Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-08-16
IS. KATZENDACH
OPENS CAMPAIGN
In Camden Speech ex-Mayor of
Trenton Criticizes Pres
ident Wilson.
Especial to the Newark star.I

ton, who is seeking the Democratic
gubernatorial nomination at the
preferential primaries in New Jersey,
last night opened his campaign in
Camden. He addressed large audi
ence at Turner Hall.
The former mayor condemned the
influence and the political dictation
In the affairs of the State by the
national administration. Mr.. Katzen-
bach boldly named President Wilson,
and said that If the power of the
national administration was to be
used in furtherance of the interests
of certain candidates, New Jerseys
direct primary law would become a
farce and would create a system of
! bossism even more dangerous to the
interests of the people than that
which the people sought to destroy
The former mayors remarks were
made while he was discussing how
Mayor Wittpenn, of Jersey City, was
forced out of the fight by President
Wilson's advocacy of the candidacy
of Acting Governor Fielder
Mr.. Katzenbach's Speech.
| Mr.. Katzenbach said:
For the first time IN New Jersey.
the political parties of the State are
| to make their respective nominations
for governor without the Intervention
of delegates and conventions. For
years 1t had been known and observed
that through the medium of the dele
gate convention nominations had been
controlled and selection of candidates
made, not by the great body of the
voters of party, but by few men
who, through control of the party
machinery, clever manipulation, and
corrupt practises, selected the dele
gates and controlled the convention.
1.-THE remedy lay in the giving to
the voter the same right of selection
of candidates as he had on election
day in the selection of his choice of
candidates. The direct primary was
first advocated in the Democratic
platform adopted at the State con-
vention in 1907; it was again advo-
Gated in 1910, and through the reform
legislation of 1911 became the method
for the election of party candidates.
It's success or failure depends entire
Fly upon whether candidates are given
equal opportunities and the voters
are absolutely free to make their
own selection.
Quotes President Wilson.
1.-THE purpose of the direct primary
has never been better expressed than
in a speech delivered by President
Wilson in the city of Newark, on
May /, 1913. when, referring to the
present primary, he said:
"'There Is going to be contest
for the governorship of this State
for the nomination for the governor
ship next summer, and l did not
want anybody to suppose that | was
coming back to try to boss the job.
AZ have no candidate for the
Democratic nomination for the gov
ernorship of this State, but am
opposed to whoever is desired for
governor by some gentlemen whom l
shall have the pleasure of naming TO-
night. l do not want to see any more
governors of New Jersey privately
owned; I do not want to see any
governors of New Jersey privately
manipulated by hands that We're not
discovered to the people themselves
always Labored for This"
"T am going to New Hampshire
next summer. New Hampshire Is IN
telegraphic communication with New
Jersey, and anybody who wants 10
know what / think cam find 1T out
nv asking the question. But l am
going Just as far away from New
Jersey as it Is convenient to go, SO
that nobody may think have come
here as IL to nominate choice Tor
a people that / have labored for as
| have never la5ored for anything
else. to tell them to make their own
choice
TT must be a source of regret TO
advocates and supporters OF the Ill
rect primary system that in the only
two important contests which nave
n 81 InrGlV
since the direct primary law became
operative, the Democratic voters
have not been left free from outside
influence to make their selection from
those who have entered or declared
their intention of entering the Demo-
cratic party.
Two Consented to Withdraw.
I'm the primary last year for United
States senator two candidates were
prevailed upon to withdraw so that
the contest might be narrowed down
to two men. In the present primary
at least three candidates had ex-
pressed an intention of entering the
contest. Mayor Wittpenn was the
first to announce his candidacy. l
then announced my candidacy. Later
Acting Governor Fielder announced
his.
"Three weeks ago President Wilson
in a published letter to Mayor Witt
penn, said that, in his opinion, his
strength in a three-cornered fight
would not be great enough to count
decisively and that as the leader Of
the party his choice was Mr.. Field
err, and that he and Mayor Wittpenn
should support his candidacy. Mayor
Wittpenn withdrew. His laudable
ambition to be governor was crushed
The contest has been narrowed down
to two candidates.
Crushing Blow to Primary.
"I regret / can look at what has
taken place in no other way than as
a crushing blow to the cause of the
direct primary. Have the Democratic
voters been left free to make their
own selection mot personally corf-
Quoted, not suggested by people who
undertake to make the government
of the State their own private BUSH
ness?' To make a choice, not per-
sonal. but as the leader of the party
and to back that choice with all the
power and patronage of national
and State administration, results in
sitting that equal opportunity sup
posed to be afforded to every candi-
date and that freedom of choice sup
posed to be given to every voter.
IF dictation be countenanced 1t
will make of the direct primary, with
it's expenses and discomforts, a
'scarecrow,' and in the end a more ef-
fective weapon for the boss than the