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New Jersey's 1927 biannual elections proposal

February 21, 2023

An unsuccessful attempt was made to pass an amendment to the Constitution of New Jersey in 1926 and 1927. The intent of the amendment was to have members of the New Jersey General Assembly serve two-year terms instead of one and also lengthen the terms of state senators and the governor from three years to four. The proposed amendment was passed twice by the legislature, and the text was approved by the Attorney General. Before the proposal could be put before the voters for final approval, it was noticed that although the legislature had intended that Assembly members be elected biennially (once in two years), the proposed amendment provided that they were to be chosen "biannually", meaning they were to be elected twice a year. After this discovery, the legislature passed a resolution defining biannually to mean biennially and proceeded with the referendum. On September 20, 1927, the people of New Jersey voted down the proposal, and Assembly members were elected annually until New Jersey instituted a new constitution in 1947.

Proposed amendment #4, special constitutional amendment election, September 20, 1927
Amends Constitution: General Assembly to consist of members elected biannually [sic]. Increases terms of members of the General Assembly to two years, and of the Senate and governor from three to four years, with election for the governor to take place in a presidential election year. Legislature to meet every two years, with special sessions to be called by legislative leaders.
OutcomeDefeated
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 153,960 41.20%
No 219,749 58.80%
Valid votes 373,709 98.65%
Invalid or blank votes 5,107 1.35%
Total votes 378,816 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 1,220,485 31.04%
Results by county
Source: Published results by the State of New Jersey. For full statistical information, see cited source.[1]

New Jersey was governed at the time under a constitution adopted in 1844, and votes to amend it were allowed only once in five years. Among the amendments proposed initially by the 1926 legislature, and passed again in 1927, was one known as the "term extender", which would lengthen the terms of legislators and the governor. It would also require the gubernatorial election to be in the same year as the presidential election. New Jersey, despite being strongly Republican, had elected several Democratic governors recently, and Democrats believed such a change would give the Republicans an advantage. However, the fact that Republicans had a majority in the legislature meant Democrats could not block passage there. The original version, passed by the Assembly in 1926, did not mention "biannually", but the version passed by the Senate and then accepted by the Assembly did use the word. After it passed the 1927 legislature, a vote was set for September 27, 1927.

When Jewish organizations protested that September 27 was Rosh Hashanah that year, Governor A. Harry Moore convened the legislature into special session to set a new date. A Democratic clerk then pointed out the meaning of biannually, and others of that party urged that the amendment be scuttled. Instead, the Republican majority, relying on authorities who stated that biannually and biennially meant the same thing, chose to pass a resolution stating that the intent was to have elections every other year and set the referendum date for September 20, 1927. There was considerable amusement at the situation, both in New Jersey and nationwide. Frank Hague, the Jersey City Mayor and Democratic political boss of Hudson County, campaigned against the provision moving the election for governor to the presidential year, alleging it was political manipulation and the mixture of state and federal politics. Republicans stated that having the larger number of voters who cast ballots for president also help choose the governor was a good thing. The Democrats were so against the proposal that they successfully opposed three of the other four amendments that were on the ballot at the same time, lest the term extender amendment pass through confusion. The term extender failed with just over 41 percent in favor, defeated by a huge turnout in Hague's Hudson County bailiwick, overwhelmingly against the proposal, contrasted with light turnout and lukewarm support through the rest of the state.

Background

Further information: History of the New Jersey State Constitution

New Jersey's 1776 constitution was rewritten in 1844. That document, which remained in force until 1947, provided for annual elections for the New Jersey General Assembly, the lower house of the legislature, and for three-year terms for members of the state Senate. The governor of New Jersey was also to serve a three-year term.[2]

To amend the constitution, each house of the legislature would have to pass a proposed amendment in successive years, which would put the proposed amendment on the ballot to be approved or rejected by the people.[3] There could be votes on amendments to the constitution only once in five years.[4] Before 1927, the voters of New Jersey had six times been called upon to decide whether to amend the 1844 constitution, most recently in 1915, but they had done so only in 1875 and 1897.[5] In 1915, amendments to guarantee women the vote, permit excess condemnation (the power to acquire by eminent domain more land than actually needed for a public purpose) by cities and counties, and remove the prohibition on amending the constitution more often than once in five years had each been voted down by a comfortable margin. An amendment to increase the terms of the legislature and governor had been voted down in 1909.[6] In the first quarter of the 20th century, three governors of New Jersey, including Woodrow Wilson, advocated a constitutional convention to thoroughly revise the state constitution, but legislative commissions that considered the question in the early 1920s did not agree, and the constitution continued in force.[7]

1926 passage

Beginning in February 1926, the legislature's joint Republican conference committee, which steered policy for that majority party in the legislature, began to consider a constitutional amendment to increase the terms of Assembly members to two years, and of senators to four years; the legislature would meet every two years instead of annually. The term of the governor would also be increased to four years, and election to that office scheduled to be at the same time as the election for U.S. president. This was seen as political to benefit the state's Republicans, who generally had greater strength in presidential election years, whereas the Democrats did better in off-year elections.[3] Democrats had won the three most recent gubernatorial elections,[8] with the Republicans last winning in 1916, a presidential election year.[9] No Democratic presidential candidate had won the state with a majority of the vote since Grover Cleveland in 1892, though Wilson had won the state in his 1912 presidential run with fewer votes than William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt combined. Calvin Coolidge had won New Jersey by a margin of 378,000 votes in 1924, but the following year, Democrat A. Harry Moore had been elected governor by 39,000 votes.[10]

The passage by the legislature in March 1926 of a proposed constitutional amendment allowing it to enact laws permitting municipalities to pass zoning regulations caused Republican leaders to again consider what other amendments should be proposed to the voters. These included the various term-extending provisions.[11] The efforts to pass a zoning amendment followed the New Jersey Supreme Court striking down a zoning ordinance as violative of the right of landowners to use their property.[12] The 1925 legislature had passed amendments concerning zoning, and to have the legislature meet every two years instead of one, but these were not passed again by the 1926 legislature, as was necessary for them to be submitted to the voters.[13] Republicans had, in their 1925 state platform, called for amendments regarding zoning and the extension of the terms of legislators and the governor.[14]

Several amendments, sponsored by Assemblyman Clifford R. Powell of Burlington County, a Republican,[8] were passed by the General Assembly on March 24, 1926.[15] First, the provision for biennial sessions of the legislature passed by a vote of 54–0, and one requiring legislative elections to take place every other year, with the legislature to convene the following January, passed by 44–7.[16] Then, an amendment that required, among other things, "The General Assembly shall be composed of members elected by the legal voters of the counties", passed the Assembly by 43–11.[17] The provisions altering the terms of the senators passed by 44–11, as did the provision extending the governor's term.[18] These amendments were subsequently considered by the Senate as a single package for fear some would pass and some would not, resulting in "a jumble".[19]

