Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-02-18
Essex Trades Council
DemurS TO Wilson,
Record Scheme.
INSTRUCTS COMMITTEE TO
FIGHT SHORT POLL DAY
Measure Characterized as In
famous Monstrosity Governor
Wants to Force on Citizens

w duto W IUINC Uli SttiLCuos
Labor is forming in battle array for
its war upon the Geran bill. which
Governor Wilson SO vehemently sup
ports.
The resolution adopted last evening
by the Essex Trades Council speci-
fcally voiced the councils opposition to
the proposed early closing of the polls,
on the ground that thereby many of
the army of wage-earners would be dis
franchised.
The discussion which, preceded the
adoption of the resolution. however, in
dicated much distrust of the whole
scheme proposed by the Wilson-Record
combination. 1t was characterized as
misleading and deceptive. The thought
ful minds which evolved and framed
the bill apparently studied the end
rather than the means. The aim OF
some of the provisions of the measure
is quite obvious, bat there are portions
of it, hidden under a mass of words,
which puzzle and amaze the average
citizen.
1t was with respect to these latter
provisions that the members of the
iEsades Council. after recording their
votes against the early-closing section,
expressed apprehension. And 1t was
Tor the purpose OF seeing that their
rights are not lightly regarded and
treated by TIL Governor that the State
and municipal legislative committee of
the, council was instructed to oppose
the passage of the bill in Its present
form at Trenton.
Curiosity as to Governors Attitude,
Somes curiosity was expressed as to
what now will be the attitude of Gov
ernor Wilson. In his recently pub
lished statement the executive prac-
tically threw his approval around the
entire measure and intimated that
those who would dare oppose it's pass
age would incur his displeasure.
The Governors threat has caused
some perturbation. The bill as a whoio
is not liked. Caustic criticism would
help to improve it. But the Governor
is watching the opponents of the
measure. He Is making list of them,
and he has ways, which relate to
patronage, of making his displeasure
felt
But II is the general comment that
the governor must either recede from
his purpose to brow beat the Legisla-
ture a. second time or he will have a
list of opponents to the bill which may
convince even him that courageous
citizenship is not dead. and that popu-
larity wanes when drawn freely upon
for personal advanceemnt.
In today's issue of the New Jersey
Freie Zeitung the measure Is editorlaiiy
characterized as "GeOrge Records In
famou. primary bill."~ And, again. this
monstrosity Governor Wilson wants to
force upon the citizens as reform
measure"
Is Polishing Up Some Provisions.
Late yesterday afternoon, In the ex-
ecutive chamber at Trenton, the gov
ernor conferred with some Of the legts-
lators concerning the bill. The infor-
nation was permitted to leak out that
some of the provisions of the measure
were improved and polished. The crude
ness was taken out of them. But the
main purpose of the bill, the writing Oh
the party platform, the control OF the
State committee and the consequent
control of the national delegates In
1872 was left as Wilson and Record had
originally devised 1t.
The bill is now In the lands of the
judiciary committee. 1t Is before that
committee the protest of the Trades
Council and others will ne made when
a public hearing Is held.
The following is al account Of the
proceedings of the Essex Trades Coun-
ell meeting with respect to the meas
ure:
Declaring that the Wilson Record
bill r. passed will not only disfran-
chise haIf the labor union men OF the
State of New Jersey, but merits the
opposition of workingmen because or
many other obnoxious features. the
Essex Trades Council has come forth
with an indignant demand upon It's
representatives in Trenton for the wip-
ing out of at least the short election
day clause in the proposed act.
Members of the legislative committee
of the council are formally instructed
to fight that portion of the bill to the
last ditch. They will begin the fight
in Trenton even before the first hear
ing, and they will have to back them
the similar protests of every trades
council In New Jersey by the time the
bill, which the governor seeks to jam
WIN INcSOAo HCiPs ID ANASSN
to public hearing.
Resolutions Were Cheered.
These are the resolutions which went
through amid cheers at the meeting of
the Trades Council last night:
Whereas, According to newspaper re-
ports a bill known as the Geran
amendment to the election laws of the
State of New Jersey contains therein
would disfranchise thousands of wage
earners in this State; and
Whereas, 1t is a well-known fact
that our election laws need radical
amendments along certain lines, YET
the fact should be recognized that,tne
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