Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-11-18
THE AMBITIOUS SENATOR EDGE

Senator Edge wants to be vice president of the United
States. OF course, he would not refuse the nomination for
president, but doubtless his modesty holds him down to sec
od place. He will be perfectly satisfied, we understand, to
take second place on the Republican ticket next year.
Now it is reported that certain of the Republican leaders
in this state are peeved. They blame Edge, it seems, for the
defeat of Bugbee in the recent gubernatorial campaign Nat
uraly, somebody has to be the goat so why not Edge?
IT. is figured out this way: The main issue in the campaign
was prohibition. The volstead enforcement act was put up to
President Wilson and he vetoed it. This gave the liquor inter
ests renewed hope. But the hope was dashed to earth when the
Republican congress passed the measure over the Presidents
veto thereby making the country dry
According to the opinion of New Jersey Republican lead
ers, Edge should have prevented congress from overriding the
Presidents veto, at least until after the election. Just how
Edge was to accomplish this great feat is not explained, but all
seem to be agreed that he should have done it. Being in the
senate for less than a year, this is %accrediting a wonderful in
Guence 10 the Junior senator from New Jersey. Ifhe is expect
ed to hold ND the whole congress and make it obey his will
after only six or eight months in Washington, what VIII be ex-
pected of him by the time his term expires?
But, anyhow, Edge is to be punished by the New Jersey
Republicans for not preventing the Volstead act gong INTO i
feet. He is to be punished by being refused his fondest ambi-
tion-that of having the New Jersey delegation to the RepuD-
ican national convention present his name Tor vice president
when the nominations for second place on the ticket are called
for.
OF course. if his own state is not for him he can hardly ex-
pect to have the backing Of any other state.
But the national conventions are several months off yet
A great many things can happen in that time, and Edge IS
known as an astute politician. Besides, the Republican lead
ers while they may be feeling pretty sore just at present, can be
depended upon to forget much before next spring.
All this, however, has to do with Edge and a few leaders
of the Republican party. It is as if the rank and file OF the
party had nothing to do with the matter. Perhaps they didn't
years ago when certain Republican leaders were in their prime
and used to run things as they pleased. That time has passed,
however, although some Of those still influential IN Republlcan
party circles do not seem TO know it.
Now, when Senator Edge comes to reckon with the people
he will have something besides being responsible for the defeat
Of Bugbee TO answer for. Caesar was ambitious and we all
know what bappened to him. The trouble with Edge is he has
let his ambition run away with him.
His ambition to go to the United States senate caused him
No dc things that he must have known were not in keeping with
his so-caIled business administration. He got away with it
nobly while governor, but now the people are beginning to
realize what he succeeded in putting over on them.
The senator is not nearly as popular among the rank and
file today as he was while governor. His works live after him.