The term-extending provisions were scheduled in the Senate for the portion of the session intended for bills vetoed by the governor, to begin March 31, 1926.[20] Debate on another proposed constitutional change, to allow amendments to be voted on at a general election rather than at a special election, took place on April 2, but some senators wanted more time to consider the various amendments, and all were postponed until June 22.[21] Distracted by a dispute over who should be the state treasurer, on June 29, the Senate adjourned until July 7, having not acted on the proposed constitutional amendments.[22]

Late on the evening of July 19, just prior to adjourning until November, the Senate passed the term-extending provisions.[23] The amendment that passed had been sponsored by Senator Henry A. Williams of Passaic County[24] and was a substitute for a version prepared by a Senate committee. It provided that "the General Assembly shall be composed of members biannually elected by the legal voters of the counties".[a][25] The text had been approved by the Attorney General of New Jersey, Edward L. Katzenbach.[26] The proposal also would allow the Speaker of the Assembly and President of the Senate, acting together, to call a special session of the Legislature, which would allow Republican legislators to bypass a Democratic governor.[10] It passed the Senate by a vote of 16–2.[27]

Since the Senate had amended the proposals, they returned to the Assembly, where, also on July 19, the majority leader, Anthony J. Siracusa Jr. (R-Atlantic County) moved to suspend the rules in order to consider them. This being allowed, the package passed by a vote of 34–0.[28][29] A total of eight proposals (counting the term extenders as a single amendment) passed the legislature for the first time in 1926, including two proposals dealing with zoning. The second proposal was necessary because although the first zoning proposal had passed both houses of the legislature, the General Assembly had neglected to print it verbatim in its legislative journal, as required by the constitution.[19]

1927 passage

 
Governor A. Harry Moore of New Jersey

In his annual message on January 11, 1927, Governor Moore stated his support for a constitutional convention to revise New Jersey's governing document. He opposed, though, the lengthening of the gubernatorial term and having the governor elected at the same time as the president, describing the effort to confuse state with national politics as vicious.[30] Senate President Francis B. Davis (R-Gloucester County), in a speech after his election as presiding officer, pledged that the proposed constitutional amendments "must have our best thought and be thoroughly considered before submission to the people".[31]

Powell introduced the term-extender amendment in the Assembly on January 24, 1927,[32] and it was reported from committee and given a second reading in the General Assembly in early February.[33] It passed the Assembly on February 7 on a vote of 47–12,[34] along party lines. Morris E. Barison of Hudson County, the minority leader, stated to the Republican majority, "you cannot elect a governor in the off years and so you have adopted this means. But let me say the battle is only beginning. Get ready for a real fight."[35]

The amendment was reported from committee in the Senate on February 15, 1927.[36] It passed 13–2 on February 22,[37] with two of the Senate's four Democrats opposing (the other two were absent),[38] On March 25, both houses of the legislature passed legislation to set a special election for September 27, 1927, to consider the proposed constitutional amendments,[39] and this was enacted into law on March 31.[40] There were continued reports of Democratic opposition to the amendment, spearheaded by the powerful Hudson County political boss, Mayor Frank Hague of Jersey City.[41][42]

Discovery and reaction

Considering the words biannual and biennial solely from the linguistic point of view, it would seem somebody has been trying to make a mountain out of a very small mole-hill, for both biannual and biennial mean "occurring or appearing every two years". The words have been used also to signify what is correctly expressed by semiannual, that is, "occurring twice a year". Biannual plants which we speak of more commonly today as biennials were spoken of as bisannual plants two hundred years ago. Then, in course of time, the genius of language brought about the suppression of the s, but the term was formed from the Latin bis, "twice", and annalis, "lasting for one year", ultimately from the Latin annus , "year" ... In the sense of half yearly, biannual has been in use in the language for more than fifty years ... but, the word has been used as the equivalent of biennial for as long.

—Dr. Frank A. Vizetelly[43]

On April 5, 1927, it was reported in The Morning Call of Paterson that Jewish organizations were protesting against the election date, as September 27 was Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year and one of the High Holidays) in 1927. This would prevent many Jews from voting.[44] The same day, Governor Moore announced he would meet with legislative leaders and fix a date for a special session of the legislature to change the law setting September 27 as the date the people would vote on the five constitutional amendment proposals.[45] On April 11, Moore called the legislature into special session on April 14, to consider such a change, and to pass on the addition of two judgeships.[46] This was the first time the full legislature had been called into special session since 1915; as in 1927, an extra session was needed to remedy defects in a law setting proposed amendments for a popular vote, and this had happened also in 1897.[41] The legislature was not limited to the subjects mentioned by Moore and could consider in special session any legislation it wanted.[47]

When the legislature convened on April 14, bills were introduced to change the date of the election, and to authorize two more judges and make provision for their salaries. As the Republicans maneuvered to secure enough votes on the judicial bills, the legislature was told that biannually meant twice yearly, as opposed to biennially, once in two years,[48] and by providing for biannual elections for the Assembly, it was calling for them to occur twice a year.[26] Former assemblyman Alexander Crawford of Hudson County,[49] Barison's clerk,[50][51] who was described by The Daily Record of Long Branch as the "mouthpiece of Mayor Frank Hague", pointed out the issue and stated his belief that the amendment was defective.[9][52] There was speculation that Mayor Hague, through his legal advisors, might be behind the insertion of the word "biannually", but there was no evidence.[9][26] A six-member committee, with three members from each house, was appointed to find a path forward.[52]

A number of newspapers, both within New Jersey and nationwide, commented on the situation. The Newark Call suggested the best thing to do was for the legislature to take the amendment up again "and drop it in the wastebasket".[53] Brooklyn Life and Activities of Long Island Society deemed the situation "laughable in the extreme",[54] and The Salt Lake Tribune deemed what had occurred as good for a laugh.[55] The Tennessean commented that New Jersey legislators had gotten into trouble because "they were careless about, or ignorant of, their Latin derivatives".[56] The St. Louis Post-Dispatch suggested that lawmakers might want to consult the dictionary "biennially, or better still biannually; and they might find it illuminating for them to peruse it bimonthly, or biweekly".[57] The Los Angeles Times similarly suggested, "Evidently, Mr. Webster's illuminating book is not especially popular in New Jersey".[58]

Legislators could have repassed the amendment at a special session in 1927, passed it again in 1928, and placed it before the voters later that year, in time to be implemented at the November election. This solution, though, would have left those running in the primary election in June not knowing the length of their terms, and it was discarded.[48][59] Instead, the legislature relied on two experts: Dr. Frank A. Vizetelly of New York – editor of the Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary – and Professor Robert K. Root, head of the English department at Princeton University,[60] who stated that in its root and structure, "biannually" meant biennially, and, in addition to passing the law changing the election date to September 20, passed a resolution stating that in using the word "biannually", it meant every two years.[61] The resolution stated that in using the word "biannually", the legislature "has used and does use the said word as a synonym for the word 'biennially', meaning every second year".[62]

