New-York tribune., 1912-01-15
98 ARRESTED; TWO HELDlGERAN LAW TlNMRS BUSY
Independent Members Oppose
Party Column Amendment.
TO MAKE PRIMARY BINDING
One Plan Is to Keep Defeated
Candidates Of Ticket at
Regular Elections.

Regular GlcCIlOlS.
[Froun the Regular Correspondent Of The Tribune
Trenton. Jan. 1.-THE amendments to the
Geran election law introduced in the Sen
ate last Tuesday by Mr.. Leavitt OF Mer.
GER, have been the cause of much discus
sion among politicians in the last few
days, and the opinion has become genera
that It will be a hard Job to get the law
makers TO agree to all of them.
Ii Is pointed out, however, that there Is
much meat to some of the Mercer Sena
tors amendments. especially the one pro-
viding that all petitions for election must
be filed by primary day. The object OF this
change, OF course. is TO prevent the sore
head who is defeated at the primaries ol
his party from running as a candidate OF
Election Day, TO the detriment of his sue
cessful opponent. as happened in Essex
County last fall.
A man taking part in the primaries. II Is
held. is morally bound to support the win
ming candidate, but there have been some
persons who have not looked at II in that
way, and this is one OF the reasons fol
this measure will find its way to the stat
ute books, although there are some per-
sons who believe that 1t should be made
10 provide that no man can seek party
nomination at a primary unless he Is ar
enrolled member Of the party whose in
dorsement he seeks.
There is certain to be considerable oppo-
sition from the lawmakers OF the northern
part OF the state 20 Mr.. Leavitts bill pro-
viding for party column. There are many
independents in Essex, Union, Somerset
Bergen and Passaic counties who would re-
sent such a change. and the probabilities
are that II will not pass.
IL is expected that there will be hooc
Of bills in the House tomorrow night
among them changes in the Geran law
also. One Of these changes, 1t is said' vii
eliminate the question regarding man.
age.
one OF the difficulties of the average law
maker trying TO keep his promises to th'
people is the unfair and ignorant criticism
of measures he has prepared by persons
who ought to know better. Hardly yeai
passes but that some legislator who ha'
given considerable time and study TO the
preparation of an important bill encoun'
ters opposition OF this kind. and the pres
ent session promises TO be no exception
at least so far as Senator Carlton Is. Pierce
OF Union, is concerned.
Mr.. Pierce has introduced two OF th'
most important bills OF the session. one
providing for a radical change In the tax
ing system Of New Jersey. the other abol'
raIi
The Union County Senator's tax bill II
based on an investigation OF taxing con-
dltions in New Jersey made within the
last year. and its aim Is TO relieve the
taxpayers OF the state from the present
discriminative and unfair system. Inis
Mr.. Pierce's bill will do. according to per
sons who know something about the SUB
ject OF taxation.
Governor Wilson skiltully lodged the
subject in his annual message by suggest
ing an investigation OF tho subject by
commission.
/ So far as the opposition Of the mayors tc
the Pierce grade crossing bill is concerned
n Is probable that most OF those who
gathered at the Elizabeth conference on
Saturday had not even read the measure
The bill provides that each railroad com
pany must abolish one grade crossing a
wear for every twenty miles OF track al
I,s own expense a municipality may have
additional crossings abolished by paying
one-fourth OF the expense. Most OF tht
mayors at the Elizabeth conference were
Democrats. and perhaps they did not care
20 know what was in the Pierce bill.
Some warm friends OF former Governor
Franklin Murphy have started a movement
20 have the coming Republican National
Convention nominate him for Vice-Presi
dent but. according to persons in close
touch with political conditions. the proba
bilitIes are that the movement Will make
little headway. Mr.. Murphy was candi'
date for the Republican nomination foi
ce-President four years ago He had
the unanimous Endorsement OF the Repuo'
licans OF New Jersey at that time. but
could make little headway when he got
to Chicago.
Mr.. Murphy's friends, in singing hi'
praises, point out that there is strong
probability that the Democratic convention
will nominate Governor Wilson, and they
hold that with Mr.. Murphy on the Repub'
ucan ticket the effect OF Governor VIII
sons nomination would be nullihed, so fan
as New Jersey is concerned.
shrewd political observers point out, how
ever. that Mr. Murphy's chances OF belnt
the Republican candidate for Vice-Presi
dent next fall are exceedingly slim. While
admitting that Mr.. Murphy Is hard head
ed business man, who would flll the Office
with ability, Il Is held nevertheless, that his
reputation as "stand-patter" and reac'
tionarv puts him out OF the running. 1t u
also poInted out that there are gooC
many progressive Republicans In New Jer
sey and that President Taft In the even
NJ his denomination, would be loath to con
sent TO Mr. Murphy's nomination because
OF this fact
There is no doubt. however, that II Mr.
Murphy insists on being candidate he VII
have the support OF all the "stand-patters
in the state. but as their influence Is grow
ing weaker every day their support will no
mean very much.
II Is understood that the name OF
prominent New Jersey Republican hal
been submitted for President Taft's consid
Grafton I'm connection with the Nice-Presi
Dental nomination II is said that this Re
l.