Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-09-12
Hugh Reilly, Not a Primary Can
didate, Wanted TO Speak
DID NOT PUT IT ACROSS
Hints at Being Gagged, But
Ruse Falls; Other candi-
dates Speak

split in the Democratic party as
far as the freeholder race is concern
ed is now apparent as the result of
action taken by Hugh Reilly in run
ming as an Independent Democrat"
at the general election, thus making
three Democratic candidates for the
office for which but two men are to
be elected.
A short, but heated clash came at
the Democratic Club, meeting last
night when, after the county primary
candidates had each said a few
meeting. He had just started to talk
when Bernard M. Cannon, head of the
Democratic county organization,
tried to stop him. Reilly claimed 1t
was an open meeting and that he had
the right to be heard and charged
Cannon with trying to gag him.
Mayor Frank Dorsey, who was pre-
siding, intervened and informed the
Independent candidate that candi-
dates at the primaries only were be-
ing heard and as Reilly is not run
ming at the primaries. but only at the
general election, he again took his
seat without finishing what he started
to say.
The result of the action taken by
Reilly has been like dropping bomb
into the Democratic ranks. After
trying to get together the strongest
men possible to represent that party
at the primaries when two men will
be nominated, the leaders are now
faced with q third candidate who will
appear on the ticket when the gen.
eral election comes around, running
as an Independent Democrat" Reil-
ly, who is referred to by.many DEM
ocratic organization members as ..the
rebel Democrat" and '.insurgent.'
claims to have the support of many
regular" Democrats and his popu-
larity with some at least was proven
last night when applause followed
his rising to make speech.
If the Republicans have but two
candidates at the general election
two offices to be filled. 1t can be seen
that the Democratic votes will be so
split that all three will suffer cut.
George g. Walker, one of the three
candidates from this city for the
nomination to the office of freeholder
at the primaries, made a proposition
in which he said he was willing to
resentatives Of the candidates decide
Z on one man who should represent this
city In the fight. His suggestion was
well received by the club members,
many of whom declared that 1t
proved the typical "gameness" of
walker IN 8acrlncfn6 ms own eHu6 II
necessary to see one Of his organiza-
tfon men nominated.
Coroner James J. Flynn, another
local candidate for this position said
he was willing to follow out the sug-
gestion made by Walker.
John Bird, the other local candi-
date for freeholder, however. would
not entertain the suggestion made by
Walker He declared that his friends
had asked him to enter the race and
that he would be no quitter. It's
up to the people to decide whether
they want me or not" he said. Il
will not go back on those who signed
my petition and asked me to rum"
Bernard M. Cannon, Democratic
candidate for reelection as county
clerk, in statement this morning
regarding the Reilly ''squabble" last
night pointed out the fact that the
campaign Is wide open with eight
candidates in the race for freeholder
but that Reilly's ''insurgent" methods
could not be tolerated by the party
organization. The stand which Reil-
ly has taken, Mr.. Cannon said. will
spell defeat of the Democratic forces,
as far as the freeholder race Is con-
cerned, at this years general elec-
ton. He pointed out the harm which
will be done by having three candi-
dates running against two Republi-
cans