The Democrats, including Minority Leader Alexander Simpson of Hudson County, urged that the amendment be abandoned.[61][63] Republican Clarence E. Case of Somerset County, who had served on the six-member committee, stated that Simpson should have pointed out the word "biannually" the previous year. Simpson stated that he was not recorded as voting on the amendment,[b] but "I would be a 99-carat fool to call the attention of the Republican conference to a blunder of this sort".[61] Simpson also pointed out another problem with the amendment, that the existing constitution required county officials to be elected at the same time as the Assembly, but for three- or five-year terms, which would clash with the Assembly only being elected every two years. He deemed the definition resolution an "inglorious attempt to cover up a retreat" and predicted that Hague would cause the public to vote down the term extender by 120,000 votes.[61] Nevertheless, the resolution stating that "biannually" and "biennially" were synonyms passed the Senate on April 21, 15–3,[64] and that body then passed the bill altering the election date, 19–0.[65] Also on April 21, the Assembly passed the bill changing the election date, 42–0,[66] and then passed the resolution regarding the meaning of "biannually", 35–7.[67] Both houses had the statements by Vizetelly and Root printed in their journals.[68][69]

Campaign

Following the special session, state politicians began to endorse or oppose the proposed amendments. On May 14, 1927, former U.S. senator Joseph S. Frelinghuysen, a Republican, endorsed them, saying that the electorate should not base their votes on whether certain politicians supported them or not, but on whether they were good for the state.[70] Republican U.S. Senator Walter E. Edge also endorsed the amendments in a speech to party leaders in Asbury Park, stating that the less frequent elections would lead to monetary savings.[71] Mayor Hague went to Bergen County to give a speech at the court house in Hackensack on May 17. He called the term extender amendment "a dastardly piece of politics" and stated that, "the Republicans want to change for no reason other than to regain control of the governor's office. They think that in the presidential year, the national issues will overshadow state issues and their gubernatorial candidate will be pulled through during this confusion."[72]

I want to say that any of those drawing pay from the city or county who are derelict in their duty in this campaign will find themselves off the payroll. There are a number of these employees who are fakers and cheats, and there is no better time than now to knock the conceit out of them. I want to thank the many here who are not on the payroll, but have shown enough interest to attend this meeting. They should have the jobs of the shirkers and fakers and they will get them if disloyalty is shown by any employee. It hurts me to talk like this but the life of the Democratic Party is at stake and I am going to call a spade a spade.

—Bert Daly, Hague disciple and mayor of Bayonne, Hudson County, opposing the term extender amendment.[73]

Hague refused to regard 1927 as an off-year election, fearing passage of the amendment would cut into his power as boss of the party.[10] Democratic State Chair Harry Heher called a meeting of the state party committee at the request of Hague, to meet in Trenton, Mercer County, on June 24.[74] The state committee issued a resolution supporting the zoning amendment but opposing the term extender.[75] At the same time, New Jersey Republicans appointed a fundraising committee led by Morris County Clerk E. Bertram Mott.[75]

In early July, the Democratic state convention passed a platform supporting the zoning amendment on the September ballot and opposing the term extender.[76] U.S. Senator Edward I. Edwards, a Democrat, was by mid-July leading the rhetorical battle for his party, while Senator Edge and former governor Edward C. Stokes led for the Republicans.[77] On July 22, the Republican state committee issued a pamphlet which among other matters discussed the proposed amendments. Regarding the term extender, the pamphlet noted that the greatest number of votes were cast in presidential years, and there should be no objection to having the governor elected by the most voters.[78] Democrats argued that voting the party ticket had become routine in presidential years and that national issues would dominate the debate.[10]

 
Former governor Edward C. Stokes spoke in the campaign.

On August 1, Secretary of State Joseph Fitzpatrick, a Democrat, addressed Passaic County Democrats. He urged the defeat of all of the proposed amendments except the zoning one.[79] U.S. Representative Mary T. Norton of New Jersey, the Democratic Party's only female member of the federal House of Representatives, spoke in Hackensack on August 9, and suggested that the zoning measure had been put on the ballot to increase support for the term extender. She stated that the Republican Party's policies were increasing Democratic support.[80] On August 31, Senator Edge called the Democratic opposition to the term extender, "the most brazen partisan appeal in the history of the state", stating that the Democrats' only argument was that "more citizens will vote, which will make more difficult the future election of Democratic governors".[81]

Hague spoke in Camden on September 1, supporting the zoning amendment (listed as first on the ballot) but he opposed the other four, especially the term extender, the fourth on the ballot. He stated that defeat of the term extender was so vital to the Democratic Party that the final four amendments were all being opposed lest the term extender pass through confusion. He indicated that the party was not opposed to a four-year term for the governor, only to coupling the election with that of the president. Mayor Hague predicted, "Hudson County will come through with one of the greatest majorities against the last four amendments it ever rolled up".[82] Edge responded in Atlantic City two days later, asking for Republicans to turn out in their usual two-to-one majority, "When Mayor Hague goes out of his own county to tour the state as he is now doing, he knows that the passage of these amendments will end the succession of Democratic governors."[83]

The New York Times reported on September 10 that Republicans feared defections by woman voters persuaded by the Democratic arguments.[10] On September 13, the Democrats held a dinner meeting at the Sea Girt Inn in Sea Girt, Monmouth County, featuring Governor Moore, Senator Edwards and former assemblyman John Matthews of Essex County. There were 1,428 present who had dinner, not counting late arrivals who stood in the room. Matthews stated that passing the amendments would give the party of Teapot Dome more power in the state.[84] The same night, Hague spoke in Cliffside Park, Bergen County, to a crowd of about 1,300 which included many Republicans. He accused Edge and Stokes of trying to fool the people, and that they were trying to prevent the election of Democratic governors, whom the people had placed as watch dogs to guard against Republican excesses; he deemed the term extender "purely partisan".[85] Republicans held a meeting in Trenton that day, and Edge predicted a victory if Republicans turned out; he stated that if the amendments were defeated, it would be because Republicans who had for years criticized Hague's power failed to act to break it. Mott predicted that the amendments would be passed by about 50,000 votes.[86]

Moore had stated that having the gubernatorial election in an election year when national issues would be paramount would be "unjust and unfair"; on September 14, state Senator William B. Mackay of Bergen County responded in an address to his county's Republican committee. He said that Moore and the two other Democratic governors elected since 1916 had each used the national question of Prohibition to gain election, an issue not used by Edge when he was elected governor in 1916.[87] The next night, thousands of Democrats crowded the Newark Armory for a rally against the amendments, with speeches by Moore, Edwards, Norton, Hague and Heher. The governor spoke against Republican arguments that the term extender would increase the number of voters in the gubernatorial election, noting that turnout for the election for governor had nearly equaled that for president in recent years.[88] Camden County Republicans scheduled several meetings for September 19, with the main rally to feature Congressman Charles A. Wolverton, and with other meetings focused on Italian-American, African-American, Jewish and rural voters.[89]

