Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-07-24
PR0GRESSIVES
TO TAKE PART
Must Elect Their StatesCom-
mittse at the Primary on
September 23.
MEANS REORGANIZATION
Law kboIishss Members at
Large Much Interest in
GubernatoriaI Contest
MEANS REORGANIZATION
special to the EVENING NEWA.

Special to the EVENING NsW1-
Trenton, July 24.-The Progress
sives of the state having last year
polled more than the required f1Ve
per cent of the vote for assembly,
thereby making them legal political
party, will have to elect their state
committee at the primary on Septem-
ber 23, the same as the Democrats
and Republicans. This will mean
complete reorganization of their
state committee, for under the Geran
act it must be composed of one mem
Der from each county. The law apol-
ishes the members-at-large OF the
state committees, which for years
had been considered the most I'M
portant positions, these posts being
filled with the biggest men In the
party.
The present Progressive State Com
mittee has nine members from Essex
county, seven members from Hudson
and two or three members from
nearly all the other counties, so that
the members of the committee Will
be very much reduced after the cleo
ton in September.
Former Senator Everett Colby
and Edmund B. Osborne, both OF
whom are candidates for governor,
are members of the committee from
Essex county, and this will mean, IT
ia expected, that neither Of them Will
be a candidate for the committee.
Former Governor John Franklin
Fort is another member from Els
sex and is chairman OF the COM
mittee. Still another Essex member
is Borden D. Whiting, who Is one OF
the most active Progressives In the
state. There has as yet been no an
nouncement of a candidate from Es-
sex county, but 1t Is thought that for
mer Governor Fort will be decided
upon as the Essex member to run at
the primaries
In Bergen county 1t is expected
that Herbert M. Bailey, of Hacken-
sack. who was the party candidate
for congress In the election just held
In the Sixth District and who is now
a member of the committee, Will be
the candidate.
Frank B. Jess, president OF. the
State Tax Board, is now one OF the
members of the committee from
Camden county, and will Hkely be Sc
lected as the candidate for re-eiec-
tion. as he is one of the party lead
ers in South Jersey. Francis d. Pot
ter. of Bridgton, is another one OF
the South Jersey Progressives lead
ers and will probably be the candi-
date for the committee In Cumefr-
land county, He Is now one OF the
members from that county. Former
state Senator John Boyd Avis, of
Gloucester, will be continued as the
member from that county.
In Hudson county there is talk OF
continuing State Assessor George l..
Record on the committee, though
there may be other candidates.
Former Assemblyman John u.
Gill and A. Grocer Reeves, both OF
this city, are the Mercer county
members OF the state committee.
Mr.. Gill said today that he would
not be candidate at the primary
for the position.
"I do not care to serve longer on
the committee, as I am too busy,
and there are plenty of other men
for the place." he said.
Two or three Progressives in this
county are being mentioned for the
State Committee Post. 1t ts expect
ed that Mr.. Reeves will be cand1-
date, and there is some talk fhat
City Clerk Frank Thompson, who
is active In the County Committee,
and Everett Townsend may also be
candidates. tt is unlikely, however,
that the Mercer county Progresstves
will have a party fight over the po-
sition, and 1t is thought they will
get together and decide upon a sin
gle candidate. The outlook Is that
Mr. Reeves can have the place, II
he wants 1T.
Judge Adrian Lyon, of Perth AM
boy, will likely be continued as the
Middlesex county member. Former
Assemblyman James G.. Bleauvelt, of
Paterson, one of the present men,
hers from Passaie countyq, is being
mentioned as the candidate from
that county.
Union county at present has three
members on the committee, George
w. V. Moy, John K English and
Edgar A. Knapp. 1t is thought like
ly that Mr.. Knapp will be the can
didate at the primary.
The Republican and Democratic
leaders are preparing to draw their
battle lines for their state commit
tee elections, although only few
candidates have announced them
selves. The most important contest
among the Democrats will be for the
Essex county post on the State Com
mittee. James R. Nugent has return
ed from his European trip and Is
already waging an active campaign
for election to the committee from
this county. AS the chief lieutenant
Of James Smith, Jr., Nugent Ia run
tCOntinued on page 81