Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-20
MURRAY TO RETIRE
FROM PUBLIC LIFE
Orange Mayor Refuses to Be
Candidate Under New Form
of Government.

experimenting his statement to the
Evening Star following the success of
the commission government special
election last Tuesday, Mayor Frank
]. Murray, of Orange, today made
it plain that he is not to be a candi-
date for the commission at the cleo
ton next month. He says he will re-
tire from public life to devote his en-
srgies to the practise of law.
Mayor Murray, before he left Or
ange this afternoon for Washington.
d. c., with a client, on business at the
capital. said his decision to retire
from office in the city is final He re-
ceived several hundred telephone
messages and a hundred letters
urging him to accept a nomination.
This so impressed him, he says, that
he gave the proposition earnest study,
only to reach the conclusion that his
duty to his family, the eXacting de-
mands of his law practise, which he
has neglected to give his attention to
Oranges needs for the past sixteen
months as well as reasonable regard
for the limitations of his health, all
demand that he retire from public
service at this time.
81 am happy to have been of some
service to my fellow citizens in the
positions which 1 have filed" he said,
land now that | have kept all my
pledges and promises to the public |
feel it is necessary to give more of
my time and attention to my business
affairs and to my family. Remain
ing away from my Office in Newark
every day to stay in Orange and give
up the time necessary for attending
to city affairs, as well as the many
demands for night work and atten-
ton to various obligations have been
SO eXacting that / now feel 1t is my
duty to give up official labors and
look after my private interests.
Il am young man now, and feel
l should give my affairs attention
at this time, and while l deeply ap-
preciate the wishes expressed by my
fellow citizens that l shall be a can
didate for office under the commits
sion plan, / have told everyone that
| will not run for office and that is
exactly my intention. / hope to see
five strong men, regardless of their
political affiliations chosen, and their
tasks will be severe, but the oppor-
tunity to help the city will compen-
safe the men for their labors"
With his valedlctory to Orange citi-
zens. Mayor Murray expressed his
feelings for those who have been as
ISOLATED with him in public life For
friend and opponent, he said, he had
but the friendliest feelings. Mayor
Murray's official life was started as
from the First ward, and
he was one of the leaders of the Re-
publican wing in the days when that
hody, under the leadership of Edward
S. Perry, now postmaster, flourished
in the city government. He was SUBJ
sequently Assemblyman from this
county, and was an active man at
Trenton.
His next public position was as
mayor which office he won in No
Vember, 1912, defeating Arthur B. Sey-
mour, then mayor and now city
counsel. Mayor Murray has been
prominent in fraternal affairs, and is
a member of several local organiza-
tions, including City of Orange Coun-
ell, Knights of Columbus, and Orange
Lodge of Elks. His home, with his
wife and two children, is in Hillyer
street.