Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-02-15

choice OF candidates by vastly imprev-
Ing he mothod of selecting election
officers, and, second, to put all selec-
tons, whether of those who are to serve
the State or of those who are TO serve
the parties as managers and directors.
Immediately into the hands OF the peo-
pie themselves, without the interven-
ton of unnecessary machinery. 1t eX-
tends the primaries, not only to the
selection of congressman and governor,
but else to the choice OF the men who
are TO direct the committees of the
parties, and to the selection OF the dele
gates who are to represent New Jersey
in the convention which makes choice Of
presidential candidates. 1t goes be-
yond that and affords the people the
right to express their preference with
regard to the candid es who shal be
considered for the presidential nomi-
nations. Some of the provisions of the
bill have already passed the Senate
upon the initiative of senator Nichols.
"The present Legislature is one OF
the freest legislatures the State has
ever seen. It's members are ~ctuated
by a sincere desire to serve the best In
terests of the State and of Its politics
n to carry out in the fullest and
frankest ann the expectations OF
the people. l think that the whole
Legislature r~ejoices In It's consciousness
that 1t is free to do these things. OPP
position to this bill. which puts the
government In the hands of the people,
will not come from the Legislature. II
will come from outside the Legislature,
and Will admirably serve to dist ng 4tsh
the friends of the people from the
friends OF private management. It will
be thoroughly worth while to OBJ serve
the persons who interest themselves to
oppose 1t. Their names will make an
excellent list, easily accessible, of those
who either fear to establish the direct
rule of the people or who have some
private II selfish purpose to serve in
seeing that the more concealed and
secret methods OF politics are not aiken
W from them INC made impossible.
1t Is in one sense the main bill of the
session. 1t will afford an excellent ties
as to whether the recent campaign
meant what 1t seemed to mean OF not.
Public opinion has now an opportunity
to assert itself In triumphant fashion
against those who would seek to de er
the Legislature from this whole ONE
and admirable legislation upon VIII Oh
the future Of free administration in the
State win directly depend. Its passage
viii mean that we shall regularly and
always have free legislatures and not
depend upon exceptional circumstances
to give them to us.
The bill is now in the hands Of TIE
judiciary committee of the House.
There Is every reason to believe hat
1t will be perfected In its details by
that committee and that it viii be
promptly reported out to the House IT.
self. No doubt there are details of the
bill which need reconsideration. but al
its essential features are sound, and it
Is to be hoped and expected that it
will come from the committee without
any alteration except changes of de-
tail.
If l may speak for myself. / woul1
say that I am deeply and earnestly in
t~erested in the measnre; that I regard
II as essential to the political puriA-
cation and advancement of the State;
and that shall be very glad from time
10 time to discuss this and other legls-
in public as time and opportunj-
may allow.
Il shall take the liberty from time to
time to speak of other bills hardly less
essential to the reasonable program of
to which the present Legisla-
ture Is pledged than this bill concern
ms the primaries and elections"