Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-09-22
FLoRANCE STRONGER THAN QUINN, SAYS Gl
Urges Stand for Organization.

Mr.. Cannon maintained, in part of
his speech that the fight had de-
veloped into an issue of the peoples
interests against Mr.. Quinn's own
personal, selfish interests. He main
tanned that the voters would not
overlook this fact and would stand
by the organization which, he
claimed, had worked fairly and
squarely in the interests of labor,
just as well as Mr.. Quinn claimed he
had done. Mr.. Gannon's speech
follows:
4" Gentlemen
"The purpose in the calling of this
meeting is to discuss with you the
methods to be pursued in the present
primary contest, and the approaching
election. In what I have to say, it may
appear that my ego is getting the bet
ter of me, but | hope such is not the
case. However, gentlemen, it seems to
me that we are all a little egotistical
and my share will shine tonight not
withstanding the fact that l try hard
to keep it suppressed, as general rule.
In sending out my letter, | sent it to
many whom I have good reason to be-
heve are organization Democrats and
to some whom ! believe are, or will be,
with the organization. If | have erred
in the selection of my men, I hope I
have not offended any of you.
Organization is very necessary to
the success of any movement. The
small grocery, clothing, shoe or dry
goods business, as well as the large
,n
in order to succeed. The same applies
to the small manufacturer as well as
to the larger one. 1t is also necessary
in Religion, Labor and Politics. | do
not believe there is a man in this room
but who believes in organization and
who recognizes the fact that there is
a Democratic organization in Perth Am
boy and Middlesex county. Where
there is organization, there must neces-
sarily be leaders, and the present pri-
mary contest will determine who is to
be your leader
Urged to Call Meeting
81 was urged by my friends to call
this meeting and reluctantly consented
to do so. The reasons advanced by
those urging me to do this, was that
they looked on me as the leader of the
party in the city. My reasons for not
wanting to call it was, that | did not
consider myself your leader, and in
fact, at the present time there is no
regular recognized leader, hence my
reasons for saying the leadership will
be definitely settled at the coming pri-
mary.
81 am not trying to get away from
the fact that | know that many
Democrats in this city look upon me
as the leader of the party today, and
l assure you that any degree of su
premacy that | may possess has not
been brought about by my own eff
forts. 1t has been thrust upon me by
you, yourselves, and l want to as
sure you that | neither enjoy the
honor nor the burdens that come
with it. Among the many reasons
for wanting to have this little talk
with you is one that | should make
myself clear on. 1t has come to my
ears that some of the people who are
advocating the nomination of Mr..
Quinn are giving out a story to the
effect that Cannon has announced
that he is for Mr.. Florance-but, will
let it go at that, and will do nothing
to bring forth the nomination of Mr..
Florance and that in fact he, Gan
non, would just as soon see Mr..
Quinn nominated as Mr.. Florance.'
Says Florance is Stronger.
Now, gentlemen, l want to deny
just as emphatically as / can that
such is the case. l am for the nomi-
nation of Mr. Florance with all the en-
ergy and force that is in me, and for
the very reason that | firmly believe
that Mr.. Florance will not only make
the stronger senatorial nominee, but
that he is the strongest possible can
didate that the organization can Sc
lect to head their ticket this fall, and
will do more to conserve and keep
us intact in the future than any other
for the same office. | will
consider the defeat of Mr.. Florance as
a defeat of myself, and the selection
of a new leadership. If that be so,
will take my place in the ranks and
follow such leadership with the same
loyalty that l would expect that you
give to me.
81 regret very much that | have to
oppose Mr.. Quinn in his efforts to get
this nomination, as we have been
close friends for the past twenty-five
years.
But gentlemen, no man will al
low friendship to ruin mis- business
and | don't propose to allow my
for Mr.. Quinn to stand in
the way of the Democratic success
| firmly believe that the nomination
of Mr. Quinn will be the beginning of
the end of Democratic rule in Mid
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