Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-04-19
CANNON PLAYS
WAITING GAME
Not Ready to Make Statement
Regarding Edwards Candi-
dacy for U. S. Senate
RECALL FORMER ATTACK
Nothing Tends to Show He
Has Changed His Opinion
of Governor

County Clerk Bernard NJ Cannon,
Democratic leader in Middlesex
county and a prominent party work.
er throughout the state, this morn
ing was approached in an effort to
secure from him a statement upon
| his stand with relation to Governor
Edward /. Edwards candidacy for
United States senator. Mr.. Cannon
refused to be quoted at this time,
declaring that it is too early to make
any statement.
The state Democratic political as
pect is changing daily. he said, and
it is not known as yet how many
intend to announce themselves as
candidates for the Offices of governor
and United States senator. Until
something definite is established to
work upon, Mr.. Cannon said. he will
| remain silent.
Mr.. Ganron's refusal to make any
statement today came as a surprise
| because Of the sensational attack he
made upon the governor in lengthy
article which he gave to the news
papers on February 21, of this year.
This article was prepared by Mr..
| Cannon following the action of the
local Second Ward Democratic Club
and the Woodbridge Democratic
Club in endorsing Governor Ed
wards for United States senator.
| In his statement at that time Mr..
Cannon said: IT think IL well for
the Democrats to be very careful as
| to whom they nominate for United
| States senator. My experience con-
| vinces me that Edwards does not
measure ',p to the job and am
very much under the impression that
that thought is shared by a great
| many. People know Mr.. Edwards
much better now than thew did when
| nominated for governor and as re-
suit he is much weaker than at that
| time.
'T- am opposed to the Volstead
act" Mr. Cannon said in his state
ment last February. land for that
reason / would like to see nominated
strong. reliable man who can make
good clean fight on the issue. II
| Edwards is nominated he will surely
be beaten and that will be accepted
| as another victory for the drys.
which will not be SO, as Edwards will
be beaten by those who have lost
| confidence in him.
| Owing to this strong attack against
| the governors ability and methods
| of conducting the duties of his Office.
Mr.. Cannon would naturally be ex-
pected to make a statement along
similar lines when questioned this
morning. The fact that he said he
! was awaiting Developments" before
saving anything might indicate that
Mr. Cannon Is giving this matter
serious thought as it is generally
known that he has a strong follow
other parts of the state and the
stand he might take on the matter
of Edwards candidacy may. play an
important part in the governors
election as United States senator.
Reports of the candidacy of Cir
cult Judge George S. Silzer, of Me-
tuchen, as a Democratic candidate
for governor have not been confirm
ed nor denied by Judge Silzer and
il is the belief of some Democratic
politicians that the judge is beins
entered in the race as means
of promoting harmony again in
Middlesex county and thus securing
support for Governor Edwards at
the same time.
Judge Silzer, according to reports
prevailing in this county, has been
approached by friends not only In
Middlesex county, but-in other parts
of the state including Hudson, Pas
sale, Somerset and Warren. and ask
ed to be their candidate for gover-
nor. In Union county the Demo-
Gratis are supporting State Banking
and Insurance Commissioner Will
liam Z. Tuttle. of Westfield.
1t is pointed out that no split in
the Democratic ranks exists in Union
county and therefore running Com
missioner Tuttle would have mo- ef-
feet on the unsettled condition of
Middlesex county Democratic poll
tics. If Judge Silzer is put in the
race, politicians claim, it will serve
to smoothe over this difference OF
feeling and a big move to restore
harmony in the party.