Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1919-08-28
COUNTY REPUBLICANS MEET
! At PICNIC AND HEAR MANY
CANDIDATES DISCUSS ISSUE
Besides County and City Candidates the -Four Candidates for the
Nomination for Governor Were on Hand and Addressed
the Gathering --Hke Gets Further Assurances Of Sup
poTt-Bugbee Seemed to Be FaVorite in GubernatoTla
[ Rdce---Big Crowd.

Middlesex Republicans turned out
In a body yesterday at the annual
clambake at Aurora Grove to hear
the four gubernatorial candidates
discuss the years campaign issues.
There were seventy-five representa-
tives from Perth Amboy alone. The
standard bearers also turned out
southern section having q good repre-
sentation.
Little that was new was disclosed
In the county contests, the meeting
apparently strengthening the candi-
dacy OF F. William Hilker for. the
county clerkship. Mr.. Hilker was
chairman of the committee on ar
rangements for the outing and was
everywhere the recipient of the or
ganization members good wishes.
There were numerous petitions
lions and for the city office seekers.
IN the clerkship race petitions went
around for Hilker, Gebhardt and
Sosin without materially affecting
the relative strength OF the candi-
dates. Haight, Belloff and Hannah
were present in the freeholder con-
tests and Appleby, Tindell and Lyons
petitions were out for the assembly
candidates. M
derman-at-large of this city was also
circulated as well as several ward
candidates petitions.
The name of Timothy J. Neville, of
Roosevelt, was mentioned frequently
as likely candidate for assembly
from this section Of the county.
Ali of the candidates for the gov
ernorship were given a warm recep-
ton and all took advantage of the
4. 4, l<,<.A
ers throughout the county, There
was no indication that the county or
ganization would alter its stand taken
at the July meeting when 1t was
Suggested that support be given to
Newton A. K. Bugbee for governor
and Haight and Belloff for freeholder.
Indications were that the assembly
fight would be left open to the best
three men, whoever they might prove
to be at the primaries.
Perhaps the first noticeable swing
to Bugbee was when the state attor-
ney general, Thomas N. McCran, said
that he was far the comptroller. His
statement was greeted warmly, Mr..
Bugbee taking the platform az the
next speaker.
The former chairman of the state
committee, an office which he said
that he had held for six years, OPEN
ed his talk by saying that he would
define his position on three questions
his rivals had charged him with
dodging, prohibition, woman suffrage
and the public utilities board.
Saying that the majority Of the
states of the union had passed favor
ably on prohibition Mr.. Bugbee de-
clared, ut makes no difference what
Jim Nugent or you or 1 or any ons
else think about this matter, we can
not change 1t now. / can't promise
to make New Jersey wet because
can't do 1t. Until we have radically
changed the form of our constitution
we will be bound by the act as II
now stands. But IL the amendment
should be declared unconstitutional
by the supreme court then I would
favor a state referendum. The eter-
nal harping on prohibition at this
time Is pure political eamoufage, ne
concluded.
The comptroller came out as
against any other method OF ADOPT
ing woman suffrage than through
referendum. He said that he believed
that it was because Of the failure to
pass upon the prohibition question
by referendum that the country was
having so much to do over 1t at this
time. Mr.. Bugbee said that he fav-
ored a stronger attitude on the part
of the public utilities board In oeai-
ing with the Public Service Corpora
ton in order to afford better protec-
ton to passengers and gas and elec-
tricity consumers.
Governor RunyOn Speaks.
Governor Runyon emphasized his
party loyalty and raped the political
bosses who, he said, were his main
opponents.
II have always been Republican,
and when have found things not TO
my liking in the party have not de-
serted the ranks 1t has been my aim
to try to bring about reforms within
the party, and I shall continue to hight
to make the Republican party one
which is truly representative of the
wishes of the great mass of the peo,
pie, and not of a group of political
bosses such as are opposing my can
didacy for the nomination" he said.
Some people say should throw
the public utilities commission out OF
Office. Before taking such drastic ac-
ton the whole subject should be con-
sidered from every angle. l am not a
a