Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-08-05
CANNON ISSUES
REPLY To H|LKER
Sees No Reason for County
Collectors Attacks---Vvouid
Let Matter Drop

b. M. Cannon, candidate on the
democratic primary ticket for re-
election as county clerk, issued the
Following statement today in answer
70 a statement appearing in the
EVENING NEWS by County Collec-
tor f. William Hilker, who is running
IN the Republican primaries for NOM
nation for the same office:
"Candidly L don't think that the
pubic at large are at all interested In
what either Mr.. Hilker or myself has
to say at this time? This is early
August; just now the fight is to see
who will be nominated at the prima-
ties in September-and the only part
Of the public who may be concerned
In who he next county clerk or any
other officer may be, are those who
are deeply interested in getting the
Jobs. My experience has taught me
that the public don't want to be
bothered by either Hilker or Cannon
or anyone else at this time of the
year; this is vacation time and they
want a rest.
Mr.. Hilker, and myself are not
opponents at this time, l am not yet
the Candidate of my party, and may
not be. However, if l am and Mr..
Hilker be nominated by his party then
will be time enough to fight our bat
tie n Mr.. Hilker will find that I
won't run away from it."
Mr.. Cannon has this to say on the
charge made by Mr.. Hilker in his in
terview, that the Democrats made a
slogan of the fact that Mr.. Conger was
In office too long.
The Democrat used no slogan, and
If Mr.. Hilker, can find n where in
print that l made any such charge
against Mr.. Conger, or used any such
slogan, L will divide 500 between
three children's homes in this city.
The fact is that after Mr.. Conger serv-
ed a third term and the late VIM.
Jackson, entered the fight, for the
nomination the republicans who sup
ported Mr.. jackson, at the primaries.
used that slogan, and used the argu-
ment that Mr.. Conger had been well
recognized by his party, and should
give some other republican a chance.
At the present time no such condi-
ton exists. Apparently the Demo-
Gratis are perfectly satisfied to make
me their Standard bearer for a third
term. The only person who seems to
be worrying about who the Democrats
put up is Mr.. Hilker.
"Of cours Mr.. Carson. is not a can
didate, but he is brought into this
controversy, from the fact that in his
speech at the Republican meeting last
week, he said hat none of my friends
VI myself Teplleu To MI. f1llkeF >
charge that 1t is un-American for me
to seek a third term. , Now let me
quote from Mr.. Hilker's latest state
ment.
NO matter what Mr.. Carson did in
years past has no bearing In this
case. Furthermore Mr.. Carson, was
not elected by the people but vas APP
pointed by the Republican party"
"Mr. Cannon has no right to ask
<hn naanIa far a Tfnayo &c Cot1n-
ty Clerk, which means a salary of
800, 900" After reading the above
quotations I could only reach one
conclusion, and that was that Mr..
Hilker, Mr.. Carson, and some few
others who think they constitute the
republican party, have a right to APP
point a man for as many terms as
they choose, but thai the people have
no right to elect any one a third
time, I wonder If Hilker, is just a
little afraid that the, people may give
me a third term. and the only way
that he and the few whom he thinks
constitute the Republican party. can
prevent 1t is for him to use the slogan
that he will get out If I do. Wei I
will stick, Hilker might as well give
up that slogan, he again says hat I
Rm un-American to look for a third
term. Well in that case I am in the
class of a great many who have and
are holding political JOBS, especially
republicans, but again I might say
hat it's all right for Republicans to
get as many terms as they want. but
1t is un-American for a Democrat to
have more than one term.
'tMr. Hilker, declared that 1t Is a
well known fact that the County
Clerks office is kept in q high state
of efficiency because of the specially
trained staff there, and that this effic-
lency is not due in any way to Mr..
Cannon. but is entirely free from
political influence" And again he says
that "Mr. Helm is the efficiency ex-
pert of the office" That being the
case should I be nominated at the
September primaries, I will go before
the public. asking them to. retain Mr..
Helm and that Especially trained
STAFF by re-electing me. And let me
thank Mr.. Hilker again for saying that
the office Is free from politics.
Now I will rest my case until after
the primaries.
~yS +-+ ->=~