Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-10-07
WOMEN PLAY
MINOR PARTS
Neither Republicans or DEM
oCratS Listen to Them to
Any Extent at Conventions

TRENTON, Oct. THE meeting
of the convention of the two leading
political parties of the state here
this week from the basis for some
observations on the trend of leader
ship in both organizations together
lights in both Republican and DEM
ocratic gatherings. For the former
gathering it may be said that the
best minds platform which was
whipped into shape ahead of the
convention was swallowed by the
delegates, officially entitled to rep
their counties, without a
murmer.
Over in the Democratic gathering
James r. Nugent, of Essex, used the
occasion to again vent his spleen on
Prohibition. With a splendid issue
for the campaign which the party's
legislative candidates may wage on
the drastic Van Ness act. the Essex
leader insisted in completing the sit
uation by a announcement of the
Volstead act. passed by congress.
which in no sense of the word can
be affected by any result of the cleo
ton in New Jersey. this fall. With
every delegate but two from Hunter
don agreed on the plank for the re-
peal of the Van Ness act. as shown
by the practically unanimous roll
call. the Newark man dragged in
the Unnecessary plank on the Vol
stead act and Democratic candidates
in some of the counties who have
had a chance of winning will now
likely find themselves embarrassed
by this declaration and their pros
poets of victory ieopardized accord
ingly.
Position of Women
The position of the women in the
two conventions was quite marked.
In the Democratic gathering they
played a very inconspicuous part, ex-
cept on the roll calls. In the Re-
publican councils. particularly in the
meeting of the 'best minds" they
insisted upon having so much to
say that several well known men
leaders became disguised and one
left the platform meeting the eve
ming before the convention declaring
he was 'about through" with poll
tics If that was what it had come to.
Whereas the intention of the franz
ers of the Geran election law of
1911 contemplated thai the official
delegates. mainly the candidates for
the legislature, should write the
party platforms. Republicans call
ed In a number of persons who had
no voice or vote on the floor of the
convention to draft the platform for
those who had this authority under
the Geran act.
Contrary to the usual custom of
other years the Democrats, instead
of naming a delegate from each of
the twenty-one counties or the plat
form committee. confined its men,
bership this year to a half a dozen
people. In years past, or rather
since the Geran law was passed, the
press representatives have always
been admitted to the meeting of this
committee. This year they were in
vited to leave, Mr.. Nugent, who was
chairman, and Senator Simpson. of
Hudson, a member of the commit
tee. taking the initiative in this re-
spect. When the act under which
the present convention system is
operated was first administered the
idea was that everything connected
with a Democratic convention should
be free and Open" and anyone
might appear before the platform
committee in its sessions and offer
suggestions. Closed doors were the
rule this year.
Comment is Heard
Comment at the Democratic con-
vention was also heard on the very
ordinary calibre of the assembly
states picked from Hudson and Es-
sex, with one or two exceptions. The
explanation of political observers as
heard at the press table was that
such delegates are more amenable TO
manipulation and can be handled"
easier by their political mentors
than can men of more independent
frame of mind. And there two dele
cations, if elected, will represent IN
the next House of Assembly a total
of 1,2S1,243 out of the states entire
population of 3.155,900, according Il
the 1920 census figures.
Both sides made a play for the
"wets." The Republicans, in order
to a W their assembly candidates in
debatable counties. dared not en-
dorse the work of their last legisla-
ture as expressed in the Van Ness
act, although Mrs. Van Ness, the
sponsor for that bill, declared when
it came to a final vote in the House:
This is a party measure" The
Democrats went the limit in an en-
deavor to grab the same class of
voters in November. The Anti
Saloon Leagues friends were cold
shouldered in both conventions for
once.