the name of reform to
make voting at the primaries and cleo
tion burden to the citizens. ii will not
disfranchise me personally, as I am
willing to put up with anything and
everything to exercise my right of
franchise.
Il consider, however, the classifica-
ton of citizens under the clause reouir-
ing the production of citizenship papers
every year (when under the present law
any naturalization citizen may be chal-
lenged to produce his papers, which
consider proper. a chicanery smelling
very. very much of 'knownothingism.'
Must Enact Bill, Says Wilson.
Governor Wilson, in his statement"
says the measure must be enacted into
law. He intimated that opposition to
It's provisions would not be brooked;
that such opposition would come only
from selfish or equally Objectionable
sources; that a list of the opponents of
the measure would be kept and thus
the good citizen and the bad citizen
might be catalogued.
The Governors statement with its
open threat, is arousing as much criti-
cism as the iniquitous bill itself. The
toregn-born citizenship is especially re-
sentful. 1t is formulating plans to pro-
tect It's members from unnecessary in
suit, and it is asserted that 1t will take
a form that Will cause Governor Wilson
and George L. Record to recede from
their plan OF meddlesome and harmful
abridgement of citizens rights for no
better reason than their own personal
gain.
Oppose Senatorial Pledges.
Opposition to many other provisions
of the bill is being manifested. The
STAR has insisted that the section re-
quiring candidates for the Legislature
to sign a pledge to vote for the pri-
mary choice for United States senator
or have his name excluded from the
official ballot was clearly unconstitu-
tional.
In this regard the New York Times
today says editorially:
This is obviously rather loosely
drawn provision and awakens good
deal of opposition even among the
friends of direct nominations. 1t
strengthens, rather than weakens, par
tisan control of the election of sena-
tors; hinders, rather than aids the ex-
preston of general popular sentiment.
and moreover is open to grave doubt
as to its constitutionality. 1t is APP
parently fatty in contradiction to the
federal Constitution"
The New York Sun quotes Governor
Wilson's confident expression that the
bill is a good one and should be passed.
The Times says: I'VE cannot quite
share the hearty confidence here ex-
pressed"
While Governor Wilson publicly ex-
presses, confidence in his ability to
force the measure through the Legis-