Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-06-02
Stokes MAKES
DENIAL TODAY
Answers Query of Newark Man
on Action of Republican
State Committee

By Special Correspondent
TRENTON, June 2:-Answering
the query of william II. Seely, of the
Osborn Company. of Newark, asking
whether the pre-primary activities
and convention of the Republican
State Committee, proposed by former
Governor K. C.. Stokes, as state chair
man, are in the interest OF a candi-
date for governor the committee is
alleged to have, Mr.. Stokes in a state
ment today denied that n such In
depreciation could be put upon his
proposition. Recently the former
governor Is understood to have de-
clared that a pre-primary convention
of the party ought to be held to
frame a policy which the Republic
cans of the country would be attract
cd to, and he wrote letters to promi-
nent party men throughout the state
proposing this plan, asking for ap-
provaI for it and also asking Tor
contributions to further the move
ment. Seely's answer, asking Tor
more Information as to the motives
behind the proposition, prompted the
statement of h chairman today.
The former governors statement
follows: -
IA recent communication received
from a good citizen of our State, part
Of which he saw At to give out to the
Press before II came to my hands, al
fords the opportunity and, perhaps,
the justification Of a statement as to
the object of the work now being at
tempted by the Republican State
Committee.
'The Republican State Committee Is
the official State organization OF the
party under the law. 1t Is the organi-
cation of the whole party and not OF
any individual. It doe not and can
~ nIuorafn mr. Gunnnrf the candidacy
OF anyone. 1 have always personally
been opposed to that policy of any Or
ganization participating In the prtm-
ary fight for the selection of candi-
dates and so declared nearly ten years
ago. I am still opposed TO 1t. SO long
as I am chairman of the State Com
mittee IL will be the policy of that or
ganization to refrain from advocating
directly or Indirectly, the ambitions OF
any candidate, both Is a matter OF
policy and in conformity with the law
Of our State upon that subject.
A Republican form of government.
where the people rule, cannot be
successful unless the people are IN
formed as to the issues and problems
of the day. Otherwise they cannot
act intelligently thereon. h war
has brought to the front new ques-
lions and new proposals and new
panaceas. Some of them may be
good. Many of them are dangerous
and threaten the permancy of our
stJverrrm emit md our institutions. An
Of them must be met in a courageous
spirit and settled right. This cannot
be done without discussion open and
public. The Republican State Com
mittee is ~endeavoring to arrange con-
ventions and gatherings where these
questions can be presented by speak
ers of note. Circulation of newspa-
-- o,n1r 4ba pnnfthliCan VOTERS ia
also one of the functions of this
work.
The Republican party needs a pro-
gram. To the credit of the party
during the war, p~artisanship was laid
aside and unquestioned loyalty was
given TO the government and the ad-
mfnistration, in order to win the VIC
tory for civilization. The war is over,
its problems and other problems are
uuon us and the Republican Dairy
wduId be cowardlyfs4 II did not have
TBrogram-e5f the consideration OF
the voters. -
ssAny program, perhaps Is better
than no program at all, but 1t Is the
aim of the Republicans to have the
RIGHT program so far as that can be
determined by the best and unbiased
judgement of the party. This pro-
gram. too, SHOULD be the program not
of individuals who~are seeking once
but of the masses who want things
done. Government by the people
means that the people have a right to
have a voice in the framing of a par
ty program and that voice can be best
a~sce-fained by popular gatherings and
declaration thereat of the views OF
those assembled. Out of the counsel
of the many comes wisdom.
Under the work as contemplated
by the Republican State Committee,
the people are to be consulted and
their views obtained so far as pos
sible.
.There are a number of complica-
lions. local and otherwise, to be ad-
justed and n vast deal of work TO be
done before the nomination of can
didates. This is very properly the
work of the State Committee. 1t Is
legitimate work and il requires legiti-
mate expenditures and legitimate ex-
pcrditure only.
This work Is not In the inter-
ests of any candidate and will not be
so perverted. IT Is in the interests or
the party as q whole, in order to er-
fectively do what is right and whatl
Is hest for the State n Nation.
1.-THE mass meeting or State con-
vention to be held here on June 21st
under the auspices of the State League
Of Republicans. an organization en-
tirely apart from the official party
machinery, Is a Republican gathering,
nothing more. nothing less, in order
to arouse party spirit-a sort of Re
publican revival as il were. 1t will be
addressed, If possible. by national 4,
speakers, with no interest in State am
billions. 1t will not be addressed by 1
any candidate for Office and II will en-
dorse no candidates for any State or
local office. 1t viii be a convention to 4
which all citizens who believe in prin-
ciples of the party will be welcome,
whether they are delegates or not. 1t
will be kept free from personal rival
ries or propaganda and will be simply
a good old-fashioned party gathering, !
where the people get together to con-
suit for the common good.
&c. C. stokes"