Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-09-20
REID SARCASTIC
ON RIVALS CLAIM
Aronson Anti Boss Candidate
After Endorsement Was
Refused.

John L.. Reid, Republican candidate
for mayor, today issued a statement
in which HI declared that he would
not be drawn into a controversy with
his opponent, Louis ". Aronson.
MIR. Reid stated that he was trying
to conduct his campaign In a digni-
fed manner and that he would not
indulge In any personalities.
He asks Mr.. Aronson when he be-
came the "anti-boss candidate"
whether before or after he attempted
to secure the county committee in
dorsement and failed.
IF the Endorsement of the county
committee was a bad thing to have
why did Mr.. Aronson seek it?" Mr..
Reid asks.
Won't Enter Controversy.
Mr.. Reds statement follows:
MIR. Aronson has been kind
enough to say that he did not think |
had a right to appeal to the voters
of the city of Newark for support
in this contest, leaving the very plain
inference that he considers such right
vested exclusively in himself. [ do not
Nv foi0Ao ~ '
indorse that sentiment.
Every man who can ecure the
signatures of fifty voters to a petit
ton has a right under the law to
become a candidate at the primaries,
and therefore | feel hat as a citizen
of Newark who has filed a petition
l not only have the right to appeal to
the voters at the primary, but that
l have just as good a right as Mr..
Aronson or any other man.
"Mr. Aronson is also appealing to
the Republican voters of Newark as
an anti-boss candidate. l would like
to ask MIR. Aronson a question, and
thai is, when did he become the
anti-boss candidate? Was 1t before
or after he attempted to secure the
county committee Endorsement and
faileda If the Endorsement of the
to have why did Mr.. Aronson seek
1t?
81 never sought the county commit
tee Endorsement. 1t came to me UNI
solicited, and I accepted 1t merely as
an indication that at least a consid-
cradle number of Republicans in the
city favored my candidacy. / newell
for one moment felt thai such in
dorsement was more than the expires
sion of the personal preference of the
elected members of the county COM
mittee, and as these committeeman
were the only elected representatives
of the Republican party in their re-
spective election districts, I felt. and
still feel, that their Endorsement was
not only proper, but was something
to be desired by a candidate for a
Republican office in the Republican
primaries.
1T have no apology to offer, but
on the contrary l desire to express
my appreciation of the honor which,
SO many Republicans have conferred
upon me In expressing their prefer
ence for my candidacy.
No Mu~d-slinging Campaign.
II will not descend to a campaign
of mud singing. l have never be-
lieved in that sort of thing, and dc
not propose to begin now. If 1 can
not win this nomination and main
tain my self-respect and the respect
and confidence of the people of the
city OF Newark, 1 do not want the
nomination.
II have beer informed that the ia,
rate for the city of Newark for thi'
year will probably reach $2.05 pei
hundred, which, if my information Il
correct, is the highest tax rate tol
many years. This is especially tru,
because of the very greatly increased
assessed valuation which has beer
placed upon real estate Throughout
the city. Heretofore a man OWNING
a house worth. say, $1,000 was as
sessed at approximately $500, with {
reasonable tax rate. Now he is as
sessed at the full value of his prop
erty, or 5 5000, which has PRACTICAL,
doubled the value of ratables.
notwithstanding this enormous in.
crease in the ratables, the tax rate
of the city of Newark has steadily in.
creased under the present Democratic
administration, until today it has
reached its h~igh-water mark.
Municipal improvements are neces
sary in a great and growing city lik,
Newark, but / believe that ar
economical administration which
would not in any way impair tn,
/ Glll(itil(H r. VI IN Ivy 6ONGIt 4
would greatly reduce the tax rate
and, therefore, If nominated ans
elected l will work for the reduction
of the expenditures of the city to {
point where the taxpayers receive on,
hundred cents value for every dollal
expended.
II understand hat 1t has becom,
quite the thing for candidates t,
make all kinds of pre-primary prom
Uses, and 1t may be that the making
of such promises is in accordanc
with the latest improved, up-to-dat
methods of political campaigning.
am just old-fashioned enough to be
lieve that a promise of an appoint
ment to a political office is a specie
of bribery which is most dangerous
and indeed is prohibited by the cor
rupt practises act, and l wish to re
iterate the statement which | mad
in my platform, that | have made n
promise of appointment to any boar
or department of the city, and l wi
make none to any individual or sc
of individuals. If nominated an
elected mayor OF the city of Newar
| will be absolutely free to eondus
the affairs of the city without let {
hindrance. and without fear Q
] favor"