The Penn's Grove record., 1917-11-09

The ~mayoralty election in Penns
Grove was the most holly contested
ever in Penns Grove and descended
into ~virulent personalities. Mr.. Hunt
would not have been an independent
candidate if there had been any other
candidate on the ballots besides the
name of Mr.. Fisher, who was not the
choice of many.
A law enacted in 1915 forbids a can
didate who was defeated at the pri-
maries from having his name printed
on the ballot by petition.
A case occurred in Atlantic County,
Smith +. Johnson got the nomination
at the Republican primary for Sheriff
and died October 5. milford i. Rose,
whom johnson defeated, was prohib-
tied from filing a petition and be-
coming a candidate and Alfred j. Per-
kins who was not a candidate at the
primary was allowed to do so.
Harry Wright, who got the vote at
the Republican primary, as well as
Harry Blitzstein, who got the nomina-
ton for council and John w. Trum-
bull, who got the nomination for as
SCISSOR at the Democratic primary did
not get their names printed on the
ballot, failing to file an affidavit of
acceptance. Some who are willing to
serve the people will not go to the care
of complying with the laws, which
only those who follow the public poll
tics know.
Penns Grove Borough was incorpor-
ated in 1894 to fill up frog hollows,
because the Township Committee
would not do so, at public expense.
The little local issues have been for
years whether to cut down the sand
dunes on Laurel Hill, fill and drain
frog ponds at "The Pier" (that part
west of the railroad) or have it done
on Mary and John Street, or to put
'Dogtown," later Union Corner, but
nov "The HUB" at Main and Broad
Streets, above a quagmire.
All these have entered into local
interests in past years irrespective of
party labels of the candidates. When
the question of the location of a Bor-
ough hall or school grounds arose one
section united against the other. The
tax payers will be the losers by many
thousands of dollars, because the OPP
tions on lands for both were defeated
by political chicanery, as we'll as the
erection of a school house for $4,000
more than asked from the people.
There are many who believe two or
three licensed well regulated hotels
would be better than so many speak
easies.
Before the primary election J. A.
Fisher announced that if elected he
would go after the speakeasies and
favored extending water mains and
not compel tax payers to pay for such
privately when the water company
would do so if the Council would pay
for the fire plugs. In other words he
has a civic vision that takes in all the
Borough, instead of only Laurel Hill.
'"The Pier" or "Dogtown," and can
see a frog pond on Beach Avenue as
well as elsewhere.
The dupont Company employ 400
guards. If the evil effects of liquors
on weak men could be dispensed with
the overhead operating expenses could
be lessened from $15IO0O to $3.50 0 a
year ar I1rnktt,bsHtv there ar,
many Tissues involved, because of tho
small vision of many officials. They
have nothing to do with State and Ma
tional issues. For these reasons mu-
nicipal elections should be held separ-
0HSiN Is III ACliAltl NCd1S anu lcSS IT,
strictions to have names printed Oh
ballots.
During every contest of opinion the
animated discussions wear an unhappy
aspect. Thomas Jefferson, after a
bitter political contest said in his first
inaugural address:
Every difference of opinion is not
a dit renee of principle. We are
HnIlnI nv IitTnEsaRf a~1 l-o4l--- r
the same principle. We are all Re-
publicans. We are all Democrats. All
will arrange themselves under the will
of the law and unite in common efforts
for the common good. Let us, then,
fellow citizens, unite with one mind.
Let us restore to social inter curse
that harmony and affection without
which liberty and even life itsel; are
but droary things"