Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-03-05
EDGE HURR|ES
To TRENTON To
AID HIS PARTY
Highway Middle So Serious
G. O. P. Looks for Leader
to Solve Problem
MAY ACT TONIGHT
Party Still Divided on What
Course to Follow as SiIzer
Remains Firm
MAY ACT TONIGHT

TRENTON, March 5-All eyes
turned toward United States Sen
atord Edge today in the battle over
the reorganization of the State
Highway Commission. The now SEN
ior senator from New Jersey at
Washington is scheduled to come
to the state capital sometime this
afternoon or evening and personally
take hand in guiding the course
of the Republicans in solving tie
road problem. Upon how Mr.. Edge
meets this situation today and to-
morrow may repend to a large ex-
tent his own political future in New
Jersey. Certainly the outcome Of
his visit here will have an effect
upon his leadership in the Repubn-
can ranks for what he advises the
Republican majority in the legisld-
ture to do and the results accom-
plished on that advice-if it is fol-
lowed-will determine the future
position of Mr.. Edge in the G. Q. T.
ranks in this state.
The Atlantic City man has been
for a long time ambitious to be the
absolute state leader of his party.
The State Highway Commission
controversy and the apparent ina
bility OF the Republican whips in
the legislature to meet the situation
successfully and promptly has offer
ed Mr.. Edge his opportunity. Far
away in Europe, when the embroglio
began he was free from its entan-
clements. Coming home from Eu
rope with the situation still badly
muddled. he doomed up as the posi-
BILE sevior of his party in its p resent
dilemma and his opinion as to what
ought to be done was eagerly await
ed, especially by those in the legis-
lature who are known as Edge
! men"
Although the senator has been
home about two weeks he has not
yet met the hopes of his admirers
who looked for him 10 rescue the
Republican party from its unpleas-
ant position in the present highway
fight with Governor Silzer. But Mr..
Edge needed time TO get the proper
perspective on the whole situation.
He has been wisely biding his time
in taking a final attitude, although
he has somewhat definitely commit
ted himself. in the opinion of ce-t-
tain observers TO the opposition TO
the present Republican appiptees of
Mr.. Silzer. In fact he has offered
several substitute names for those
of General Scott and Walter Kidde,
whom the executive nominated to
represent the Republican rarty.
First Mr.. Edge endorsed former
Prosecutor J. Henry Harrison, of
Essex, reputed to be his candidate
for governor in 1925, and former
Highway Commissioner Walter J.
! Buzby. Atlantic City, as fitting repre-
sentatives of the Republican party
on the new road board. It now
seems alternatives TO these have been
offered in the persons OF Daniel E.
Pomeroy, of Bergen, member of the
Republican State Committee, and
State Senator Collins B. Allen, Of
Salem, both Edge adherents.
This attitude indicates that the
senior senator takes the view of the
House of Assembly Republicans who
have been fighting for two "died-in-
the-weol' Republicans on the board
in place of men like Scott and kidde
about whose party regularity there
seems TO be a question. Mr.. Edge
has more influence in the House, be-
cause his lieutenants control it, than
he has in the senate. Speaker Evans,
of Passaic, and Leader Corio, of At
lantic, are both regarded as part of
the Edge group in the state organ
ization. And the House of Assembly
leaders are FOR the ripper" bill
which will include Messrs. Stewart
and Jelin, Democrats whom Mr.. Sill
zer named. and two real Republi-
cans, Pomeroy and Allen, or Harri-
son and Buzby. or another set of
men whose interest in the G. o. ?. is
regarded as sufficiently strong to
protect the party in the work of the
road department.
Although the senate Republican
majority is split between those who
favor the ripper" and those who
want to confirm the Silzer nomina-
tions, it is not believed that any seri-
Gus obstacle would be met in
smoothing out the difficulties there is
the assembly could be brought into
line for the confirmation of the
names sent in by Mr.. Silzer. Con-
trolling the House, as he does, there
fore, interest will center tonight and
tomorrow in how Senator Edge uses
his influence with the powers that
be in that body to get a result which
will reflect credit upon the Repubh-
can party.