Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-02-17
Clause Giving Governor
Control OF National
Delegates a Nullity.
WILSON-RECORD SCHEME
PROVES NO AID TO AMBITION
Measure, HarbOring Sinister
Purposes Beneath Fair Sur
face, Is Freely Criticized.

TRENTON. Feb. 17.-The sinister
purpose of the Wilson Record bill,
Known as the Geran measure, is slowly
snanifesting itself. 1t is now coming
DO be regarded generally as crude at
Aempt to accomplish the personal ad-
Nnncement of the governor under
fromises to effectuate popular reforms.
The proposed law is extremely In
solved Or the surface Of multitude
hf words lie a few obvious efforts at
&ancere legislation. but beneath the sur
kace lies the main purpose.
That purpose was given expression
yesterday in the corridors of the State
House in a manner that may cause the
governors blacklist" to grow, and his
Feelings to become narrowed. 1t was
summarized as the executives reach
nor the presidential chair over disrupt
Ad and disorganized parties, through
Ahannels of inconsistency, with the
hone that the people will aid him. ano
fhe certainty that George l.. RECORD
Eiil guide him.
Many Kept Away by Rule
There were many State officials gain
hred here yesterday. The Governor
WAS at MS ueSht Dul lib AhhO ~
ahose only with whom he had made ap-
no,ntments kept away from hi mall ex-
nept q few insurance people Interested
IN special legislation.
The Geran law was freely discussed.
It's feature requiring candidates Tor
4he Legislature to file pledge to vote
for a United States senator as the pri-
ma nv should direct, or nave their
names excluded from the official ballot,
Oyas stated to be SO clearly uncon-
etitutional as to amount to farce.
The early closing of the polls was
characterized as not only unralr, eue
unwise. It is apNhsing labor. Men OF
fhis class assert that they are being
dfscriminated against, and threaten an
unrising that promises to disturb the
present calm of the Governor.
MeddIesome and Harmful Legislation.
The provision for the election of the
chairmen of colnty committees at the
prinaries WAS said to be OF that CLASS
of legislation known as meddlesome
and harmful. Men long in politics as
sert that the effectiveness of a county
committee may be attained only by
having the views of the chairman In
accord with the purposes OF the major
ity of the committee. warning chalr-
man might be forced upon the commit
tee by the method provided by the Will
SON Record plan.
But the phase of the bill which
aroused the widest comment was that
feature which subtly attempts to pave
fine way for Governor Wilson from his
present position to the presidency.
It was stated that the bill would give
him control of the State political ma
chinery. of the policies of the party,
and these, with his vast patronage,
would enable him to control the cholce
of the national delegates.
But the expressed views indicate that
the governor may be rudely awakened
from his pleasing dream and his sub
tIe scheme may go awry.
May BE Figuring without His Host.
IT was said by a prominent lawyer
Eho had Just come from the attorney
generals office that the State had no
power to legislate with respect to dele
gates of national character. The
national convention, it was pointed out
Is a voluntary gathering of party men.
IT is engaged in a purpose not covered
by the Federal Constitution or Federal
law. 1t is law unto itself 1t pre-
scribes the number of it's delegates who
shall attend from each State, and 1t
alone decides who shall sit in the con-
vention.
The national convention could re-
fuse to seat certain State delegates
elected at public primary, and the
State judicial power would be helpless
In the matter. The Geran bill, in this
regard, if enacted into law, would be
a nullity, for there would be no way
TO enforce it's provisions in the ma
tional body.
"Phere Is one Interpretation to be
nut upon the short election day clause
i'm the Geran bill, and there Is only
one. and that one Interpretation is that
under Geran's name the governor OF
New Jersey is taking slap mt the
labor union workmen of New Jersey"
That was the statement made today
nv George Leary, international vice
president of the Metal Polishers, Brass
and silver Platers' Union of North
America.
"I never had any confidence in the
vovernor's protestations of affection
for working men," continued the union
xyice-nresident "but it's little use in
saving that now The point is that no
lsborin- man in New Jersey is under
any delusion about the real Trainer of
the Geran bill, or about the reasons the
povernor had for writing in the clause
that will cut out thousands of labor
union votes each election.
And, although no formal plan OF
action has yet been made, you may say
from me that it is certain the Trades
council will be called upon by an indig-
nant majority of its own members-to
say nothing of union members generally
throughout the city-to make its re-
sentiment of the Governors bill felt In