Election and aftermath

Five proposed amendments were on the ballot on September 20, 1927. The first permitted the legislature to pass legislation allowing municipalities to enact zoning ordinances, the second allowed for the establishment of water supply and sewerage districts, while the third provided that future constitutional amendment proposals would be on the ballot at general, rather than special elections. The fourth was the term extender, and the fifth was to repeal an obsolete provision regarding the selection of judges and prosecutors.[90] Polls were open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., except in rural districts that did not observe Daylight Savings Time, where votes could be cast from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.[91]

 
Mayor Frank Hague of Jersey City

The term extender amendment was defeated, 219,749 against to 153,960 for (41.2 percent), a margin of 65,789. Of the five amendments, only the zoning amendment passed; the term extender lost by the largest margin of the defeated amendments. Hudson County voted against it by 98,492 against to 28,338 for (22.3 percent), a margin of 70,152. Hudson County provided the margin of defeat on the four beaten amendments and voted for zoning by over 90,000 votes, providing nearly half of the margin of victory there. Turnout was 31.0 percent statewide, but 72.2 percent in Hudson County, which was the county with the greatest number of registered voters,[1] though it was second in population to Essex County per the 1920 census.[92] One in every three votes was cast in Hudson County.[1] The light turnout outside of Hudson County, together with the fact that counties normally Republican by large margins voted against the proposed amendment or supported it only narrowly, meant that the Hudson County vote could not be overcome, and defeated the proposal.[93]

Mayor Hague stated that he was "highly pleased" by the result.[94] He called it "a bad thing to use the state constitution for political purposes".[90] Stokes stated that the result was unsurprising, as "it is a difficult thing to educate the people to an interest in abstract organic law".[90] Senator Edge regretted that the state "for at least five more years will remain in a class by itself, with expensive and wholly unnecessary annual legislative sessions and hybrid terms for state officials".[90] Governor Moore said that the vote "shows that the people of New Jersey hold the constitution too sacred to permit political manipulation".[93]

The Bergen Evening Record editorialized that the term extender amendment had been "more or less an insult to the high-minded people of New Jersey ... it was so bunglingly framed that it might well have been the handiwork of the pages in the Senate instead of the members. If it had been adopted it would have plunged us into endless confusion."[95] That newspaper also pointed out that though Stokes had long lived in and represented Cumberland County, and that county had returned a Republican to the Assembly the year before with almost 80 percent of the vote, it had voted down the amendment.[96] The Morning Post of Camden ascribed the Republican defeat to conservatism among New Jersey's voters when it came to changing the constitution, a feeling among them that state and national politics should be separated and that the term extender was unfair, as well as Hague's power and ability.[97] The New York Times opined that the result showed that Hague was more powerful than ever.[98] The Passaic Daily News argued that "the pity of the situation is that the Democrats, in their zeal to beat the 'Extender', also defeated three other amendments, which should have been carried".[99] The Newark Daily Call stated, "outside the ranks of intense partisans there were many who would have supported the term extender amendment had it not been so crudely drawn. As a piece of botch-work it was unique and deserved its fate. It was impossible to defend it with the same enthusiasm displayed by its enemies".[100]

After 1938, when New York rewrote its constitution, New Jersey was the only state electing members of its legislature's lower house for a one-year term.[101] In 1939, New Jersey voters passed an amendment to allow parimutuel betting at horse races. Over the next several years, repeated attempts were made to pass a new constitution, but they failed in part because of the opposition of Hague, who considered them partisan (Edge, who had been elected governor again in 1943, supported them). In 1947, a convention that even Hague supported assembled to consider a new draft.[102][103] The new constitution increased terms of members of the General Assembly to two years and of the Senate to four years, to allow legislators to give more time to state affairs and less to campaigning.[104] According to John E. Bebout and Joseph Harrison in their study of the 1947 New Jersey Constitution, "The old system of annual selection exacted a high price in time, money, wasted experience, and diversion from the main business of the legislature."[105] The term of the governor was increased to four years. Elections for governor and for the legislature were placed in odd-numbered years, allowing for a separation between state and federal affairs.[104] It was passed by the voters overwhelmingly on November 4, 1947[106] and provided that the General Assembly shall consist of members "elected biennially".[c][108]

Notes

  1. ^ The 1844 constitution stated that "the General Assembly shall be composed of members annually elected by the legal voters of the counties". See Boyd, p. 170.
  2. ^ Simpson had cast one of the two votes against the amendment in 1926, with Senator David H. Agans of Hunterdon County. See Senate 1926, p. 1101. He did not vote on the 1927 passage of the election. See Senate 1927, p. 605.
  3. ^ Pursuant to an amendment passed in 1966, the relevant provision now reads, "two members of the General Assembly shall be elected by the legally qualified voters of each Assembly district for terms beginning at noon of the second Tuesday in January next following their election and ending at noon of the second Tuesday in January two years thereafter."[107]

