Perth Amboy evening news., 1924-10-30
Eyes OF State Now On
Ceran-AppIeby Fight
Congressman Geran Must
Win to Preserve His Unique
Office Seeking Record

TRENTON, Oct. 30.-One of the
congressional fights that is attract
ing the attention of the state politi-
clans is that in the third district,
embracing Monmouth, Middlesex
and Ocean, where Elmer E. Geran
Is a candidate for reelection on the
Democratic ticket and 7. Frank APP
pleby. former congressman Is his Re-
publican rival. Although Mr.. Apple
by is not so well known in state
political circles, Geran has been so
long in the public eye of New Jersey
that anything that affects his career
naturally evokes a large amount Of
state interest.
This congressman, like Walter E.
Edge and Mayor Frederick W. Dom
nelly, senatorial rivals, holds the
rather unique record of never hav-
ing met defeat in a political cam
paign where he has been a candi-
date. Because of his intimate rela-
ton to state politics for so many
years in the legislature. the third
district representative battle for re-
election is of particular interest to
the political observers at the state
capitol.
The congressman built up large
following of friends during his four
terms in the legislature. in two of
which he served as Minority Leader,
and number of them here are pull
ing strong for his reelection next
Tuesday. They are banking on
Monmouth county. where he has
never met defeat at the hands of the
voters and which he carried six times
in the past in his campaigns for the
assembly, for sheriff and for con-
gress to give him such a large en-
dorsement that 1t will offset any
margin his rival may get elsewhere
in the district.
Because of the fact that he has
been in demand as an orator for the
Democratic party In various parts of
New Jersey in past years, Geran's
fight this year has drawn more than
the ordinary attention to the third
district from all these sections of the
state where he has spoken In aid of
other candidates and made friend
ships. -szs-=
Geran has been mentioned prom
inently for both the gubernatorial
and United States senatorial nonin-
ations on the Democratic ticket in
recent years. These things. plus his
undefeated record. have served to
create an interest in the third dis
trict outcome not ordinarily focuss-
ed from here on a congressional
fight.
Among the other districts. the tilt
in this one. the fourth, made up of
Mercer, Somerset and Hunterdon. is
also an enlivening affair. Charles A.
Eaton. of Somerser, Republican. Is
endeavoring to take the crown from
Charles Browne. of Mercer, Demo-
cratic encumbent. The district is
normally Republican, but Browne
carried it two years ago in the DEM
ocratic slide. He has a large follow
Ing in Mercer. but Eaton Is expected
to Offset this with his vote in the
other two counties.
Trouble was caused when United
States Senator Reed. Republican of
pennsylvania. in speech at Prince
ton last week endorsed Browne for
reelection, claiming he had support
ed Coolidge policies. Browne was
one of the few Democratic congress
men to bolt his party caucus and
endorse the Mellon tax plan. He
also was against the soldier bonus.
For these things liberals in the
fourth district, including some men,
bers of his own party. are against
him. Browne and his supporters
are painting Eaton as a minister.
seeking to arouse the prejudices of
those who object to members of the
cloth engaging in politics. All in all
its pretty battle.