Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-10-20

favored this bill is today in any posi-
ton of influence or power upon the
Republican party organization. These
are the facts in reference to the pri-
mary and election law and corrupt
practises act. They conclusively dis
prove your claim for any credit on
behalf of the Republican party.
No Republican is today a candidate
for any office where there is the
slightest hope of election who
has ever in the past stood
for this primary and election
law reform. In all the years that
the New Idea men were fighting to
destroy machine politics by this prl>
mary and election law did you per-
sonally, by public speech or interview,
or so far as | can learn by private
recommendation, aid in the slightest
way in this great task and when the
bill was trembling in the balance,
and Governor Wilson seemed on the
point of a great failure, where were
you and where were the Republican
leaders that are now backing you?
Did you say one word in any public
way in support of Governor Wilson
in this contest? The facts are that
every responsible Republican leader
of the State was against both the
spirit and letter of this law. Gov
ernor Murphy openly denounced it
and has repeatedly done so since.
Governor Murphy announces public
ly that he intends to do everything
that he can to have this bill repealed,
or its main provisions changed. In the
light of these facts, and particularly
in view of the significant fact that
every Republican who actively and in
good faith assisted Governor Wilson
in putting over this great reform
has been driven out of the public life
of the State, and refused further
honors at the hands of the Repub-
lican party, your claim of credit for
the Republican party for passing this
bill is little short of grotesque.
It is significant that the Essex ma
chine faction of the Democratic party
which bolted the Democratic caucus
and openly joined the Republican as
semblymen in fighting Governor Will
son on this reform is today publicly
accused by Governor Fielder of in
tending to secretly support you in
the coming election.
The truth is that if you are elected
Governor, and the Republicans control
the Legislature, the primary and cleo
ton law go laboriously put upon the
statute books by the influence of Gov
ernor Wilson and the New Idea Re-
publicans will be Immediately crippled
by amendments in a way to strength
en- the corrupt Republican machine.
You have laid the foundation for this
program by declaring in the party
platform for the simplifcation of the
Geran law. 1t is impossible, as you
welf-know, to simplify this law. You
cannot make single suggestion
h aIaHy 10 %
improved. Your pretended simplifica-
ton is the mere covering for the in
tention to strike out of the bill those
stringent features which diminish the
power of the machine to commit
fraud. ] challenge you to name an
essential feature of this bill which
you can improve. / challenge you to
publicly state the defects in this bill
which you intend to cure and to make
public pledge that II elected you
will veto any other change in the bill,
except those publicly advocated by
you now. The voters should realize
that this law Is in danger from the
triumph of the Republican ticket;
that it is undoubtedly safe if Gov
ernor Fielder is elected Governor. but
that the Progressive party, above
either Of the other parties, is the
safest party to entrust with power
upon this issue, because its candidate
for Governor, Senator Colby, and its
responsible leaders in the principal
counties of the State were earnest ad-
vocates of the principles of this bill
long before Governor Wilson appeared
upon the scene.
In another letter I will consider
your claim that the Republican party
is entitled to credit upon the matter
of equal taxation and the public util-
ity legislation in the light of the facts
that are personally known to me.
Yours respectfully.
GEnpGE I. RECORD