The sun., 1918-08-22
LEWIS OPENS FIGHT
!. IN WHITMAN CAMP.
Attorney General Cordially
! Received in s. s. KOenig's
Federal Club.
ASKS DRY" REFERENDUM
Governors Rival Makes APP
peal Also for Return of
Convention System.

In the stronghold OF the enemy-the
Federal Club Of Samuel 5. Koenig-At-
torney-General Merton L. Lewis last
night opened his speaking campaign for
the Republican nomination for Governor.
Standing on the rostrum OF the little
platform at A Avenue c, leaning on a
cane because his leg is still weak from
the injury received in the automobile ac-
cident near Saratoga. Mr.. Lewis gave
his reasons for opposing Gov. whitman.
Prohibition and the State convention
these were the principal issues on which
he differed from the Governor he said.
The Attorney-G General was cordially
received. Benjamin Hartstein. president
of the club. welcomed him as a Repub-
.lican and introduced him to an audience
which occupied all the seats and most
of the standing space. Not only did it
give the speaker an attentive hearing,
but II applauded at times. notably his
arguments In favor of submitting the
question of ratifying the Federal pro-
hibition amendment to the people.
As is quite proper now, there were
= number of women in the audience.
One who sat in front seat applied
herself industriously to her knitting,
not once raising her eyes from her task
to look at the speaker. But she seemed
to be getting all his arguments just
the same.
Mr.. Koen!g. who Is not only the leader
Of the Sixth Assembly district but also
leader of the county. sat beside the
rzkf
e. Schuster and Alexander Otis.
The Prohibition Amendment.
Il have no fault to find with any
one who opposes my nomination" said
the Attorney-General. But there are
some important questions that separate
me from some OF the members Of my
party. One Of these is the question of
handling the Federal amendment, which
10 before this State for ratification
Gov. Whitman at the last session of
the Legislature attempted. l believe
wrongfully. to coerce the Legislature
into ratification of this amendment /
have favored the submission OF the
question to the voters Of the State in
accordance with the theory of the con-
stitution of the State. applicable to the
adoption of amendments to such consti-
tuition. Gov. Whitman prefers to have
the amendment ratified without giving
the people a chance to vote upon the
question. or course those who favor
Gov. Whitman's plan in connection with
prohibition will vote for Gov. Whitman.
Those who want the opportunity of de-
termining this great question for them
selves will vote against him.
Keep this fact in mind-if Gov Whit
man shall be successful in the primaries
and be elected in November the Legis-
lature Of this State will be expected to
ratify. and will ratify. the prohibition
amendment during the first month Of its
session without giving you any oppor-
tunity to vote for or against the propo-
sition.'
When the Acknowledgement declared
that he had always stood on the ground
that the question Of ratification should
20 before the people and that he in
tended to submit himself to the voters on
that ground there was applause and
some stamping Of feet.
Opposes Monopoly in Omces.
Then the Attorney-General took up
the question Of return to the State
convention, declaring that the present
law. with the great expense 1t entailed
upon those who would oppose those in
Office. operated to perpetuate a syndicate
OF officeholders. It tended, he declared,
TO give monopoly Of Office to those in
power and to permit them to remain as
long as they cared to do SO.
81 contend that this is against the
spirit Of our institutions" declared the
speaker. Because / differ from my
opponent on these two questions and
because ! believed that IL did not be-
come a candidate he would be renomi-
mated for third term without opposi-
ton / entered the race.
III he wants third term why not
q fourth term? I do not assert that
there is an unwritten law in this State
against third term, but for eighty years
no man has aspired to more than two
terms. I am not going to criticise
Gov. Whitman's administration. there
are number Of worthy acts he has
tried to accomplish. but I am going to
ask the Republicans of the State what
there is In his record that exalts him
above all other Governors and entities
him to a third term"
Mr.. Lewis was followed by Deputy
Alfred l.. Becker, who
is the Lewis candidate for the nomina-