Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-11-27

MBER q, 1912
for senator this year, only to be de-
feated by Harry G. Wheaton, in the
Wilson landslide. Senator Hand has
been noted for the absolute stand
pat brand of his Republicanism, for
his dry humor in his speeches on
pending legislation and for the way
he shrugs his shoulders while speak
ing.
Local Optiopists Lose.
The Local Optionists of New Jer-
sey will lose their most strenuous
advocate in the retirement from the
senate of William c. Gebhardt, of
Hunterdon. Senator Gebhardt is
not only an ardent Local Optionist
but claims to be the original Pro-
gressive in the senate. He served
Hunterdon county in the senate from
1901 to 1908, inclusive, and in those
early days of the New Idea, or Pro-
gressive movement he advocated
many of the advanced legislative
principles which have since become
popular with all Progressives. Sena-
tor Gebhardt says that in those days
it was not easy to be a Progressive,
for the pioneer advocate of those
principles was subjected to a great
deal of ridicule.
Senator Gebhardt was reelected to
the senate in November, 1906, and
during his term just closing he in
troduced and advocated two local
option bills. His speeches in favor
of them, arranged so as to be deliv-
cred Monday evenings when the gal
leries were crowded, were the most
ardent of the respective sessions, but
altogether unavailing in winning
votes. Senator Gebhardt has de-
clared himself a candidate for the
Democratic nomination for governor
next year, and claims that his retire
ment a few months ago from the
contest for the nomination for Unit
ed States senator, and his undoubted
stand as Progressive entities him
to the nomination. He is noted as
the leader of the "Holy Roller" fac
ton of the Hunterdon Democrats,
which is always quarreling with the
Pidcock, or Pirate faction. He is
also an advocate of woman suffrage,
and last winter introduced the reso-
constitution giving women the bal
lot. His wife, and his daughter,
Miss Elinor Gebhardt, one of the few
women lawyers in the state, are both
ardent suffragists.
Senator SiIzer BE Missed.
In the retirement of Senator
George S. Silzer, of Middlesex, the
Democrats have lost one of their
strongest fighters. Although, tech
nically, Senator Silzer's term did not
expire until the assembling of the
new Legislature, he has already given
up his seat to accept the appoint
ment of prosecutor of Middlesex
county, given him by Governor Will
son. Senator SilZer had been in the
state senate six years. He was first
elected to the senate in 1906, and his
victory over his Republican opponent
was largely due to the campaign
against Theodore Strong, the Repub-
lican leader of Middlesex. Strong
was charged with being very die
torial boss. Strong had been for
years member of the State Board
of Assessors and one of the most
conspicuous state politicians, and a
member of the Board of Guard
ians." 1t was in the campaign that
Senator Silzer won his victory that
Strong received one of his first
severe jolts. In 1909 he was renom-
mated without opposition, and was
reelected by an increased plurality.
The senator is a forceful speaker
and this, combined with his skill as
a lawyer, made him a power on the
Democratic side that the Republi-
cans always had to reckon with.
While he always stood squarely for
Democracy, he had pronounced
leaning toward Progressive princi-
pies, but was never extensively par
tisan. Toward the close of the last
session he was mentioned strongly
for appointment as vice-chancellor,
and was paid the special compli-
ment of the entire force of legisla-
tive newspaper correspondents at the
State House waiting upon Chancellor
Walker in behalf of the selection of
Senator Silzer for this position. In
the whirligig Of politics, the senator
was not made vice-chancellor and
later was appointed to the yprosecu-
torship. He also aspired to be secre-
tary of state, the berth which went
to David S. Crater, of Monmouth.
Senator Jacob G. Price, whose
term expires this year, is another
who has been given a state position
by Governor Wilson. He is now
member of the State Board OF
Health. Coming from the rock
ribbed Democratic county of Sussex,
his democracy was always of the un-
type, and he usually
could be counted upon to vote
straight with his party. Senator
Price was noted as one of the most
quiet members of the Upper House.
He seldom made a speech, and when
it was necessary to advocate a meas
ure introduced by him, he did so in
a few words which were always to
the point. He is a physician by pro-
fession, so that his professional
knowledge was always in demand on
public health or other questions in
volving medical knowledge. For this
reason he was always appointed to
the Public Health Committee of the