New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-24
"Stand-Patters" and Pro
gressives Fight To-mor-
row for Party Control.
LEGISLATIVE POLICY
WILL BE GAUNTLET
Old Leaders Favor "Sit-lIght
Programme, but Reformers
VIII Demand Action.

,,-.,,, a. S,aN CORRESPONDENT Of The Tribune
Trenton. Nov. 93.-Thc first test OF
whether the Republican party in New
Jersey is controlled by the ProgressNes
within the party or by the stand-pa'-
ters" will come Tuesday when the ne
publican members Of the new Legislature
will hold a conference here to determine
legislative programme for the coming
session. That there will be some livery
doings at this conference is freely pre-
dicted
The plan Of some Of the leaders IS TOT
the Republican members OF the begisla-
ture 60 sit tight during the coming ses-
sion and profit by the mistakes OF the
Democrats The latter will have par
ticu,arlv hard row to hoe, and II is not
al ALI unlikely that before the session
ends they will he torn by dissension over
the various reform measures when MT
Fielder. the new Governor, will insist
upon being enacted.
Those of the oldtimers who refuse TO let
20 their hold on the Republican party
On New Jersey are insisting that the
nroner course for the Republican lee-
is,ators n p,Irsue is 10 introduce no bill
, ~ any great importance. Their plan is
simply TO let the Democrats 80 aheau
and make all the mistakes they can ana
will and later TO capitalize these MIS-
takes for political purposes.
The suggestion of such plan mas
stirred the Progressives TO action anu
u is likely that before Tuesdays con-
ference adjourns a comprehensive reform
programme of legislation will be agreed
upon. despite the advice and suggestion
of the "stand-patters' to the contrary
II IS reasonably certain that such
Senators as Pierce, Of Union; Smalley'
of Somerset: Edge, of Atlantic ana Ool-
gate. of Essex, as well as Assemoiyihdii
Scovel. Of Camden, will listen to no such
nlan as outlined by the oldtlmers IheH
have never vet failed to declare tha'
the Republican party is party OF pro-
gress. and from the reports ALREADY III
the air it is their intention to demon
strate that the Republican party can ana
will be a party Of usefulness TO the people
Of New Jersey.
One of the biggest fights Of the session
will come over the report Of the FL
Nciency and Economy Commission which
for the last two years has been invesu-
eating the various state departments
with a view TO producing more efficiency
and economy in conducting the aHdiIs
of the state The Democrats are soihs
IN he on the defensive when these Dlls
come along. and it is here that MI
Fielder will have the opportunity TO dem
onstrate the nature of his backbone.
With the Democrats in complete control
of the government of the state it is going
TO be the hardest thing I'm the world Tor
members Of that political faith IN the
legislature TO vote to wipe out slne-
cures which they believe belong TO the
faithful They must do lot Of econo-
mixing. however. for unless the cost of
running the government of New Jersey is
materially reduced there is grave danger
Of a state tax which tax would react
Overwhelmingly on the party responsible
for il.
This in itself is one Of the first things
that Mr. Fielder will encounter when he
takes office. and it is one Of the things
which he will have TO handle with firm
hand. From his attitude in the recent
campaign toward the Smith-Nugent
brand Of Democrats it seems reasonable
TO assume that he will face the fire, but
whether he will he able TO make his fol
lowers in the Democratic party see things
his way IS another question.
In addition TO the efficiency and econ
ornv programme the progressive Demo
Gratis will also have plan for compre
hcnsive changes in the tax system o
New Jersey. system which ha
lapsed into a condition Of unfairnes
and discrimination. Senator Pierce, o
Union, who probably knows more de
tail about taxation than does an
other member Of the Senate, will handl
these measure. which, in the main, VII
be along the line OF those he Introduce
last year. with slight notifications. per
haps 1t is also. probable that the Pro
gressive Republicans of the Senate viii
have a jury reform bill modelled aioE;
the lines preferred by President Wilson
There will be a comprehensive grad
crossing elimination bill that will worl
without being tied up in the courts for :
number of years And I'm addition, not
few of the Republicans viii be found &C
lively supporting a preferential ballot 70
the primaries.
4 legislative programme COMPRISING
such reforms as these will stasger the oil.
"stand-patters. but it is going TO be ;
part of the Republican programme fo
the coming session Of the Legislature
whether they like IL or not. In fact. it 4
whispered the more they oppose plans o
this kind the quicker will be their laps
into what a famous statesman who once
lived in New Jersey called "innocuou
desuetude."