References

  1. ^ a b c State of New Jersey (October 10, 1927). Results of the Special Constitutional Amendment Election Held September 20, 1927 (PDF).
  2. ^ "Historical information". New Jersey Legislature. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Ambitions of Kean, Edge, Frelinghuysen and Stokes clash on Stevens' primary". Camden Courier. February 15, 1926. p. 2. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "May alter status of jail keeper". Asbury Park Press. January 19, 1926. p. 17. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Black, Charles F. (August 16, 1927). "How to change constitution". The Ridgewood Herald. p. 14. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Voters of this state reject term-extender". Keyport Weekly. September 23, 1927. pp. 1, 5. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Page 5 here
  7. ^ Boyd, p. 39.
  8. ^ a b "Senators Edge and Edwards commended by Assembly for fight on dry bill". Plainfield Courier-News. March 24, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b c "Probably fatal error stumbled upon in resolution". The Daily Record. Long Branch, New Jersey. April 15, 1927. pp. 1, 12. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Page 12 here
  10. ^ a b c d e "Jersey's special election" (PDF). The New York Times. September 10, 1927. p. 16.
  11. ^ "Constitutional amendments may pass legislature this year". Asbury Park Press. March 24, 1926. p. 15. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Bebout, pp. xlviii–xlix.
  13. ^ Manual 1927, p. 75.
  14. ^ Manual 1926, p. 138.
  15. ^ "Lawmakers propose biennial sessions". The Bergen Evening Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. March 25, 1926. p. 3. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Assembly 1926, pp. 857–861.
  17. ^ Assembly 1926, pp. 861–862.
  18. ^ Assembly 1926, pp. 862–866.
  19. ^ a b "Those eight amendments". Passaic Daily News. August 3, 1926. p. 8. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Drunken driver bills signed by governor". The Central New Jersey Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. March 27, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Longer terms to get action later". Asbury Park Press. April 2, 1926. p. 6. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Some leaders are angry". The Bergen Evening Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. June 29, 1926. p. 2. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Recess until fall taken by solons early this morning". The Bergen Evening Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. July 20, 1926. p. 3. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "State lawmakers adjourn". The Montclair Times. July 24, 1926. p. 9. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Senate 1926, pp. 1099–1101.
  26. ^ a b c "Biannually and biennially" (PDF). The New York Times. April 18, 1927. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  27. ^ Senate 1926, p. 1101.
  28. ^ Assembly 1926, pp. 1065–1068.
  29. ^ "Assembly bills". Legislative Index. New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce: 359. July 24, 1926.
  30. ^ "Governor asks referendum on Volstead Act". Evening Courier. Camden, New Jersey. January 11, 1927. p. 8. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Senate and Assembly chiefs pledge their best efforts". Asbury Park Press. January 11, 1927. p. 6. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Bills before legislature". Plainfield Courier-News. January 25, 1927. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Page 4 here
  33. ^ "Harmony bill planned to replace convention doomed to defeat". The Daily Record. Long Branch, New Jersey. February 7, 1927. pp. 1, 12. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Page 12 here
  34. ^ Assembly 1927, p. 168.
  35. ^ "Compromise primary bill introduced by Assemblyman Giuliano". The Daily Record. Long Branch, New Jersey. February 8, 1927. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Page 2 here
  36. ^ "Constitutional amendment moves slowly in Senate". Plainfield Courier-News. p. 4. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ Senate 1927, p. 605.
  38. ^ "Four year plan for governor voted by Senate". Asbury Park Press. February 23, 1927. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Page 2 here
  39. ^ "Lawmakers provide state's share for the Mackay Bridge". The Bergen Evening Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. March 25, 1927. p. 5. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ Acts 1927, p. 764.
  41. ^ a b "Third time in history N.J. legislature re-called to make corrections". Asbury Park Press. April 13, 1927. p. 4. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ "Mrs. Summers backs changes Hague opposes". The News. Paterson, New Jersey. April 6, 1927. p. 2. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ Senate 1927, pp. 1033–1034.
  44. ^ "Want election date changed". The Morning Call. Paterson, New Jersey. April 5, 1927. p. 2. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ "Special session order now likely". The Bergen Evening Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. April 6, 1927. p. 1. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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  47. ^ "Will beat tri-state water treaty". The Millville Daily. April 11, 1927. p. 2. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ a b "Wrong word stirs Jersey lawmakers" (PDF). The New York Times. April 15, 1927. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  49. ^ Assembly 1923, p. iii.
  50. ^ Assembly 1927, p. 871.
  51. ^ Manual 1927, p. 624.
  52. ^ a b "More blunders drive lawmakers session over next week". The Bergen Evening Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Page 2 here
  53. ^ "'Biannual' or 'biennial'". The Newark Call. April 23, 1927. p. 6. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com and The Daily Record.
  54. ^ "Slip shod legislation". Brooklyn Life and Activities of Long Island Society. p. 8. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  55. ^ "Caught napping". The Salt Lake Tribune. April 24, 1927. p. 28. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  56. ^ "Mixed on derivatives". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. April 24, 1927. p. 4. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  57. ^ "Biannual or biennial". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. April 23, 1927. p. 18. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  58. ^ "In darkest America". Los Angeles Times. May 22, 1927. p. 4. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  59. ^ "Constitutional amendments". The Millville Daily. April 18, 1927. p. 2. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  60. ^ ""Biannual" it is, says New Jersey". Ledger-Enquirer. Columbus, Georgia. April 26, 1927. p. 7. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  61. ^ a b c d "Word "biannual" is officially defined by state legislature". The Daily Record. Long Branch, New Jersey. April 22, 1927. pp. 1, 14. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Page 14 here
  62. ^ Senate 1927, p. 1032.
  63. ^ Acts 1927, p. 826.
  64. ^ Senate 1927, p. 1033.
  65. ^ Senate 1927, pp. 1036–1037.
  66. ^ Assembly 1927, p. 909.
  67. ^ Assembly 1927, p. 913.
  68. ^ Senate 1927, pp. 1033–1036.
  69. ^ Assembly 1927, pp. 913–917.
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  71. ^ "Senator Edge urges amendments". Spring Lake Gazette. May 20, 1927. p. 8. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  72. ^ Corriston, Edwin F. (May 18, 1927). "Hague is informed sixty-five clubs have been formed". The Bergen Evening Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. p. 3. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  73. ^ "How 'tis done in Hudson". Paterson Evening News. September 2, 1927. p. 8. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  74. ^ "Democrats to fight election change". Camden Evening Courier. June 24, 1927. p. 28. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  75. ^ a b "Amendment is scored as Republican trick to win governorship". The Daily Record. Long Branch, New Jersey. June 25, 1927. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Page 3 here
  76. ^ "Party platforms". The Coast Star. Manasquan, New Jersey. July 8, 1927. p. 1. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  77. ^ Lanning, Leo J. (July 18, 1927). "Coming election ..." Passaic Daily News. p. 2. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  78. ^ "G.O.P. campaign for amendments". Asbury Park Press. July 22, 1927. p. 6. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  79. ^ "Democrats institute fight to beat state constitution changes". Paterson Evening News. August 2, 1927. pp. 1, 12. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Page 12 here
  80. ^ "Mrs. Norton in Hackensack talk scores G.O.P." Passaic Daily Herald. August 10, 1927. p. 20. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  81. ^ "Senator Edge calls it 'necessary adjustment'". The Central New Jersey Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. August 31, 1927. p. 1. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  82. ^ "All amendments but zoning slated for defeat". The Evening Courier. Camden, New Jersey. September 2, 1927. p. 14. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  83. ^ "Amendment urged". The Ridgewood Herald. September 7, 1927. p. 16. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  84. ^ "Amendments attacked at great Democratic rally". Asbury Park Press. September 14, 1927. p. 1. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  85. ^ "Mayor Hague takes flight at Edge and Stokes in speech". The Bergen Evening Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. September 14, 1927. p. 1. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  86. ^ "State G.O.P. leaders plan for election". Camden Evening Courier. September 13, 1927. p. 4. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  87. ^ "Calls attention of Governor Moore to statement". The Bergen Evening Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. September 15, 1927. p. 2. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  88. ^ "Moore assails four-year terms". The Morning Call. Paterson, New Jersey. September 16, 1927. p. 2. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  89. ^ "Sunday meet held by G.O.P. workers". The Evening Courier. Camden, New Jersey. September 19, 1927. p. 3. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  90. ^ a b c d "Defeat laid to lack of unity". The Morning Post. Camden, New Jersey. September 22, 1927. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Page 2 here
  91. ^ "Amendments bring out light vote". The Central Jersey Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. September 20, 1927. p. 1. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  92. ^ New Jersey: Population (PDF). Bureau of the Census. 1920. p. 5.
  93. ^ a b "Four amendments defeated in Jersey" (PDF). The New York Times. September 21, 1927. p. 4. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  94. ^ "Defeat of G.O.P. tempered by Camden result". The Morning Post. Camden, New Jersey. September 22, 1927. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Page 4 here
  95. ^ "Stokes, Edge and the catastrophe". The Bergen Evening Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. September 22, 1927. p. 8. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  96. ^ "Cumberland's vote". The Bergen Evening Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. September 23, 1927. p. 10. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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  98. ^ "New Jersey's decision". The New York Times. September 22, 1927. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  99. ^ "This 'medicine' an emetic". Passaic Daily News. September 23, 1927. p. 8. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  100. ^ "Unique botch work". Newark Daily Call. September 26, 1927. p. 8. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspaper.com and Bergen Evening Record.
  101. ^ Bebout, p. ci.
  102. ^ Boyd, pp. 41–45.
  103. ^ "Revision to feel many influences". The Central New Jersey Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. June 12, 1947. p. 2. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  104. ^ a b "Official summary of new constitution". The Central New Jersey Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. June 12, 1947. p. 3. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  105. ^ Bebout & Harrison, p. 353.
  106. ^ Boyd, p. 46.
  107. ^ "New Jersey State Constitution 1947". New Jersey Legislature. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  108. ^ Boyd, p. 200.

