Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-10-03
OLD D REPUD1ATED

the state convention held in Trenton yesterday. And jim
IQent. fresh from his victory in the Democratic primaries in Els
I had some of the wind taken out of his sails in the Democratic
ate convention, too. It was made apparent in both parties that
ire is to be a new order of things; new blood is coming to the
ront, and new leaders who are in closer touch with the people are
gaining control. The outlook is most encouraging; those people
who had become disguised with politics in general and had reached
Il point where they did not care whether they voted at all or not,
lave reason to take fresh courage; it is for them to get behind this
new and vigorous element and help clean up both parties.
The biggest sensation yesterday was sprung in the Republican
convention where former Governor Stokes, and the chairman of
4he state committee, met his Waterloo. His defeat for temporary
chairman of the convention was all the more significant from the
TACT that it was Stokes himself that was turned down; there might
Rave been some way of explaining the defeat of his personal candl-
ate, but there is no explanation for what happened yesterday
xcept that the Republican party in New Jersey will have no more
the Stokes leadership.
Senator William A. Stevens, of Monmouth, who was chosen
Temporary chairman, represents the best type of manhood that is
now so forcibly coming to the front in public life. Stevens was the
Republican leader in the senate last winter, and it was largely
through his influence during that memorable session that the repu-
y tation Of the Republican party was saved. He placed honesty In
svernment and the welfare of the people above party, standing
hind Governor Silzer in the oustng of the old State Highway
commission and the appointment of a new nonpartisan board to
indie the vast sums of money that the people had voted to be
9ent on a state highway system during the next few years. He
as big enough to defy Senator Edge and the rest of the partisans
yho sought to gain control of the state highway board for political
i purposes. He had a strenuous time of it during the session, but he
won, and today he becomes the most conspicuous figure in the Re
AL publican party in the state. He well deserves the honor, and he
81 enjoys the full confidence of the people.
# Perhaps the most puerile act of the convention was Senator
Emerson L. Richards's refusal to make the election of Senator
Stevens unanimous. The Atlantic senator left the convention in a
huff, shouting as he left the meeting: II for one won't vote to
make that election unanimous. l have been coming to state con-
Evcntions for ten years and this is the first time in my experience
: that the state chairman has not been made the temporary chair
] man. We might IS well turn it over to the people who want to
Is run it,
To be sure, why should not the convention be turned over to
III the delegates who want to run it, instead Of having it dominated
n BY Stokes and the rest of the odd guard" who have dominated the
II proceedings for SO many years. To men of the Richards type it is
HI u~nthinkable that the delegates themselves should run the conven-
tion; the only kind of a convention he knows is that which is run
H by a little cotere of men who, through the oldtme political
Ii methods, are able to force their will upon the delegates.
It was for the purpose of getting a wet plank in the platform
n that State Chairman Stokes called together a hand picked group
Of the chest minds of the Republican party a few weeks ago
Everything was all cut and dried to put the program then adopted
across. But the delegates when they assembled in convention yes
tcrday would have none of it. They adopted their own platform
disregarding Stokes and his crowd entirely. 1t certainly was a
day of humiliation for the old leaders.
On the Democratic side the outcome of the convention yester-
day was also impressive. While Jim Nugent may be firmly in
trenched once more in Eessex, he is by no means sure of his lead
ership in the state. The same new element that stood out so prom
inently in the Republican convention was noticeable also in the
Democratic convention under the guiding hand of Governor Silzer
For a party that is recognized as "wet'' the attitude of the Demo
Gratis yesterday is most significant. The ''wet'' plank adopted is
mot the radical plank that was to be expected. 1t is not likely to
lend encouragement to b%ootleggers and rum dealers. Jim Nugen
tried to put a wringing wet plank across, even carrying his fight
to the floor of the convention, but he was voted down.
Ik The outcome of both conventions is most encouraging fol
those who favor good government. With younger blood and
rev element coming from the rank and file of the people surgine
ito the front, it looks like a new deal in New Jersey politics hence
N forth. It is a good omen. Tt brings new hope to the discouraged
and heavlyburdened taxpayers.
49,