Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-04-22
RAP FIELDER FOR
Jury BILL SPEECH
Union Assen1bIynen Speak
Against Governor at Eliz-
abeth Meeting.
FROM : .stan correspondenl.I

From = STAN correspondents
s ELIZABETH. \. J.. April a.
Union county voters last night had
she opportunity to hear both sides of
The question Of change IN the jury
law. Not only did they hear Acting
Governor Fielder repeat his speech
made Sunday at Asbury Park in
favor Of judge-made juries, but they
heard two of their Assemblymen,
Messrs. Griffin and Mclaughlin. take
The positive stand that they would
vote in the coming special legisla-
tive session for a referendum on any
Jury bill.
This county's representatives in the
Legislature are evenly split on the
.nlestion of jury law change. AS
semblyman Leonard, who also spoke,
declared he would again support
a Jury commission bin with
nut u referendum, while Senator
Pierce, Republican, who was not
here. will take the stand which the
other Republicans in the Senate. with
the exception of Mr.. Leavitt, have
waken against reference of the
question to the people.
'rne meeting was arranged through
the combined efforts of the Board
Of Trade and the Elizabeth Pres
bytery. That interest in the Gov
ernor's kind of a jury bill Is not
very keen here was evidenced by the
fact that There were only 100 per-
sons at the meeting, which was held
IN the Board of Trade rooms, and by
Hhe fact that after the chairman of
the meeting had announced that
anyone present who wished to speak
on either side of the topic could do
so. none but the Assemblymen did
so. the audience leaving with Gov
ernor Fielder, who had an engage
ment to address the New Brunswick
Board of Trade on the commission
form of government.
When the Governor had finished
speaking in favor of jury commits
sions appointed by the Supreme
Court without the people having the
opportunity to vote as to whether
they want such a system or not, AS
semblyman Griffin defined his atti-
tude.
81 came here tonight to learn what
your sentiment was, to see what sort
Of a system you want" said he. I
believe that the acting Governor is
here to work up sentiment for bill
without q referendum. In my opin-
aon the question of proper jury re-
form has been defeated for three rea-
sons. First, the plank in the Demo-
cratic platform did not express just
what was wanted. Then there were
ha1d with
the Governor on the subject. The
third reason is that there is a lack
of interest in the subject.
''If eighteen counties of the state
ldo not want a change from the pres
emit system, as was shown clearly IN
the discussion in the House, why
pass o bill requiring q change With
out provision for a referendum
Never since my election have any
Union County people spoken to me
on this subject, until one man spoke
10 me last Wednesday. On the other
hand I have asked many to tell me
Skheir attitude, and they have said
sftat If only two or three counties
want a change. why upset the whole
Eystepn of the State?
my own stand is for jury reform,
as Is that of every Democrat and
Republican in the House, but the
question is what system shall be
adopted. am for q referendum.
Assemblyman Mclaughlin, with
equal positiveness, told where he
stood. 81 am for jury reform with
n referendum" he declared. Il don't
believe that my head has swelled SO
much that I know more than all the
people of Union County. I haven't
received a single letter or request
asking me to vote for q bill without
= referendum. and il Republicans tell
me to vote for bill without such q
provision i won't do it. l am salts
fled with commissions appointed by
The Governor. the Supreme Court OF
the Circuit Court, if the people
represent want any of those systems,
but ] have got TO be shown that they
do want them before / viii vote for
Them without a referendum"