Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-03-25
ELECTION BILL
DANCE AROUSE
| ESSEX c. D. P.
Join Democrats in Calling for
Referendum Upon Geran
! Measure.
COUNTY COMMITTEE
! CALLS UPON SENATE
Asking Body TO Amend Projected
WiIsOn=RecOrd Geran
! Plan.

= tOrther evidence OF the
sentiment IN connection with the rad.
gal changes in the States electors
System proposed in the Geran bill wa
Suppressed by the Essex County Re
publican committee last night.
5 Resolutions We're unanimously adopt
ed strongly disappearing the Wilson
Record measure and calling upon tn
Republican majority in the Senate {
tack the referendum clause to the bill
70 that the law cannot become opera
tive until accepted by the voters at
special election.
The Resolutions.
& In full the resolution reads:
( Whereas. The bill now pending
before the Legislature known as
the Geran election bill completely
changes the electoral system OF the
State and revolutionizes the method
OF voting, and also provides for the
selection OF election officers by lot,
and In many other ways changes
the election machinery of the State;
and
Whereas. In the opinion Of many
thoughtful citizens a very large per-
y centage OF the voters OF the State,
particularly those of foreign ex-
traction. are In danger of Being
disfranchised; and
Whereas, The right of every citi-
zen who is entitled to vote to have
his vote counted is one Of the most
important Issues that the people are
called upon to decide, as It strikes
at the very foundation of popular
government; and
Whereas, The provisions OF this
bill were not made an issue before
the people of this State in the last
campaign. or in any other cam
paign. Notwithstanding the fact
that the proposed involves
questions upon which every voter
has an inherent right to express his
opinion, and to that end should be
= given an opportunity 10 vote for or
I against the adoption OF this mea-
sure: therefore, be it
Resolved. That the Republican
County Committee of the County OF
Essex, IN meeting assembled, here
by expresses its unalterable oppo-
sition to the adoption Of any such
changes in the election laws of this
I State unless such measure shall
have attached thereto a referendum
I clause providing that the law shall
! not become operative until Il has
\ first been submitted to a vote of the
people at a special election and
adopted by a majority vote; and.
be It further
Resolved. That q copy OF this
resolution be forwarded to the Re-
publican members OF the Legis.
lature with a request that they IN
sist upon a referendum so that the
people may have an opportunity to
csccept or reject the same.
increase Election Cost.
Dalrymple, reply to {
yuery, explai red that If the Geran bill
law Il would increase the cos
# an election in Essex county alone e
more than 800, 600. It was further ex.
that tl..rty-two new districts
would be added In Newark and nine
cen in the county outside the city, OF
total OF hfty-one in the county. This
would mean 204 additional election Off
ers, 81 new polling places and at leas'
on more ballot-ooxes.
would o~bIiterate Party Lines.
Frank j. Book in submitting the reso
ution declared that the Geran bill
meant the ~obliteration Of party line
n the State, and was intended to fur
her the ambition o. Governor Wilson
'or the Democratic presidential noml
In 1912.
That brought Edward w. Ketcham
,ne of the Progressive Republican
members of the committee. to his feet
He said;
Good; then the state Will be r.c
II him, and, il that is its purpose, i
) not such an unmixed blessing, afte
Louis ]. Lipprnan moved that copie
the resolution be forw3rded only I
Republican senators. Mr.. Book ex
that Republican a~ssemblymei
we're Included because, in his judgment
the Senate passed the bill tn
Measure would not only have a refer
endum clause, but several other amend
attach d.
Not Familiar to Voters.
Il feel safe in saying" continued :
Book, that not more than 500 of tn
1000 voters in Essex county ar
with the provisions of the bill
If II was submitted to the voters 1 be