Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-20
FAIR FIELD FOR
ALL CANDIDATES
Republican County Chairman
Speaks Plainly in Reply to =
AIgernon T. Sweeney.

In a reply TO a communication from
former Police Judge Algernon T.,
Sweeney, chairman of the Progress
sive city committee, recommending
the fusion of the regular Republi-
cans and the Progressives, and sug-
costing certain candidates for office
Chairman Herbert w. Taylor. of
the Essex County Republican COM
mittee, makes 1t clear that he does
not agree with the former judge.
= Mr.. Sweeney named Charles r.
Kocher, deputy surrogate and a Re-
publican. as his choice for surrogate,
and Charles Stelzle, a clergyman and
a Progressive, for sheriff.
"Under the present primary law"
says Mr.. Taylor, in his letter to Mr..
Sweeney 1.-The primaries of all politi-
cal parties are open to all. 1t lies
within the power of the voters of
each party to select men of the high
est character for public office and, so
far as the Republican party Is con-
Cerned, all candidates in the county
of Essex and in the city of Newark
will have an equal chance. The Re
publican County Committee has
taken the position that it will not
interfere in any way with the selec-
ton of candidates at the primary,
anu w III ilbl lII0OlSt vi lawn OllG
candidate against another. This, /
am sure, has removed the chief
criticism which has heretofore been
directed against the Republican or
ganization in this county, and is in
keeping with the highest political
ideals.
Would BE a step Backward.
Il feel, therefore. that your sug-
gestion that you and l, or any other
seIf-constituted committee or coterie
should attempt TO pick out candidates
would not only be resented by the
thoughtful voters of the county but
would be a decided step backward,
Cor it would simply mean a return
to conditions which have been the
subject of such sereve criticism in
the past.
Take the case of Mr. Kocher. for
example. Mr.. Kocher is a Republican,
and undoubtedly has many friends
who believe that he would make an
excellent surrogate. If Mr. Kocher
becomes q candidate. at the primary
Tor this important Office the Republi-
can voters throughout the county will
hHve an opportunity to express their
preference for him, and if he appeals
to the majority of the Republicans in
the primary as he appeals to you he
wal uiluOhplCuly NC anu,
! feel sure, elected. This, it seems
10 me, is the proper, orderly and sat
tsfactory way for every candidate to
appeal to the electorate for support.
You mention Rev. Mr.. Stelzle. of
Maplewood, as a very desirable can
eidate for sheriff 1 am informed that
this gentleman holds a very import
ant position in connection with church
york, and that he has publicly an
lounced his retirement from politics.
Does it not strike you that it would
be d mistake for Mr.. Stelale to leave
the iraM1rtant work which you state
lac ,Ifnow engaged in for the purely
- 4giiiar task of performing the duties
% sheriff?
II am thoroughly familiar with ex-
listing conditions under the Repub-
hcan administration of the county or
Essex, and l want to say that since
tile new small Board of Freeholders
took office on January 1, 1912, the adj
ra.nistration of affairs in the county
Of Essex has been efficient, econom-
ical, progressive and entirely salts
factory to the vast majority of the
people of the county. There has been
no selfishness or greed in county
management under the present ad-
mirAstration and personal or political
ends have not been sought. On the
contrary, the present Board OF Free
holders has demonstrated its entire
fitness for the duties and RESPONSE
bilities imposed upon it, and the cleo
ton Of the three Republican freehol-
der candidates last year by over 5000
majority is a sufficient demonstration
of this fact"
AS chairman of the county commit
tee, Mr.. Taylor says he does not feel
il incufnbe 1t on him to enter into
discussion f city affairs.