Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-06-01
SENATOR RUNYoN's STATEMENT

When Senator William n. Runyon, VINO IS te dNo"ec
candidate for the Republican nomination for governor thus
fall. makes a statement the people may rest assured that he
means exactly what he says. He has been in public life long
enough to establish this reputation. Senator Runyon REP
resents the type of man best fitted to run the government
no mistake is made in placing confidence in him.
Because so much dependence can be put In what Sena-
Tor Runyon says his statement published yesterday in which
= he formally announced his candidacy for the gubernatoriai
nomination, is of more than ordinary interest. There IS no
doubt that Senator Runyon means exactly what ne says. he
is a man Independent enough to carry out his own program
once he has made it known, and of his ability there is no
question.
Then senator fttingly placed the direct primary first in
his consideration of the issues. THE direct primary" he
says, "s the only agency through which party organizations
NAV be made responsive to the wishes OF the people Ihat
has been most clearly demonstrated this spring in two
leading states where the contest has created nationwide
interest. There are occasions, no doubt, when desirable
men decline to run for public office because OF the ordeal OF
going through two elections, but, after all, it is only through
The vote of the people or the members of a party that the
will of the majority can be ascertained. We have not reached
perfection, by any means, but it is apparent that the advan-
tages of the direct primary more than offset the dlsadvan-
tages. Senator Runyon is on solid ground when he makes
the retention and strengthening of the direct primary a first
principle.
Respect for law and the enforcement thereof is, as the
senator says, the keystone of all free government. This in"
cludes the impartial enforcement of the laws designed to
carry out the eighteenth amendment. There is no deny
.jng the difficulty of enforcing a law that is not popular with
Re people, but the people have it within their power to
1enAnge the law if they do not like it.
IL is very likely that the people OF new Jersey VIII nave
this issue Clearly drawn in the coming campaign. The Re-
publican party is responsible for such laws as we now have
and will doubtless stand back of them. On the other hand.
the Democratic party will do all it can to have the existing
laws changed. Any idea of repeating the eighteenth amend
ment, however, is ridiculous.
Again the senator is on solid ground in declaring for
sless legislation and more administration" Every year the
statute books are loaded down with acts that are antiquated
almost before they are published. When it is realized thai
the statutory law Of this state spreads out over some $4,000
pages and that these laws are intended to be obeyed we get
some idea of what we are up against. In many states the
legislature meets only once every two years. New Jersey
would lose nothing by adopting this practice.
In the matter of regulating the public utilities, night
work for women, workmen's compensation, reduction of
taxes, extension of the bureau of farm markets and the de-
yelopment of the state highway system through open compe-
tition and without favoritism, the senator takes such a stand
as would be expected from him. That he is for progress, but
along safe and sane lines there is no doubt. AS the people
see more of Senator Runyon, become better acquainted with
him and realize his sincerity of purpose the greater become
his chances of being elected. New Jersey could do nothing
that would be more to her credit or reflect greater honor on
her people than to have William N. Runyon in the governors
chair for the next three years.