Bibliography

  • Acts of the One Hundred and Fifty-First Legislature. State of New Jersey. 1927.
  • Journal of the Eighty-second Senate of the State of New Jersey. State of New Jersey. 1926.
  • Journal of the Eighty-third Senate of the State of New Jersey. State of New Jersey. 1927.
  • Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, One Hundred and Fiftieth Session, 1926. New Jersey legislative manual. State of New Jersey (Josephine A. Fitzgerald). 1926.
  • Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, One Hundred and Fifty-First Session, 1927. New Jersey legislative manual. State of New Jersey (Josephine A. Fitzgerald). 1927.
  • Minutes of the votes and proceedings of the One Hundred and Forty-seventh General Assembly of the State of New Jersey. State of New Jersey. 1923.
  • Minutes of the votes and proceedings of the One Hundred and Fiftieth General Assembly of the State of New Jersey. State of New Jersey. 1926.
  • Minutes of the votes and proceedings of the One Hundred and Fifty-first General Assembly of the State of New Jersey. State of New Jersey. 1927.
  • Bebout, John E. (1945). Reprint of Introduction to the Proceedings of the New Jersey Constitutional Convention of 1844. MacCrellish & Quigley Co.
  • Bebout, John E.; Harrison, Joseph (December 1968). "The Working of the New Jersey Constitution of 1947". William and Mary Law Review. 10 (2): 337–365.
  • Julian P. Boyd, ed. (1964). Fundamental Laws and Constitutions of New Jersey, 1664–1964. D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc.

