Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-03-27
CONVENTION BILLS
DEATH RESENTED
Democrats Chagrined by Their
Senator's Adverse Vote on
Constitutional Measure.
PARTY PLEDGE VIOLATED
BY SIX IN UPPER HOUSE
This in Face of FieIder's Re-
ninder of Chance to Give
Plank Effect.
IFrom a sum Correspondent.l

TRENTON, n. J., March 81
Democrats appear dazed today by the
amazing action of the six Democratic
senators. to whom is due the defeat
OF Assemblyman Hennessy's constr
tntional convention bill.
Not only had the party pledged
itself to such measure, but Cover
nor Fielder, in a message 10 the Sen
ate Just before the vote was taken,
had strongly urged the senators to
pass the bill.
He laid stress upon the party pledge
and called attention to the fact that
he had found a very strong public
sentiment in favor of the bill through
out the State.
Governor Fielder in his message
said that one of the great political
partiesi (meaning the Democratic
party) had solemnly pledged itself
to thisS legislation. but he thought
the question went beyond party poll
ties and that it was the opportunity
Of the Democratic Senate to concede
to the people rights to which they
were fairly entitled.
The four votes in favor of the Con
Etitutiona1 convention bill were cast
by Senator's johnson, of Bergen Col
gate, of Essex: Fltzherbert of Morris,
and McGinns, of Passaic. Two Sena-
tors, Barber. of Warren, and Ramsay.
Of MAddlesex, kdid not vote. BY their
avoidance of voting they as much
violated thei party pledge as did the
Democrats who voted against the
bill. Mr. Barber was not in the
chamber when the roll was called.
(soxernort Fielder was not in the SEN
ate chamber and, of course. did not
participate in the proceedings except
through the sending of special mes
sage advocating the bill.
Only ,sTwo senat ors Speak for Bill.
The .dAebateywas almost entirely one
sided. Only two Senators spoke for
the bill One wast Senator Johnson.
of Bergen, Sand&the Iother Senator Col
rate. of ESsex. president Johnson
had left the chair to speak briefly
for the bill, which, he thought a
proper zone, although he professed to
believe that there Was some doubt
as to the Constitutiollality of a Con-
stitutional convention. created in the
manner provided for4fn the Hennessy
bill.
Senators Davis andt Nichols both
smoke at considerable length In oppo-
sltion TO the bill. Mr. Davis, in at
tempting to justify his breach of
faith. said he did mot understand
that the Democratici party was
pledged to the support pf the particu-
lar bin before the Senate. He adj
,f,H 20 Ot 4
Democratic State convention last
fan had ADOPTED a plank in its plat
form in favortofla Constitutional con-
yention, but he said, although the
platform declares for,a" popular vote
for delegates, there was nothing In
the plank that commfttedYthe Demo
cratic legislators to any particular
plan for making updthe membership
OF the convention.
II seemed to him that the spirit
hack Of the Hennessy bill as 1t hao
finally passed the House was one OF
changing the present basis of Sena-
torial representation. If not, why
aid the House changesthe bill by TAX.
ing out the provision that had beer
agreed to by the Democratic Sen
ators and Assemblymen in confer
enee. TO the effect that the members
of the convention should pledge them
selves not to propose anything thai
would change the present basis o.
Senatorial representation?
senators Read, Gaunt and Edg'
also spoke against the bill, and Sen
ator Pierce, of Union, who was amont
those who voted i'm the negative. sale
that he congratulated Senator Davis
upon the skill with, which he tried t
show that in opposing the bill he wal
not violating his party pledge.
The four votes for theebill We're cas-
hv Senator'S Colgate, Fitzherbert
johnson and McGinnis., The fourteen
negative votes We're cast by Senators
Davis. Edge, Gaunt, Leavitt, Low
Martens. Munson Nichols, Pierce
Read, Sloeum. Smalley, Wheaton ant
White. Absent, Senator Barber; no
voting. Senator Ramsay.
Author of Bill Indignant.
Assembyman Hennessy, author o
the constitutional convention bill
made this indignant and prophets
4 statement tonight: 81 think the Sen
Ators who voted to deny to the people
of the State the opportunity to dea
deliberately and fairly with thel
most Fundamental political problem
are at least to be commended 70
their courage. They planned and car
ried out the slaughter of the conVen
tion bill in the open and we are nov
able to read and interpret the record
Ii shows that six Democratic Sen
ators including the leader. Mr.. Davis
( deliberately repudiated their platform
pledges and took no trouble to con
cealstheir political motives. which ar
purely selfish and sectional.