The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-11-04
RUNYON QUERIES
SILzER'S STAND IN
FITzHERbERT CASE
G. O. P. GubernatoriaI Candidate
Discusses Bribery Scandal
of a Decade Ago.
ASKS ATTITUDE ON
HIGHWAY COMMISSION
QUESTIONABLE Also Deals With
legalizing Beer and Wines
Manufacture.

|
William N. Runyon wants an an
swer to five questions intimately
connected with the Democratic cam
paign. Other queries are mistakenly
DINING themselves into the ears of the
Democratic candidates, too, besides
the five Mr.. Runyon charges Judge
Silzer with fearing to discuss In a
straightforward manner.
The Republican gubernatorial nomi-
nee sees in the record of Silzer's
vote saving Senator Fitzherbert. of
Morris County, from expulsion from
the 1912 Senate a warning to the peo-
pie against the standards that would
guide Sllzer in selecting men.
Silzer's attitude toward the Ed
wards highway commission; his re-
turn to political life upon Frank
Hague's invitation; the omission of
a plank in the Democratic platform
to place the Public Service Corpora
ton under the States jurisdiction,
and information as to how the Gov
ernor of New Jersey could restore
beer and wines lawfully, are other
Noohto IA thC lhulSiinGul StudlOI huu-
you brings against Silzer.
Senator Fitzherbert, who figures so
prominently in the attacks upon Sill
ger, was convicted by the 1912 Senate
of aiding and abetting in the attempt
ed extortion of $1,000 from the Com
mercial Acetylene Company for kill
ing two bills affecting its business.
Tho vnfQ Uoc o1nuan IN nina Cfl1n,
then a Middlesex Senator, being one
Of the nine. A few days afterward,
the Senate passed upon a resolution
expelllng Fitzherbert.
Sllzer voted against this resolution,
which was lost for lack of a two
thirds endorsement by the Senate.
Five days later, on March 10, 1912,
Silzer, with other Democratic sena-
tors, addressed a letter to Fitzherbert
advising him to resign and thus save
the Democratic party from embar-
rassment. The Dover man, wha
claimed to be a descendant of British
royalty, declined, and nothing further
ever was done.
The Republican gubernatorial noml-
nee has challenged Judge Silzer re-
peatedly to disclose how he would
~legalize beer and wines, in view of
the Eighteenth Amendments prohibit
tion of intoxicating beverages. Re-
newing his challenge a day or two
ago, Senator Runyon said: "What are
the lawful means the Governor Of
New Jersey could employ to permit
the manufacture and sale of beer and
wines? Judge Silzer talks of the
processes of education, whatever that
may mean, as an answer to this
question.
Il have asserted again and again
that Judge Silver was drawn from
comparative o%bscurity by the needs
of a situation that confronted Frank
Hague. Does the Democratic candl-
date venture to deny he Is a candi-
date only because Frank Hague, ambi-
tious to extend and perpetuate Hudson
County political methods, so ordained?
l am a candidate because for the last
three years I carried my claims TO
the rank and file of the electorate,
and there found a response resulting
in my nomination on the Republican
ticket.
II have not promised a single office
IN this State, either directly or by
implication, and l pledge myself that
If l am elected Governor l will make
my own appointments, not only In
the State Highway Commission, but
in every department of the State
government.
What has the Democratic canti-
date to say about the series of
charges against the State Highway
Commission? He has said he would
join In any criticism If the basis of
such criticism were made clear to
him. 1t has been pointed out that
100000 was paid for approaches to
the proposed Perth Amboy bridge,
that New Jersey is paying an average
Of $4,000 a mile more for patented
pavements than is Pennsylvania, and
that the general administration of
the highway board under Governor
Edwards commission Is faulty, cost
ly, and marked by extravaganza. Yet
Judge Sllzer has not made good on
his promise, OF the contrary, he has
come by implication to the defense
of the commission by a series of
statements tending to confuse the
issue"
The long silence Of the Democratic
candidate on the Issue of bringing the
Public Service Corporation under the
authority of the Public Utility Com
mission has surprised the Republi-
cans. 1.-THE Democrats have no
plank with reference to holding COM
panies," remarks Senator Runyon.
Mr.. Runyon continues to elaborate
upon the planks in the Republican
platform, In the writing Of which he
played such a dominant part. The
utilities plank, the definite way In
which open paving specifications are
promised, the pledge to encourage
associations of farmers and other
wise aid the agrlculturists, the note of
enthusiasm oyer the cause of the rural
schools, and an avoidance of all those
things the Republicans contend has
made the Edwards administration a
reproach TO New Jersey, are stressed
by Mr.. Runyon nightly.
sibility could / have been the candl-
date. | have gone up and down the
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