Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-03-28
PUBLIC OPINION
Mr.. Peterson Thanks Constituents
EDITOR EVENING NEWS:

Permit rle to take this oppor-
tunity to thank the press and my
many constituents throughout the
county, for the aid given to me in
the form of editorial comment and
suggestion, kilograms, telephone
messages, letters and personally de-
1ivered messages which l received
during the life OF the recent session
of the legislature and for the cour-
tesies extended to me by friends in
either party. / can appreciate the
difficulties l would have been COM
PEELED to overcome and the prob
lens L would have had to solve. n
aided, in passing judgment upon the
merits of 774 measures introduced,
mad l not been advised of the wish
es of the people.
Let me assure each constituent
that his OF her message was given
deep consideration and that every
act on my part represented the
wishes of the majority. In cases
where | may have acted contrary to
the expectation Of a constituent, it
must be remembered hat l too may
have been en- thu side of the minor
ity but morally bound to record
myself in a manner which i believed,
from information at hand, represent
ed the wishes OF the majority re-
Sardless of my personal opinion.
Owing to the many subjects com
ing before the legislature, and a
general lack of interest on the part
Of the people in regard to lawmak-
ing, there were many occasions when
L was compelled to use my best judg-
ment and even seek advicc. in order
that | might act in a n which
l felt represented the best interests
of the people back home. / feel.
however that in every such instance
l recorded myself in favor of that
which / believed to be Just and
clean. / entered office pledged to
no individual or 5roup of individuals
and bound by no promises other
than to practice economy and sup
port the objects and views of my
party; leaving me free to act in ac-
cordance with the wishes of the
majority.
/ feel satisfied that / have kept
the economy pialge; voting down
salary increases and other forms of
expenditures which believed
were unnecessary. Only in cases
where / felt that an expenditure not
covered by the annual appropriation
bill was really needed, did l support
it. In connection with personally
fathered legislation, in no case did
I refuse to handle a constituents
bill and every measure l introduced
was passed through both houses and
signed by the chief executive. Chief
among them is the bill providing for
clean school elections. This law
and the business names law are of
interest to the people of the entire
state: the latte being a revenue
raiser to the individual counties and
the state as well.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
Legislature has adjourned, feel that
my duties TO the voters are not yet
completed and 1 stand ready at all
times to give details or answer any
questions in connection with the
laws enacted during the recent ses-
sion and my services are at the dis
posal of my constituents at any
hour of the evening or night as long
as 1 am in office. A time saving
method; the use Of the telephone,
is suggested.
In closing, l have nothing to say
at this time as to whether l shall
seek reelection as a member of the
lower House of the legislature or
whether / shall seek election to an
other office at the next or any of the
following elections. While in office
I have done thai which / believed to
be right; kept the promises made
to the people and being satisfied
that I have completed the duties al
lotted to me with n clear conscience
and clean hands. 1 am satisfied to
leave my future in the hands of
those whom l tried hard to prop
erly represent. [ am willing, at all
times. to defend every act on my
part during the twc years have
been in office and l stand willing to
serve the public in the same con-
scientious manner whenever | may
be called upon to do so Permit
me. again to thank you.
Yours very truly.
EDWARD J. PETERSON.