External links

  • Text of the proposed amendment

February 21, 2023
jersey, 1927, biannual, elections, proposal, unsuccessful, attempt, made, pass, amendment, constitution, jersey, 1926, 1927, intent, amendment, have, members, jersey, general, assembly, serve, year, terms, instead, also, lengthen, terms, state, senators, gover. An unsuccessful attempt was made to pass an amendment to the Constitution of New Jersey in 1926 and 1927 The intent of the amendment was to have members of the New Jersey General Assembly serve two year terms instead of one and also lengthen the terms of state senators and the governor from three years to four The proposed amendment was passed twice by the legislature and the text was approved by the Attorney General Before the proposal could be put before the voters for final approval it was noticed that although the legislature had intended that Assembly members be elected biennially once in two years the proposed amendment provided that they were to be chosen biannually meaning they were to be elected twice a year After this discovery the legislature passed a resolution defining biannually to mean biennially and proceeded with the referendum On September 20 1927 the people of New Jersey voted down the proposal and Assembly members were elected annually until New Jersey instituted a new constitution in 1947 Proposed amendment 4 special constitutional amendment election September 20 1927Amends Constitution General Assembly to consist of members elected biannually sic Increases terms of members of the General Assembly to two years and of the Senate and governor from three to four years with election for the governor to take place in a presidential election year Legislature to meet every two years with special sessions to be called by legislative leaders OutcomeDefeatedResultsChoice Votes Yes 153 960 41 20 No 219 749 58 80 Valid votes 373 709 98 65 Invalid or blank votes 5 107 1 35 Total votes 378 816 100 00 Registered voters turnout 1 220 485 31 04 Results by countyFor 70 80 60 70 50 60 Against 70 80 60 70 50 60 Source Published results by the State of New Jersey For full statistical information see cited source 1 New Jersey was governed at the time under a constitution adopted in 1844 and votes to amend it were allowed only once in five years Among the amendments proposed initially by the 1926 legislature and passed again in 1927 was one known as the term extender which would lengthen the terms of legislators and the governor It would also require the gubernatorial election to be in the same year as the presidential election New Jersey despite being strongly Republican had elected several Democratic governors recently and Democrats believed such a change would give the Republicans an advantage However the fact that Republicans had a majority in the legislature meant Democrats could not block passage there The original version passed by the Assembly in 1926 did not mention biannually but the version passed by the Senate and then accepted by the Assembly did use the word After it passed the 1927 legislature a vote was set for September 27 1927 When Jewish organizations protested that September 27 was Rosh Hashanah that year Governor A Harry Moore convened the legislature into special session to set a new date A Democratic clerk then pointed out the meaning of biannually and others of that party urged that the amendment be scuttled Instead the Republican majority relying on authorities who stated that biannually and biennially meant the same thing chose to pass a resolution stating that the intent was to have elections every other year and set the referendum date for September 20 1927 There was considerable amusement at the situation both in New Jersey and nationwide Frank Hague the Jersey City Mayor and Democratic political boss of Hudson County campaigned against the provision moving the election for governor to the presidential year alleging it was political manipulation and the mixture of state and federal politics Republicans stated that having the larger number of voters who cast ballots for president also help choose the governor was a good thing The Democrats were so against the proposal that they successfully opposed three of the other four amendments that were on the ballot at the same time lest the term extender amendment pass through confusion The term extender failed with just over 41 percent in favor defeated by a huge turnout in Hague s Hudson County bailiwick overwhelmingly against the proposal contrasted with light turnout and lukewarm support through the rest of the state Contents 1 Background 2 1926 passage 3 1927 passage 4 Discovery and reaction 5 Campaign 6 Election and aftermath 7 Notes 8 References 9 Bibliography 10 External linksBackground EditFurther information History of the New Jersey State Constitution New Jersey s 1776 constitution was rewritten in 1844 That document which remained in force until 1947 provided for annual elections for the New Jersey General Assembly the lower house of the legislature and for three year terms for members of the state Senate The governor of New Jersey was also to serve a three year term 2 To amend the constitution each house of the legislature would have to pass a proposed amendment in successive years which would put the proposed amendment on the ballot to be approved or rejected by the people 3 There could be votes on amendments to the constitution only once in five years 4 Before 1927 the voters of New Jersey had six times been called upon to decide whether to amend the 1844 constitution most recently in 1915 but they had done so only in 1875 and 1897 5 In 1915 amendments to guarantee women the vote permit excess condemnation the power to acquire by eminent domain more land than actually needed for a public purpose by cities and counties and remove the prohibition on amending the constitution more often than once in five years had each been voted down by a comfortable margin An amendment to increase the terms of the legislature and governor had been voted down in 1909 6 In the first quarter of the 20th century three governors of New Jersey including Woodrow Wilson advocated a constitutional convention to thoroughly revise the state constitution but legislative commissions that considered the question in the early 1920s did not agree and the constitution continued in force 7 1926 passage EditBeginning in February 1926 the legislature s joint Republican conference committee which steered policy for that majority party in the legislature began to consider a constitutional amendment to increase the terms of Assembly members to two years and of senators to four years the legislature would meet every two years instead of annually The term of the governor would also be increased to four years and election to that office scheduled to be at the same time as the election for U S president This was seen as political to benefit the state s Republicans who generally had greater strength in presidential election years whereas the Democrats did better in off year elections 3 Democrats had won the three most recent gubernatorial elections 8 with the Republicans last winning in 1916 a presidential election year 9 No Democratic presidential candidate had won the state with a majority of the vote since Grover Cleveland in 1892 though Wilson had won the state in his 1912 presidential run with fewer votes than William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt combined Calvin Coolidge had won New Jersey by a margin of 378 000 votes in 1924 but the following year Democrat A Harry Moore had been elected governor by 39 000 votes 10 The passage by the legislature in March 1926 of a proposed constitutional amendment allowing it to enact laws permitting municipalities to pass zoning regulations caused Republican leaders to again consider what other amendments should be proposed to the voters These included the various term extending provisions 11 The efforts to pass a zoning amendment followed the New Jersey Supreme Court striking down a zoning ordinance as violative of the right of landowners to use their property 12 The 1925 legislature had passed amendments concerning zoning and to have the legislature meet every two years instead of one but these were not passed again by the 1926 legislature as was necessary for them to be submitted to the voters 13 Republicans had in their 1925 state platform called for amendments regarding zoning and the extension of the terms of legislators and the governor 14 Several amendments sponsored by Assemblyman Clifford R Powell of Burlington County a Republican 8 were passed by the General Assembly on March 24 1926 15 First the provision for biennial sessions of the legislature passed by a vote of 54 0 and one requiring legislative elections to take place every other year with the legislature to convene the following January passed by 44 7 16 Then an amendment that required among other things The General Assembly shall be composed of members elected by the legal voters of the counties passed the Assembly by 43 11 17 The provisions altering the terms of the senators passed by 44 11 as did the provision extending the governor s term 18 These amendments were subsequently considered by the Senate as a single package for fear some would pass and some would not resulting in a jumble 19 The term extending provisions were scheduled in the Senate for the portion of the session intended for bills vetoed by the governor to begin March 31 1926 20 Debate on another proposed constitutional change to allow amendments to be voted on at a general election rather than at a special election took place on April 2 but some senators wanted more time to consider the various amendments and all were postponed until June 22 21 Distracted by a dispute over who should be the state treasurer on June 29 the Senate adjourned until July 7 having not acted on the proposed constitutional amendments 22 Late on the evening of July 19 just prior to adjourning until November the Senate passed the term extending provisions 23 The amendment that passed had been sponsored by Senator Henry A Williams of Passaic County 24 and was a substitute for a version prepared by a Senate committee It provided that the General Assembly shall be composed of members biannually elected by the legal voters of the counties a 25 The text had been approved by the Attorney General of New Jersey Edward L Katzenbach 26 The proposal also would allow the Speaker of the Assembly and President of the Senate acting together to call a special session of the Legislature which would allow Republican legislators to bypass a Democratic governor 10 It passed the Senate by a vote of 16 2 27 Since the Senate had amended the proposals they returned to the Assembly where also on July 19 the majority leader Anthony J Siracusa Jr R Atlantic County moved to suspend the rules in order to consider them This being allowed the package passed by a vote of 34 0 28 29 A total of eight proposals counting the term extenders as a single amendment passed the legislature for the first time in 1926 including two proposals dealing with zoning The second proposal was necessary because although the first zoning proposal had passed both houses of the legislature the General Assembly had neglected to print it verbatim in its legislative journal as required by the constitution 19 1927 passage Edit Governor A Harry Moore of New Jersey In his annual message on January 11 1927 Governor Moore stated his support for a constitutional convention to revise New Jersey s governing document He opposed though the lengthening of the gubernatorial term and having the governor elected at the same time as the president describing the effort to confuse state with national politics as vicious 30 Senate President Francis B Davis R Gloucester County in a speech after his election as presiding officer pledged that the proposed constitutional amendments