The Penn's Grove record., 1921-11-25
EDWARDS TO SAVE
The PRIMARY
Governor Serves Notice He viii
Fight Any Plan to Repeal
State Law.
NEXT ELECTION THE TEST
Anti-Primary Move to Come From
Observation-Disclosures Moore Ad-
mits He Will Sponsor Repeal
of Progressive Law.

Trenton.-Any attempt that may be
made in the 1922 legislature to bring
about a repeal of the present direct
primary system and restore the old
convention plan for the nomination of
candidates viii meet with the vigorous
opposition of Governor Edwards. Per
sistent discussion among politicians of
the possibility that the progressive
election machinery adopted by the
state in the administration of Governor
Wilson would be thrown into the dis
card resulted in an announcement by
the executive department that legisla-
ton with this purpose in view will be
fought by the governor.
Plans for the abolition of the direct
\ primary system, which never has been
popular with old-line politicians, have
been secretly cherished by certin
members of the Legislature for the past
year or two. A haff-hearted attempt
to restore the old convention plan was
made at the 1920 session when Assem-
blyman David Young introduced a re-
peaIer, which however. was not ad-
vanced sufficiently to be put to a test.
Certain Republican county leaders
are credited with entertaining the plan
to restore the convention system as the
only means of defeating Senator Will
liam n. RunyOn of Union, for the
Republican nomination for governor.
Former Governor Stokes, chairman of
the Republican State Committee, esti
mates that the Republican plurality at
the last election will be at least $4,000.
In a statement issued, he said that the
Republicans are to be congratulated
on the success of a not altogether easy
campaign.
Anti-Runyon Plan
Assemblyman William a. Moore of
this city will introduce in the 1922
legislature a bill to repeal the direct
primary voting system as we'll as a
companion measure to restore the dis
carded plan Of nominating candidates
by the old convention method.
For some weeks there have been
persistent rumOrs that old machine
leaders were being encouraged by the
vets to jam through a bill restoring
the convention plan at once in order
to bring about the defeat of Senator
William n. Runyon for the Republican
nomination for governor. Governor
I Edwards has refused to join the vets
in the fight, however, and has declared
war against any attempt to wipe out
the primaries.
AJnora ;prrIrro1 tho pnpoCitiAp of thh
drys by voting with the Democrats in
the legislature for booze and ran more
than 1000 behind his party ticket in
the recent election.
Some local politicians are said to
believe that if the old convention sys-
TEN is restored, State Comptroller
Bugbee may again by the Republican
candidate.
Mr.. Moore prefaced his announce
ment with a declaration that he is not
a candidate for further political hon
Ors. His decision to introduce a re
pealer of the progressive election ma
chinery is based upon his conviction
that restoration of the old convention
nominating plan will result n a yearly
saving of at least %$1,500,00O to the
state and counties. He also said that
he would offer the bill to the legisla-
ture in the belief that a higher type
of candidate can be secured through
the convention system.
For the past three years the move
ment to restore the old convention sys-
TEN has been secretly encouraged by
political bosses of both major parties.
The Republicans, however, have been
more open in their advocacy of the
plan. Former Assemblyman David
Young of Morris introduced a repeater
of the direct primary law at the 1920
session. 1t never came to a vote.
Governor Edwards opposition to a
repeal of the direct primary system
practically forestalls favorable action
on the proposed Moore bills. 1t is
doubtful even in the minds of county
leaders %favoring the plan, whether a
!. Republican legic, lture would override
an executive veto on the issue.
Road Program Assured
The cooperation hich is being
offered the State Highway Commission
by the counties throughout the state in
its plan to continue building the state
sysem of roads almost positively as
sures the fulfllment of the entire 1922
program of construction, which will be
about equal to that of the present year.
Because the Commissions %appropria-
lions for next year had been pledged
to work already planned, consideration
Of new construction next year had
\ been abandoned until Governor Ed
,..xr tho ,,.N
ment for reimbursement by the state.
In accordance with the governors
suggestions, earrings and conferences
have been held with officials of a num-
Der of counties, with the direct result
that 10 counties have requested au-
thority to proceed with work under the
proposed arrangement. Essex, Passaia
Monmouth, Morris, Middlesex, Cumber-