Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-11-07
ELECTION

to the polls and vote as his or her conscience dictates.
In spite of the fact that this is generally known as an
"off year" the election is an extremely important one. 1t
really affects the taxpayers pocketbOoks more than a Presi-
dental election. The Board of Freeholders and the Board of
Aldermen are the two bodies that handle most of the peo-
pies money as far as public affairs are concerned and it
largely depends on the kind of men placed on these boards
whether taxes are going to go up or down for the next year.
The Evening News believes that an active minority is
good for any board. We have a strong minority in the Board
of Aldermen that keeps the majority constantly ON the alert
and the people benefit thereby. There is every reason to
believe that the same thing would be true in regard to the
Board of Freeholders. All are willing to admit that county
affairs have not been handled to the liking of the great ma
iority of the people during the past year.
The Board of Freeholders, all Republicans, have had
everything their own way, like a big family party. Much of
the business has been transacted behind closed doors and
there being no minority representation at the secret confer
ences, there has been no way for any protest to be made as
to what was going on. With a few Democrats on the board
the doings in secret would be more apt to come out. The
party in control would be more particular what it did and
those in the conference would be more guarded in what they
said.
But the state legislature, this year, has more of a direct
bearing ON the taxpayers p~ocketbook than ever before.
State taxes are piling up more and more, which, together
with the bond issues that are now being put up to the people
for approval, help to increase the expenses of the govern
ment. Middlesex county is fortunate in having all the can
didates for the legislature, including the senate and assem-
bly,, favoring open specifications for road paving. This means
that whether Republicans or Democrats are elected from this
county, Middlesex will vote to end the grip that the patent
pavement interests now have on the state.
While the prohibition issue has not been prominent in
this county, in the counties where this has been the main
issue, such as in Essex, the Republican party has taken a
rdefipite stand for law enforcement and for the observance
cratic party has taken its stand with the liquor interests, the
booteggers, blind pigs, and law defiance in general. The
unspeakable Jim Nugent still has his hand on the state De-
mocracy and should the Democrats be given control of the
legislature he will no doubt dictate the legislation as he has
always done in recent years when the Democrats have con-
trolled. The only exception was during the administration
of Woodrow Wilson when the Nugent tribe was uncere-
moniously kicked out and some really worth while legisla-
ton put across. With a Democratic governor whose main
ambition seems to be to make New Jersey as wet as the At
lantic ocean in spite of the constitution of the United States
the b~ootleggers would have high carnival should the Demo-
Gratis be given control of the state at this time.
In the contest for senator the Democrats have resorted
TO methods that, although all too common in politics, were
hardly to be expected in this campaign. The water
board, when it had to build a reservoir to cost 81, 900, 900,
engaged Morgan F. Larson as the engineer to have charge
of the construction although he happened, at the same time,
to be city engineer. Mr.. Larson is being attacked for receiv-
ing an extra fee for the job. Those attacking Mr.. Larson on
this account know that such a job could not be undertaken as
one of the ordinary duties of a city engineer. Yet they are
willing to give such an impression and try TO make political
capital out of it.
The building of such a reservoir as Perth Amboy now has
was no small piece of engineering and any person familiar
with engineering work and the customary fees that engin-
GERS receive will agree that the amount Mr.. Larson received
wa not excessive. Mr.. Larson's opponents do not state that
out of the money he received he had to pay a corps of eight
or ten assistants for eight or ten months. Mr.. Larson's repu-
tation in this vicinity is such that we do not believe the at
lacks being made against him in this particular will carry
much weight.
AS far as the local issue is concerned, the various city
candidates are well known to the voters. 1t becomes mainly
a matter of personality. Little or nothing has been brought
against the present city government which, under the cir
cumstances, has done good work. The city is in excellent
shape financially and improvements have gone ahead steadi-
ly. This is not saying, however, that Others in the same
place would not do as well. We believe that every man who
is popular enough TO secure a nomination for city office has
the welfare of the city at heart and will do his best for the
advancement of the city.
portance to Perth Amboy. The elimination of the grade
crossings, the development of the water front and the con-
struction of the state highway bridge across the Raritan
river, which will necessitate adequate approaches, will re-
auire the best ability that Perth Amboy can put forth. 1t is
essential that the highest calibre of men be put in public
Office. 1t is for the voters to say tomorrow whether they will
continue those men who are now in office to see these mat
tiers through, or will replace them by others who they think
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