The Penn's Grove record., 1916-03-03
STATE CAPITOL NEWS
What The State Officials Are DOING.
What The Political Leader Are
Talking About.

Trenton, March frank b. Jess. the
Camden County member Of the Progress
i've State Committee. today sent to J. A.
II. Hopkins, Of Morristown, the Progress
sive State Chairman, his resignation from
the Committee. In connection with his
resignation, Mr.. Jess issues an explana-
ton Of his reasons for Withdrawing from
the Committee. He says be believes Col.
Theodore Roosevelt should be nominated
by the Republican party for President.
and he wants to be free TO work for the
election Of Roosevelt delegates to the
Republican National Convention in Chi
cage june I.
Mr.. Jess, who is a member Of the State
Board Of Taxes and Assessments and
ex-president Of the old State Tax Board.
severely scores the r~eactionary element
in the Republican party.
There is in the Republican party he
declares, IA powerful coterie of leaders
who will not be responsive to the over
lures OF the Progressives. This coterie
IS composed Of eminent gentlemen who re-
gard IT as a sacred duty, unalterable to
oppose the adoption bY their party Of
Progressive principles and the nomina-
ton OF candidates who stand for these
principles with proved courage and abb
ity. These leaders will not be swayed by
sentiment bor influenced by oratory.
Moreover, they viii exert themselves to see
that delegates Of like convictions, or those
amenable to reactionary Influences. are
sent to the convention.
These delegates will be unpledged to
any candidate but, in a very real sense
absolutely pledged against one particular
candidate"
Continuing, Mr.. Jess said there is
grave danger that the Progressives and
progressive element in the Republican
party will be thwarted by the reaction
aries in the effort they are making to
meet upon a common ground. He asserts
that there is a constantly growing senti-
ment in the Republican party for the
nomination of Roosevelt.
This sentiment has gained tremendous
impetus in the past three weeks" he
states. 1T is not confined TO those who
always have been admirers of Roose-
Welt, but extends to many of those who
opposed him four years ago. The sever
est trials are still ahead Of US, Mems
souls may yet be tried as they have not
been since the days Of Lincoln. ] feel.
then. that the paramount duty of the
hour is to provide the means by which
the Roosevelt sentiment in the Republican
party can find effective expression. This
can be done only by the election of Roose-
Welt delegates to the Republican conven-
ton.
The resignation of Mr.. Jess and his
statement will be a big jolt TO the reg
ular Republican leaders of the state as
well as of the entire country. Coming.
as it does, just at a time when the dele
gates are being selected and when the
regular leaders are trying to do all in
their power to prevent the nomination
Of Roosevelt, or even the election of
Roosevelt delegates, the resignation of
Jess and his Roosevelt declaration will
stir Republican politics from center to
circumference. The result. doubtless.
will be that that the "Old Guard will
redouble its anti Roosevelt efforts and
the clash between the two factions will
be more sharply divided.
There were two peppery partisan fights
in the Legislature this week. One was
in the Senate over the communication
from Governor Fielder scoring the Re-
publicans for holding in committee the
nomination of Grover c. Richman, Dem
ocrat. as Prosecutor of Gloucester Co.
The other one was caused by the attempt
to force the Newark ripper bills thru
the Assembly. Senator Ackerson, of
Monmouth, the minority leader in the
upper branch, attempted to get the Sen
ate to consider the Governors message on
Richman by offering a resolution to the
Judiciary Committee, with instructions
to report on the nomination at the next
executive session. Senator Ackerson
caustically declared that il was high time
such tieing up Of a nomination should be
curbed.
mo one" he continued, has given any
reason why this appointment should not
be confirmed. and / am forced to the con
~clusion that it is a question of politics,
and not the interest of the people OF
Gloucester County. which prevents ac-
ton on this nomination"
Republican Leader Rathbun. of Morris
, replied tartly that the Democrats We're
not playing fair in the matter. He
claimed that the Democrats of Glouces-
ter County had so manipulated thing;
, thar the power of appointing the Prose
cutor would be taken away from the Re
publican Governor who is sure to be
elected next YEAR This confident asser-
tion that the next Governor would be Z
Republican. was greeted with derisivt
? laughter from the Democrats. Senator
iGaunt claimed he was justified in refus-
E ing to permit the confirmation. ant
: charged that the Democrats were trying
to make political capital ont of the sit
! uation. After some more partisan de
bate the Aekerson resolution was amend
4. ed by striking out the provision instruct
: ing the judiciary Committee to report th'
message of the Governor. and then wa
the Judiciary Committee where it re
9 mains. This is the same committee whicl
i bv its Republican majority, is holding NJ
the Richman appointment.
The Newark ripper bills are desig
mated t, Gust a lot of Democratic off
Gals IN the city and turn the government
4 over to the Republican organization head