Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-10-16
SAYS GERAN LAW
NEEDS REVISION.
Stokes Tells Morristown He
Would Amend 1t to Protect
Independent Voters.

YOUNGSTOWN. Oct. 16.-Former
Governor Edward c. Stokes addressed
a mass meeting in this city last night.
He declared himself in favor of a
preferential party ballot, explained Its
workings and said that while he did
not announce 1t as a positive state
policy, If he We're elected Governor
he would have the matter discussed
between himself and the people or
the State.
The feature of Mr.. Stokes's address
was a scheme which the candidate
explained aimed to prevent the shut
ting out of voters from participating
in the primary. This PLAN Mr.
Stokes sSlid on this point, will give
the independent voter all the leeway
to absolutely preserve his independ-
ence and yet it will preserve the
party lines in the primaries. Ny plan
to bring about this end and remedy
shortcomhlg in the Geran Ia"
shown at the last primaries is to nave
a ballot box at the primaries into
which anybody wishing to do SO can
deposit his vote irrespective of his
party affiliation or his previous vote.
When the votes are being counted
afterwards mark for Republican
candidate will be counted to MS
credit, and vice vezsa.
Mr.. Stokes also outlined a plan
which he stated he had tentatively
considered whereby primaries would
be made unnecessary and which
would mean a great saving OF e&-
penses. Mr.. Stokes's plan as outlined
in this regard was along the lines of
the preferential ballot.
MIR. Stokes said, in part;
Good government IS always the
real issue in campaign. All other
phases of the contest can be CLASSIFIED
under that broad head. The voters
of the State are interested in party
SO long as parties give them good
government In this campaign the
so-called Progressive party cannot
possibly win. They can destroy but
they cannot win. They are, there
fore, not in q position to accomplish
reforms From them the voters can
hope for nothing.
1.-The Democratic situation Is so
complex that it would take the train
Ing of a Princeton graduate to solve
it. Senator Smiths and Nugents de-
feat of President Wilson's candidate,
Mayor Wittpenn, in the Jersey City
commission government fight, de-
stroying his prestige as a Guberna-
torial nominee, compelled President
Wilson to become the executioner of
his own political offspring and adopt
a stranger. Senator Smith and Nu-
gent thus made possible the nomina-
ton of Governor Fielder. The latter
then attempted to name one OF his
own friends as chairman of the State
committee to manage his campaign
and is beaten by the Wittpenn forces
Is to g. So we have the President of
the United States with the candidate
on his hands whom he was forced to
accept and the candidate for Gov
,ernor in a position where his CAM
paign is in the control of his oppo-
nents. 1t is not surprising, therefore,
that the Democratic candidate Is so
confused that he has forgotten all
about the issues and is resorting to
Personalities.
+ Republicans Left Legncies.
.sWhen Governor Wilson took office
he found a number of measures upon
the statute books the legacy of his
Republican predecessors. The So
called policies which were woven into
a crown of glory for the Democratic
adrninistration-the employers la
bility act, the corrupt practises act,
the Geran law, the public utilities act,
are not new, not a single one of them;
they are merely amendments.
ST made reference to the fact that