Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1924-10-11
MAY HAVE TWO
DRYS IN RACE
Despite Efforts of Republi-
cans to Keep Race Clear
for Senator Edge
DOUBT ABOUT SHIELDS
His Name and That of DR..
Day May Both Be
Written on Ballot

TRENTON, Oct. 11:-Two "dry"
candidates may be in the race for
United States senator despite the ef-
forts of Republican politicians 10
keen the field clear for United states
Senator Edge. Information at the
state House today was that the
twenty-one county clerks have the
final say as to whether or not the
name of Rev. James K. Shields, 1or-
mer superintendent of the Anti
Saloon League, shall appear on the
official ballots. DIR. Grafton Il. Day
Of Collingswood, nominated by the
National Prohibition party for
United States senator, cannot get on
the official ballots. But his frlends
and supporters, according 70 Dr'
Day. are planning "sticker" cam
paign, to give him their support. II
"stickers," with his name, cannon
be plentifully supplied, DIR. Day SAID
the members of the State ronlpl-
ton party would write his name on
the official ballots.
Secretary of State Martin is ex-
pected to return to New Jersey from
Providence, r. l., tonight. His office
on Monday last, under his official
signature, certified to the twenty
one county clerks that the Rev. DR.
Shields was an independent sena-
torial candidate. At 10 P. M. Mon
day night, twelve hours after tht
official certifcation had been made
DR.. Shields formally withdrew from
the senatorial race The election
law. however, specifies that certifica'
tion of senatorial and other state
wide candidates shall be made thirty
days before the primaries. Sunday
was the thirtieth day before the prl-
maries, but being a legal holiday II
the eyes of the law, official business
falling due on Sunday last went over
until Monday. Republicans insisi
DR.. Shields withdrawal was submit
ted on time. Democrats maintain
the withdrawal, coming after the
certification, was too late. The coun-
ty clerks will have to decide fol
themselves what to do with the
Shields withdrawal.
Because of the apparent confu-
sion, due to the lateness of the
Shields withdrawal, the secretary Of
states department today sent a GER
titled copy of the Shields declinatior
to the twenty-one county clerks. The
secretary of states office did not ac-
company the explanation with any
memorandum. 1t was simply a copy
of the declination. The county clerk:
have discretion to take the law into
their own hands, putting Shields
name on the ballots or accepting the
declination as a mandate, as each
clerk interprets his duty.
The nomination of DR.. Day as the
national prohibition candidate by
the party's convention here Wednes-
day fell by the wayside, insofar as
having the secretary of state accept
the conventions nomination. The
election law only recognizes the
Democratic and Republican parties
nominees for United States senator
and candidates who file petitions in
dependently, with 500 signers. The
state election law does not include
the National Prohibition party, be-
cause 1t did not poll five per CEN
of the total vote of 1928. The move
to substitute DIR. Day for the Rev
DIR. Shields was abandoned by the
former when 1t became known thai
at least five OF the signers to DR.
Shields petition would have to cir.
culate a new petition, securing SOC
names, with the five former Shield:
supporters taking an oath they per
sonally witnessed every one of the
S00'new signatures attach his name
VIII D. Martin of Hasbroucb
Heights, chairman of the convention
which nominated DIR. Day, yesterday
notified the secretary of states Office
that no move would be made to sub
stitute DIR. Day for the former super
intendent of the Anti-Saloon League
of New Jersey. State Chairman
Martin said the plan would be to
have DR.. Days supporters write his
name on the ballot. The "sticker'
campaign is the idea of DIR. Day.