The Penn's Grove record., 1919-05-23
RUNYON STILL
PUZZLES LEADERS
Jersey Republicans Would Like TO
Know if He Is a Guber-
material Candidate.
POLITICAL GOSSIP IS BUSY.
Utilities Pay State Upon Gross Re-
ceipts-Jersey Board Makes New
Assessment Under Act of
Last Legislature.

Trenton.-Inauguration of Senate
President William y. Runyon as acting
governor of New Jersey at noon today
was enlivened by revival among his
friends Of the persistent reports That
he is likely to become a candidate for
the Republican nomination for gov
ernor.
1t is known that Republican lead
ers, principally these who are sup
porting the candidacy Of State Comp
roller Bugbee, are eager to keep o
crnor Runyon out of the primary, and
L is understood that considerable poll
teal pressure has already been
brought to bear with the end in view
Of ~dissuading him from catering the
primary fight.
One of the chief concerns OF the
Bugbee wing of the Republican party
is that the Anti-Saloon League sup
| port, which Mr.. Bugbee now has to a
great extent. would be shifted from
him and given to Governor Runyon
if the latter should become a candi-
date, Such a contingency would un-
questionably, make a big hole in the
Busbee strength and at the same time
make Governor Runyen a most for
midable contender for the Republican
nomination aginst Bugbee and City
Commissioner Thomas L. Raymond or
Newark.
Fillmore Condit of Essex County,
has filed a petition nominating him.
self as the Anti-Saloon Leagues can-
didate for governor. Condit will run
as an Independent Republican, but
will not participate as a candidate In
the primary election.
1t is understood that Condit's NOM
ination was primarily made so that
the Anti-Saloon forces would be GER
tain to have a candidate of their W
in the general election in the event
of the nomination of Raymond as the
regular Republican candidate. Should
Governor Runyon become a candidate
in the primary and win the Republi-
can nomination there is reason To be-
lieve that Condit would retire in "a
vor of Runyen.
The Inauguration of Governor Run
yon took place in the reception room
of the Governors office at the state
house. The oath was administered by
Chancellor Walker. Following the in
duction of Governor Runyon there was
an informal reception by Mr.. Edge and
the new executive to state officials and
employees and friends of both men.
There was q rich floral display in
honor of Governor Runyon, many
beautiful bouquets having been sent
by his friends.
Mrs. Runyon witnessed the inaugu-
ration of her husband and with her
was speaker of the house and Mrs.
Arthur n. Pierson, assistant attorney
general and Mrs. William Newcorn.
Mr.. and Mrs. Vincent Nash, Jr., and
Miss Antoinette Carey Thomas, all of
P~lainfield.
Vincent w. Nash, Jr.. who was sec
retary to the new governor when he
was president of the senate. became
the governors secretary when Fran
els E. Croasdale, who was Governor
Edges secretary, was made state IL
brarian.
Two Precedents.
Precedent makes it possible for Gov
ernor Runyon to become a candidate
and TO win. That is precisely Via
happened in the case of Foster III.
Voorhees,, who as president of the e n
ate became acting governor when John
W. Griggs forsook the Office to become
attorney general Of the United States
In the second Mckinley cabinet. Mr..
Griggs was the FIRST Republican COVER
nor chosen in New Jersey In a genera
ton, his triumph following the great
upheaYaI Of the aat~i,racetrack gam
bling movement in 1895. Mr.. Voorhees,
resigned In time to beoome the party
candidate under the direction of tho
late General sewel,, then in almost
undisputed command Of the party in
the state, and he was elected.
The same situation appeared when
woodrow Wilson laid down the office
of GOVERNOR t6 take up his greater
work as leader Of the pation. The
Democrats were still in tho majority in
the senate and they had chosen Sena-
TOT JHH16S f. HtckuCAs dHOtACi w
pendent and fosceful character, as
president as a mark Of appreciation
of high-type service. He relinquished
the post Of acting governor to become
his party candidate and was elected
oyer such a strong man as former
Governor Edward C. Stokes.
There is not much superstition in the
makeup of the average political man,
ager. 1t is usually cold, hard facts and
direct application that count in his cali
cu~lations, but the rule of three" is un-
canny at timeS-nearly always.
In his contemplation of the possible
ties of the situation, o o after he was
chosen president of the senate, Mr..
Runyon declared to some intimate
friends that he could not consider the
possibilities Of seeking the nomination
for a full term, his principal reason be,
ing that he lacked the necessary inan,
cial facilities for making a campaign.
later it was suggested that such a
matter might be taken care" of. but