Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-03-22
GERAN BILL is
UP To- SENATE
Election Reform Measure
Goes Through Assembly.
Especial Correspondence. J

4
Trenton, March 22:-By the pass
age of the Geran primary and cleo
ton bill yesterday afternoon by the
House of the Assembly 1t Ia conceded
| on all sides that Governor Wilson
| has completely broken the power OF
| the Smith-Nugent faction of the
Democratic party which for many
years has dominated the state Or
ganixation OF the New Jersey De-
mocraey.
The Geran bill, after being consid-
cred for five consecutive hours, and
subjected to the most vigorous and
bitter attacks on the part of the Re-
publicans and the group of Demo-
cratic members who refused to ac-
quiesce in the administration pro-
gram, was passed by the House by a
vote of "a to 25-three more than q
majority.
Now Goes to Senate.
The Geran bill will now go to the
Senate, where 1t is claimed 1t win
receive enough Republican votes, to-
gether with the nine Democratic
members, to insure its adoption as
substantially In the form desired by
the governor. Only two Republican
votes will be needed to put 1t
through the Senate. Senator Mich
OILS. of Cumberland, ia counted as
certain to vote for the bill, and Sena-
tors Edge and Frelinghuysen are
strongly inclined In It's favor. Az q
matter of fact, it will not be sur
prising II nearly all of the Republi-
can senators. realizing that the bill
mill &C will oaf IN Hna fnr
1T and thus seek to obtain some OF
their party.
The final and strongest stand
made by the opponents of the bill In
the House yesterday came in the sf-
| forts of Minority Leader McGran and
lAssemblyman MCGOWAN, the leader
/ of the Smith-Nugent group. to add a
rider providing for the referendum
vote of the people OF the state on the
bill, after It's enactment by the Leg
islature. This proposition, as With
iail other amendments proposed b5
the 'anti-Wilson' forces, was s.
| jected By q decisive vote
McCran In Opposition.
When the Geran bill was taken
up under suspension of the rules for
the third reading and final passage,
and after the speech which MIR. 0e-
ran made In favor of the bill, Mr..
McCran, the minority leader. was
recognized and made speech In op-
position to the measure. He re-
ferred 70 the flow ot sloauslcs from
Mr.. Geran In support of the bill. and
declared that the Assembly was en-
gagged In the passing OF legislation
rather than in declaring lofty senti-
ments. I'VE want to bring about In
this state" said he, "a condition
that when man casts hfs ballot In
| the box, It is going to be counted be-
yond the shadow OF doubt"
Referring to the allegations that
had been made that certain OF his
colleagues, and for that matter oer-
tain members of the Assembly. had
| been under the domination of others,
had always voted according to the
dictates of his own conscience, re-
gardless of how 1t might affect his
future. Taking up the question OF
! how it might affect the franchise, Mr.,
McCran said: II believe that under
the Constitution every man in New
| Je'1-ey mas right 10 suIrase, "hefn-
er he be rich or poor, whether he be
learned or unlearned, and nothing
should be permitted to take away
that right Yet" declared he dra-
matically. this bill will dIsfran-
chise every man who cannot read
English. Under the provisions OF
this bill no man can enter booth
with an illiterate man and help him
to fix his ballot"
Referring to the work of the Com
mittee on Judiciary. Mr.. MeCran Rs-
serted that he had not been permit
| ted to see the bill. II am told I
must vote for the bill or go into my
political grave. Well. / will accept
the grave so deep that you cannot
find me rather than be o party TO
Continued on page 3D.