Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-07-26
.SCULLY QUITS
. EXECUTIVE BODY
Throws Hot Shot at Democrat
ic State Executive Committee
in ReSigning as Chairman.
SCORES PARTY BUSYB0DIES
Refuses to Be Rubber Stamp,
He Says--Retains Place on
State Committee.

simultaneously with the rendering
of his resignation as chairman of the
Democratic State Executive Commit
tee, Representative Thomas ]. Scully
today fred a broadside point blank
into the ranks of what he terms a
body of self-interested busybodies
running around handing out nomina-
tions and indorsements-for United
States senator for example"
The congressman's action, while
rejecting merely an attitude that has
made itself clear and tried to impress
itself upon state politics for some
time, nevertheless hits the ranks with
the velocity of a tornado. It adds,
too, a lew and interesting angle to
the Den )cratic fight for the United
States senatorial nomination.
A few weeks ago the Democratic
nomination went begging. Now there
are enough candidates and candi-
dates hackers in the field to cause
more than an argument-a real poll
teal battle, for that is what Scully's
break will in all probability lead to.
Often during the past six months pro-
fessional boom manufacturers have
launched their skiffs and then, hold
ing their breath, turned to South
Amboy or New York or Washington
or wherever Scully happened to be.
And still with all that with all the
fear of Scully, the congressman had
never provided. any real tangible evil
dence of opposition, of a self-centered
desire to make the race. True, Scully
and the nomination have been linked
ever since the death of Senator
Hughes, but the congressman himself,
had never actually announced him
self.
The senatorial situation was be-
lieved to have eben clarified to some
extent recently when Democratic
leaders in the third congressional dis
trict announced that Scully would
run again this fall. In the light OF
Scully's resignation as chairman OF the
state executive committee, this ar
rangement does not appear to COIN
eide with either his wishes or ampi-
tions.
In answer to inquiries as to his
reason for resigning, Mr.. Scully today
said:
IT simply do not care to be rubber
stamp. A few self-interested busy
bodies, taking advantage of the fact
that most of us have our minds else
where, are running around handing
out nominations and indorsements-
for United States senator, for exam
ple-with the old idea of being In
line for favors IL their candidate Is
lucky enough to win. Some OF those
men are most notable in state politics
for the number of times they led the
Democratic party to defeat, but one
or two have been known to pick
winner, to decorate him with an In
dorsement, and to cash in on It, ana
they are hoping to repeat.
ITS only the other day that we
were being urged to fight those meth
ods and even those same men, some or
them. And IL Is just as sure TO-DAY
as ii was then that these methods can
not win. and that those men cannot
lead the Democratic party to victory.
This is at present a Republican state,
but only because the independent vot-
ters will not support the Democratic
party so long as its most cynical ele-
ment is in the limelight, picking the
candidates and debating party poll
cies.
"There are plenty OF big men in the
Democratic party, who could DO good
work in Washington and could unite
the party and win the indepenoenat
voters to support its principles, and Its
great war program. But there can be
nothing but disunion and discourage
ment in the party as long as discred-
tied little group OF politicians is per-
mitted to pick candidates and to
whitewash them from the administra-
ton pail, having first assured the
candidates Of course. that II Will be
easy to sneak the brush out OF the
side door while the boss Is busy.
''I am going to remain a member
of the state committee as long as !
can, and will work for the upbuilding
of the Democratic party on a broad
foundation of principle and democ-
racy, but / want those who are pick
ing the candidates now 10 rubber
stamp their own work"
THOMAS J. SCULLY.