The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-14
SEVEN HUNT'YOTES
IN JERSEY CONTEST
Four Republicans and Three
Democrats in Race for
Nomination.
BIG REGISTRATION SEEN
Candidates for Governorship
Raise Many Issues-Soldier
Ballot a Problem.
Special pespateA 20 rnn sux.

Special DcSp0tCH 30 IHE GUN.
TRENTON, Sept 1s.--New Jersey VIII
ma oombed for votes by seven candidates
,o- Governor and their political friends
during the ten days intervening before
the primaries of September %. The cam
ralrn has reached a point of feverish
intensity on the part of four Republi-
cans and three Democrats seeking nomi-
nation at the hands Of their parties
and any previous idea that the voters
,hsmselves were apathetic has been dis
n.iIsd by the unusually heavy registra-
,,on throughout the entire State.
Except in the case OF soldiers. con-
earning whose status there is some
doubt, the only citizens eligible to par
tcipate in the primaries are those who
voted last year or who registered last
Tuesday. The unusually heavy registra-
ton of the present week is attributable
10 the fact that many voters did not
go to the polls last year and did not wish
to be precluded from participating in
this years primaries.
An amendment to the soldiers voting
act of last year provides that honorably
discharged soldiers and sailors precluded
from voting last year because OF alb
sence and who would be prevented
through absence from voting at the COM
ing primaries may vote In either party
hoy. irrespective of past party affailia-
lions. Attorney-General McCran has
given an opinion to the Secretary of
state holding that in this respect the
status of former soldier Is identical
with that OF first voter.
Registration Is Problem.
The opinion of the Attorney-General
fafs however, to clear up one element
Of doubt in the law, namely, whether
a soldier discharged and returned &c
his home prior to the last registration
day may vote regardless of his failure
to register. In some counties. notably
Essex. It has been held that the act
comforting power for soldiers to vote
irrespective of non-registration Is ap'
phcable only to those who had moi
reached their homes prior to the last
registration day. In other sections 4
has been held that all DISCHARGED sol
diers may participate In the primaries
whether registered or not.
AS the soldier vote promises to play
an important part in the issues OF the
present campaign these contrary de
cisions are to some Consequence and II
is probable that the Attorney-Genera
again will be appealed to for supple
mental ruling respecting the rather am
bguops language of the statute.
Mingled feelings of hope and anxiet!
are entertained by the various candi
dates as to ho..' the public generally
will accept the coming system, which
becomes effective on all lines Of the
Public Service Railway Company to-
morrow. The zone system of fare reg
ulation affects all the larger munich
palities of the state and scores OF smaller
ones in which the Public Service Rail
way operates. Municipalities and citi-
Gems have protested against tn zonint
system in vain. and the action of the
Public Utility Commission in adopting
the new plan has become a politica
issue which threatens to overshadow
many Of the earlier issues Of the cam
paigp. -