Palisadian., 1924-07-04
DUNCAN M'CLAVE HAS CONGRESS Bee
is HINTED BY HACKENSACK RECORD
IN QUIzzINC ON RANDOLPH PERKINS
Record Reporter Puts Up Some Sharp Questions to MIR.
McClave Who Returned Mr. Perkins Petition I'm
answered-Per<ins in Digni6ed Stand, McClave Nom
Commttal on Candidacy

Is Duncan B. McClave, chairman of
the Bergen County Republican Com
mittee, and residing in Cliffside Park,
to be an opponent of Congressman
Randolph Perkins, of Woodcliff Lake,
at the coming primary election in
September?
That's the only refreshing morsel
that has bobbed up for discussion
among Bergen County politicians in
several weeks, and from now on the
air will be full of rumors and more
rumors.
: Returned Without Comment
1t so happened that one of the Pc
titions of Congressman Perkins,
which sets forth his candidacy for re-
nomination, reached the Office of
Chairman McClave-a most natural
consequence. But McClave promptly
returned the petition to the sender
without comment.
Congressman Perkins or his secre-
tary, former Surrogate E. L. D. Hes
ter, may get this petition in the mail
today and then the Congressman may
be expected to say something real
pertinent on the seeming unusual ac-
tion on the part of the county chair
man in returning the petition, as he
says, without comment"
Are you candidate for Congress?"
Mr.. McClave was asked this morning
by an Evening Record representative.
Won't Commit Himself
81 am not in position to make
any statement at this time" replied
the chairman.
Don't you think that Congressman
Perkins will conclude that upon re-
ceipt of his petition sent you that
you are to be either a candidate for
that Office or that you are not in SYM
pathy with his candidacy"
Il don't know what he may con-
clude, but l will be interested to
know what he has to say on the mat
ter" offered McClave. "As matter
of fact he should have made a move
months ago."
What do you mean by making
move; do you mean he should have
announced his intention long before
this?" the chairman was asked.
"No, not that. The Congressman
will understand what l mean"
Have you conferred with any of
the county leaders yet?" asked the
writer.
mo, 1 haven't even mentioned the
matter, and my only action in the
premises was in returning Congress
man Perkins's petition
do you think as county chairman
that was the proper thing to do with
the petition of any candidate?"
May Explain Later
Il will have more to say on that
point later on" concluded Chairman
McClave, who it will be recalled was
delegate to the National Republi-
can Convention and served as secre-
tary to the New Jersey delegation.
When Congressman Perkins was
asked today in his law office at Jer-
sey City if he had received "a re-
turned petition without comment"
from County Chairman McClave, he
said:
mo. I have not yet received the
petition which Mr.. McClave an
nounces he has returned to me, and
until such time as l do receive it
must refrain from making comment.
Inasmuch that Mr.. McClaye has vol
unteered such a statement to the
press l might say that his conduct in
that particular was at least a bit un-
seeming"
II was in conference with Senator
w. B. Mackay on Monday but nothing
was said about the Congressional sit
uation and evidently the Senator was
unaware of McClave's attitude to-
ward me-"
News to Senator Mackay
Senator Mackay said to the writer
today nothing had even been limited
to him thus far as to the candidacy
of Chairman McClave for the Con-
gressional nomination.
1t is recalled that the late Major
S. Wood McClaye, who was the father
of County Chairman McClaye and
Ross P. McClave, the county engineer,
was a candidate for Congress on the
Republican ticket in this district on
several occasions. He was given the
nomination once and was beaten.
-Haekensack Record.