The Penn's Grove record., 1915-10-01
FRIDAY, OCTOBER l, 1915
STATE CAPITAL NEWS.

Theodore BackeS that tuesday, OcIoDer
10, the date of the special election on
the three proposed constitutional amend
ments, will not be a legal holiday. There
has been much inquiry as to whether or
not it would be a holiday and also as to
whether or not the saloons would be re-
quired to remain closed during the day.
The decision of Mr.. Backes is based upon
an opinion given to Governor ohm w.
Griggs upon the same question August
10, 1897, by the then Attorney General
Samuel II. Grey. Constitutional amend
ments were to be voted upon in September
of that year, and this led Governor
Griggs to have the questions decided by
his Attorney General.
>
Attorney General Gray ruled that the
day on which constitutional amendments
are submitted to the people is not a gen
eral election day, because the State Con
vention provides that the voting upon the
amendment shall be "at a special cleo
ton to be held for that purpose only"
Holding that such an election was spec
ial, and not a general election day with
in the meaning of the act fixing the hoh-
days, Attorney General Grey concluded
that the day for the special election was
not a holiday. Following this decision,
Mr.. Backes decides that October 10 will
not be a holiday.
The decision also means that as the
election on October 10 is not a general
one, the saloons will not be required to
close as they are ON the general election
day in November. Taken in this aspect,
the decision will be very displeasing to
the suffragists, because they are being
bitterly opposed by all the liquor men,
and there will be a fear that wide open
saolons on the date of the special election
may initiate against a victory for the
suffrage cause.
Owing to the fact that State Senator
Hennessy, of Bergen county, will likely
be a candidate for Governor on the Demo-
cratic ticket next year, Congressman
Archibald G. Hart, of the olxth District,
will seek reelection, the bitter attack of
Senator Hennessy upon the Congressman,
who is also a Democrat, is attracting
statewide interest. Senator Hennessy
favors the small board of freeholders
in his county, and charges Congressman
Hart with opposing this reform. Con-
gresham Hart denies that he is united
with the politicians to defeat reform gov
eminent in the county.
Suffrage leaders were at the polls in
several sections of the state yesterday
watching the primary voting to getfthe
experience for the suffrage electiSh on
Tuesday, October 10. Under the1aw pas
sed by the last Legislature, women watch
ers viii be appointed for the suffrage cleo
ton for both the ~suffragists and the anti
~suffragists. The watchers are to be
nominated by the leaders of the respect
i've sides and are now being selected.
They will be appointed by the County
Boards of Election.
The suffrage leaders are greatly pleased
that the canvas made by a New York
newspaper shows a majority of 1900 in
the state in favor of the suffrage amend
ment. This canvas shows 6S,925 votes
for the Votes for Women amendment and
67,425 against it. This canvas does not
agree with the prediction of political
leaders in this state. For instance, the
newspaper canvas gives an even break
in Essex and a $500 majority for the
suffragists in Hudson. The prediction of
the political leaders is that the party or
carnations in those two counties will
roll up a decisive majority against this
amendment. The suffragists are waging
a far more effective campaign, however,
than the '%'antis," and it is generally ad-
mitted that if the amendment is not
adopted, it will receive a big vote.
Senator Austen Colgate, Republican,
who has been regarded as having Pro-
g~ressive tendencies, has given unqualified
endorsement to the regular Republican
candidates for the Assembly in Essex.
Ten of the candidates were members of
the last Assembly. Although formerly
Senator Colgate was more or less iden-
titled with the New Idea" Republicans,
he is now keeping in the regular Repub-
lican camp. He declares that the fight
for the control of the Essex County Re
publican Committee between the followers
of Alfred N. Dalrymple who are the reg
ulars, and the "Anti-Dals", is purely a
party matter and should not be allowed
to interfere with the reelection of men
who rendered good service as the Repub-
lican representative of Essex county last
winter.
GOIuSI OONcInOI AuWdIu ~ obOhCS
predicts a Republican victory in New
Jersey on November 2. He says: '"The
campaign in this state this fall is likely
to prove undemonstrative. The trend of
political sentiment is however, none the
less evident. The Republicans nave been
at work quietly e~ffecting organizations of
a non-partisian character, and their eff
forts have met with prompt response. In
stead of Indifference, they have found en-
thusiasm and a willingness to work, which
is always an evidence of success. This
interest of the rank and file in the sue
cess of the Republican party is due to
their disappointment in Democratic po-
~licies."
There was CONSERVATION in Hudson
county last Sunday when Sheriff Eugene
f. Kinkead raided about a dozen saloons
that were wide open and closed them up.
Several mlwdng picture theatres were also