Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-10-04
REPUBLICANS;
LOCAL OPTION
State Convention Inserts
Plank.
EDGE TALKS
Democrats Ignore Liquor Issue
Republicans are Progress
SiVe.

Il
party of New Jersey, through its
State convention held here TODAY. de-
clared in favor of local option. the
plank being qualified so as not ID en-
Darrass members of the Legislature
who have been elected or are candi-
oates for election on anti-local optioo
Platforms. 1t is the first time that
either of the major parties has come
out for local option, and the step was
taken after deliberations by State
leaders which consumed the greater
| part OF twenty-four hours.
The Democratic State Convention
held simultaneously with that of the
Republicans, ignored the liquor issue
entirely, but not without a protest
from j. w. Binder, candidate for the
Assembly from Bergen County. Mr..
Binder urged an out-and-out declar
alton for local option.
The answer to the Binder resolution
was made by Alexander Simpson, Of
Jersey City, chairman of the resolu-
t1ons committee, who asserted that in
omltting local option plank the
Democrats were neither ducking nor
lodging the issue. He ridiculed the
plank which had then just been adopt
ed by the Republican convent !on, de-
clar1ng that, although 1t was ostensf-
bly, an Endorsement of local option.
1t was in reality meaningless plati-
tude, sinue it left the question of sup
porting local option or opposing it to
the individual judgement of members
of the Legislature.
Governor Edge, who was temporary
chairman of the Republican conven-
ton, was warmly applauded when he
delivered the keynote speech in VIII ch
he declared unequivocally for the
fullest measure of local option home
rule consistent with individual or
county primary pledges. The Cover
nor insisted upon the elimination of
senseless partisanship in constructive
legislation for the benefit of the State
and pointed out that the standard set
by the Republican party demanded
complete effacement of partisanship
and the transcendence If patriotism.
According to the Governor, New
the battle line. This he believed is
large number in proportion to pop
ulation, than that raised by any other
State in the Union. Besides explain
ing what the Commonwealth has been
doing in organization work for the
war the Governor reviewed the work
OF his administration.
The final determination of the Re-
publicans to declare for local option
was not reached until the conclusion
of a conference lasting most of the
night in which the liquor question
was considered from ever angle. AL
though vigorous opposition was
voiced by some of the leaders to the
declaration, which will undoubtedly
result in a realignment of the politi-
cal parties, the general sentiment
seemed to be that the drift of the
day is against the manufacture and
sale of alcoholic beverages.
1t was then contended that during
the process of development of the
movement the citizens of separate To-
calities should be empowered to con-
troll the liquor question in accordance
with the wishes of the majority. Sen
ators and candidates who had OBJ
tanned nomination or election on an
ti-local option pledges, threatened to
disclaim the platform should it be in
such form as to compromise them
with their constituents.