Palisadian., 1925-08-07

Recently Senator William B. Mac
kay sent out a note of warning to
Bergen county newspapers, saying
that Bergen county people should
steer clear of the Hudson News, a
weekly paper published in Union City,
formerly at West Hoboken, which is
featuring special Hudson River Bridge
editions, and seeking patronage to
further it's interests. This publication
sets itself up as the sponsor of all
ment sent out by the editor, it has
within the past four years published
a regular weekly bridge edition in
which it runs series of free writeups
of people all over New Jersey, and
some in New York, who get small
one-inch advertising card, the charge
to each being from $40 up Some have
paid as high as $40, and much higher
sums have been asked from some, it
is said for publicity in these issues.
Senator Mackays warning has
aroused the ire of the Hudson News
editor and he has sent to the Pali-
sadian a statement in which he round
ly criticises Senator Mackay. He says
he has "specialized' on the Linden
thai bridge, and calls the Mackay
bridge light structure" to be quick
ly built, and letting that gentleman
know that if he is not guarded and
lets up ON his warning about the
Hudson News, the Mackay bridge may
be stopped altogether, as the Linden
thai powers are in position to do this.
Senator Mackay, according to the ed
itor of the Hudson News, Dixie Amer,
has been a liberal patron of his spe-
cial editions, and is the last man who
should warn the public. But Senator
Mackay, in an interview, tells just
why he "fell' for the editions like so
many hundreds of other New Jersey
people.
The Amer letter follows:
Appeals to the Palisadian
Editor the Palisadian,
Palisade, N. j.
AS you have printed letter OF
State Senator William B. Mackay, of
Bergen county, in which he criticised
the Hudson News, of Union City, in
it's campaign for North Jersey bridges,
we believe your spirit of fair play will
grant us space to reply.
The Hudson News has been advo-
eating bridges for North Jersey for a
score Of years and during the past
four years has given page, and fire.
quently the entire issue, each week
to the bridge.
When we sought aid outside of Hud-
son county to continue the propa-
ganda we solicited, among others,
Senator Mackay, and we are glad to
say that he contributed not once, but
several times.
We have been under the impression
for years that when we explained our
project to Mackay we first awoke in
him the possibility to Bridge the
Hudson"
We may be wrong in this pardon
able pride, but we know he gladly
contributed each time he was asked.
And we do know that when he so ably
sponsored the bridge bill in the state
legislature he had in back of him the
public sentiment, which the Hudson
News helped to secure-at least we
spent thousands of dollars in tele-
phone tolls and sent out tons of lit
erature for bridge propaganda before
Mackay had openly announced himself
in favor of bridges.
Considering these circumstances, it
is difficult for us to understand why
Mackay should now warn his friends
against us.
Later, he may want to censor ALL
North Jersey papers desiring to pub
lish bridge editions.
Our plan is nothing more than to
KEEP ALIVE the bridge movement.
We did not originate it. We simply
REVIVED it. We are not "the father
of the project" Mackay gives him
self that distinction.
Our main objective has always been
the mammoth span to Fifty-seventh
street, Manhattan, from West New
York, but we fell in line for the up
town structure and the spans to
Staten Island.
We learn from our canvass that
practically nine out of ten persons
want this span-often called the Lin
denthal Bridge to Columbus Circle.
To each we try to make plain that
we want bridges for North Jersey
there cannot be too many-that the
light structure in Bergen county can
be speedily erected and will not delay
the more heavy Lindenthal span.
The project of North Jersey bridges
is too great to enter into any contro-
versy with Mackay, whom we like ex-
ceedingly.
The danger is this-if the nine out
of ten persons who want the Linden
\ thai span, get the least suspicious that
Nort;ouod On napp