The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1916-09-09
WHO WILL Be THE
NEXT GOVERNOR?
Business Manager Issue Origi-
mated With Senator Edge;
Wittpenn TraiIed In.
G. 0. P.'S LOGICAL CANDIDATE

Now that petitions have been filed
In the secretary of states office by all
candidates whose names will go on
the party ballots at the primary cleo
ton, September IS, the gubernatorial
lineup, both as to the contestants and
the campaign issues, may be forecast
ed.
The Democratic party will nominate
H. Otto Wittpenn, OF Hudson county
he has no opposition. He has already
shown his cards; he will ask the vot'
ers to support him as one possessing
efficient business and political expert
ence."
The Republicans therefore know
what they have to meet-the man and
the issue. They have on their side
three candidates for the nomination:
Senator Walter Evans Edge, of At
lantic county; Colonel Austen Colgate,
of Essex, and George L. Record, of
Hudson. The last named may as well
be eliminated, as it is unlikely that
he will get any considerable number
of votes outside of his own. county.
Edge Created the Business Issue.
The Republican choice therefore lies
between Edge and Colgate, and the
Edge supporters point to the fact that
the issue which the Democratic can
didate tries to appropriate to his own
advantage is the very issue which
Senator Edge originated, and that
Edge is the logical candidate to put
against Wittpenn.
Senator Edge was the first in either
party to nou his candidacy. He
made this announcement in January
last, and said he believed in applying
business principles to state manage
ment. A successful business man him.
self, he has in his seven years service
as a member of the legislature and as
party leader in both houses led the
movement for efficiency and economy
in state administration.
He introduced the bills, now laws,
to stop waste of the taxpayers money
by consolidating overlapping depart
ments and abolishing unnecessary po-
sitions, while extending the state serv-
ice.
Reform in the state financial system
was accomplished by his state budget
measure.
The state purchasing agency bill,
which he introduced and pressed to
final passage, applying business meth
DDS to the purchase of all state sup
plies, will effect an estimated saving
of from 100000 to 100000 a year.
The Edge bill abolishing the state
census effects "a saving of 100000
decennially.
Service to Wage Farmers.
The great value of the workmen's
compensation act is so we'll known
hat several candidates claim credit
for some connection with this legisla-
ton. But Senator Edges supporters
point to the undisputed fact that he
introduced the bill and led the fight
for it, and that Colonel Colgate was
not a member of the legislature at that
time, although at later sessions he
voted for some amendments to the
law, which had Senator Edges sup
port.
In the same way, automobile reel
procity was first proposed in the legis-
lature by Assemblyman Edge, then
Republican leader. In fact, he initial
ed so much of the progressive legisla-
ton of recent years hat to recite it
all would be to record Republican
policies in New Jersey during this
period.
Senator Edges supporters do not de-
ny that Colonel Colgate has a credit
able legislative record, but they as
sert that it does not compare with
that of Senator Edge in initiative, in
constructive craftsmanship and the use
of practical, business methods in legis-
lation and state administration.
They say that New Jersey needs a
capable, up-to-date business MANAGER
for it's executive at this time, that
Edge, of Atlantic county, measures up
to the job and is the logical Repub-
lican candidate for governor. While
admitting that others might have done
as well in the responsible position
assigned to Senator Edge by his col
leagues, 1t is claimed that the fact
that he was In the forefront and made
good" entities him to the recognition
now asked of the Republicans of New
Jersey.
RNTEPTAINEn CI AT