must have our best thought and be thoroughly considered before submission to the people 31 Powell introduced the term extender amendment in the Assembly on January 24 1927 32 and it was reported from committee and given a second reading in the General Assembly in early February 33 It passed the Assembly on February 7 on a vote of 47 12 34 along party lines Morris E Barison of Hudson County the minority leader stated to the Republican majority you cannot elect a governor in the off years and so you have adopted this means But let me say the battle is only beginning Get ready for a real fight 35 The amendment was reported from committee in the Senate on February 15 1927 36 It passed 13 2 on February 22 37 with two of the Senate s four Democrats opposing the other two were absent 38 On March 25 both houses of the legislature passed legislation to set a special election for September 27 1927 to consider the proposed constitutional amendments 39 and this was enacted into law on March 31 40 There were continued reports of Democratic opposition to the amendment spearheaded by the powerful Hudson County political boss Mayor Frank Hague of Jersey City 41 42 Discovery and reaction EditConsidering the words biannual and biennial solely from the linguistic point of view it would seem somebody has been trying to make a mountain out of a very small mole hill for both biannual and biennial mean occurring or appearing every two years The words have been used also to signify what is correctly expressed by semiannual that is occurring twice a year Biannual plants which we speak of more commonly today as biennials were spoken of as bisannual plants two hundred years ago Then in course of time the genius of language brought about the suppression of the s but the term was formed from the Latin bis twice and annalis lasting for one year ultimately from the Latin annus year In the sense of half yearly biannual has been in use in the language for more than fifty years but the word has been used as the equivalent of biennial for as long Dr Frank A Vizetelly 43 On April 5 1927 it was reported in The Morning Call of Paterson that Jewish organizations were protesting against the election date as September 27 was Rosh Hashanah the Jewish New Year and one of the High Holidays in 1927 This would prevent many Jews from voting 44 The same day Governor Moore announced he would meet with legislative leaders and fix a date for a special session of the legislature to change the law setting September 27 as the date the people would vote on the five constitutional amendment proposals 45 On April 11 Moore called the legislature into special session on April 14 to consider such a change and to pass on the addition of two judgeships 46 This was the first time the full legislature had been called into special session since 1915 as in 1927 an extra session was needed to remedy defects in a law setting proposed amendments for a popular vote and this had happened also in 1897 41 The legislature was not limited to the subjects mentioned by Moore and could consider in special session any legislation it wanted 47 When the legislature convened on April 14 bills were introduced to change the date of the election and to authorize two more judges and make provision for their salaries As the Republicans maneuvered to secure enough votes on the judicial bills the legislature was told that biannually meant twice yearly as opposed to biennially once in two years 48 and by providing for biannual elections for the Assembly it was calling for them to occur twice a year 26 Former assemblyman Alexander Crawford of Hudson County 49 Barison s clerk 50 51 who was described by The Daily Record of Long Branch as the mouthpiece of Mayor Frank Hague pointed out the issue and stated his belief that the amendment was defective 9 52 There was speculation that Mayor Hague through his legal advisors might be behind the insertion of the word biannually but there was no evidence 9 26 A six member committee with three members from each house was appointed to find a path forward 52 A number of newspapers both within New Jersey and nationwide commented on the situation The Newark Call suggested the best thing to do was for the legislature to take the amendment up again and drop it in the wastebasket 53 Brooklyn Life and Activities of Long Island Society deemed the situation laughable in the extreme 54 and The Salt Lake Tribune deemed what had occurred as good for a laugh 55 The Tennessean commented that New Jersey legislators had gotten into trouble because they were careless about or ignorant of their Latin derivatives 56 The St Louis Post Dispatch suggested that lawmakers might want to consult the dictionary biennially or better still biannually and they might find it illuminating for them to peruse it bimonthly or biweekly 57 The Los Angeles Times similarly suggested Evidently Mr Webster s illuminating book is not especially popular in New Jersey 58 Legislators could have repassed the amendment at a special session in 1927 passed it again in 1928 and placed it before the voters later that year in time to be implemented at the November election This solution though would have left those running in the primary election in June not knowing the length of their terms and it was discarded 48 59 Instead the legislature relied on two experts Dr Frank A Vizetelly of New York editor of the Funk amp Wagnalls Standard Dictionary and Professor Robert K Root head of the English department at Princeton University 60 who stated that in its root and structure biannually meant biennially and in addition to passing the law changing the election date to September 20 passed a resolution stating that in using the word biannually it meant every two years 61 The resolution stated that in using the word biannually the legislature has used and does use the said word as a synonym for the word biennially meaning every second year 62 The Democrats including Minority Leader Alexander Simpson of Hudson County urged that the amendment be abandoned 61 63 Republican Clarence E Case of Somerset County who had served on the six member committee stated that Simpson should have pointed out the word biannually the previous year Simpson stated that he was not recorded as voting on the amendment b but I would be a 99 carat fool to call the attention of the Republican conference to a blunder of this sort 61 Simpson also pointed out another problem with the amendment that the existing constitution required county officials to be elected at the same time as the Assembly but for three or five year terms which would clash with the Assembly only being elected every two years He deemed the definition resolution an inglorious attempt to cover up a retreat and predicted that Hague would cause the public to vote down the term extender by 120 000 votes 61 Nevertheless the resolution stating that biannually and biennially were synonyms passed the Senate on April 21 15 3 64 and that body then passed the bill altering the election date 19 0 65 Also on April 21 the Assembly passed the bill changing the election date 42 0 66 and then passed the resolution regarding the meaning of biannually 35 7 67 Both houses had the statements by Vizetelly and Root printed in their journals 68 69 Campaign EditFollowing the special session state politicians began to endorse or oppose the proposed amendments On May 14 1927 former U S senator Joseph S Frelinghuysen a Republican endorsed them saying that the electorate should not base their votes on whether certain politicians supported them or not but on whether they were good for the state 70 Republican U S Senator Walter E Edge also endorsed the amendments in a speech to party leaders in Asbury Park stating that the less frequent elections would lead to monetary savings 71 Mayor Hague went to Bergen County to give a speech at the court house in Hackensack on May 17 He called the term extender amendment a dastardly piece of politics and stated that the Republicans want to change for no reason other than to regain control of the governor s office They think that in the presidential year the national issues will overshadow state issues and their gubernatorial candidate will be pulled through during this confusion 72 I want to say that any of those drawing pay from the city or county who are derelict in their duty in this campaign will find themselves off the payroll There are a number of these employees who are fakers and cheats and there is no better time than now to knock the conceit out of them I want to thank the many here who are not on the payroll but have shown enough interest to attend this meeting They should have the jobs of the shirkers and fakers and they will get them if disloyalty is shown by any employee It hurts me to talk like this but the life of the Democratic Party is at stake and I am going to call a spade a spade Bert Daly Hague disciple and mayor of Bayonne Hudson County opposing the term extender amendment 73 Hague refused to regard 1927 as an off year election fearing passage of the amendment would cut into his power as boss of the party 10 Democratic State Chair Harry Heher called a meeting of the state party committee at the request of Hague to meet in Trenton Mercer County on June 24 74 The state committee issued a resolution supporting the zoning amendment but opposing the term extender 75 At the same time New Jersey Republicans appointed a fundraising committee led by Morris County Clerk E Bertram Mott 75 In early July the Democratic state convention passed a platform supporting the zoning amendment on the September ballot and opposing the term extender 76 U S Senator Edward I Edwards a Democrat was by mid July leading the rhetorical battle for his party while Senator Edge and former governor Edward C Stokes led for the Republicans 77 On July 22 the Republican state committee issued a pamphlet which among other matters discussed the proposed amendments Regarding the term extender the pamphlet noted that the greatest number of votes were cast in presidential years and there should be no objection to having the governor elected by the most voters 78 Democrats argued that voting the party ticket had become routine in presidential years and that national issues would dominate the debate 10 Former governor Edward C Stokes spoke in the campaign On August 1 Secretary of State Joseph Fitzpatrick a Democrat addressed Passaic County Democrats He urged the defeat of all of the proposed amendments except the zoning one 79 U S Representative Mary T Norton of New Jersey the Democratic Party s only female member of the federal House of Representatives spoke in Hackensack on August 9 and suggested that the zoning measure had been put on the ballot to increase support for the term extender She stated that the Republican Party s policies were increasing Democratic support 80 On August 31 Senator Edge called the Democratic opposition to the term extender the most brazen partisan appeal in the history of the state stating that the Democrats only argument was that more citizens will vote which will make more difficult the future election of Democratic governors 81 Hague spoke in Camden on September 1 supporting the zoning amendment listed as first on the ballot but he opposed the other four especially the term extender the fourth on the ballot He stated that defeat of the term extender was so vital to the Democratic Party that the final four amendments were all being opposed lest the term extender pass through confusion He indicated that the party was not opposed to a four year term for the governor only to coupling the election with that of the president Mayor Hague predicted Hudson County will come through with one of the greatest majorities against the last four amendments it ever rolled up 82 Edge responded in Atlantic City two days later asking for Republicans to turn out in their usual two to one majority When Mayor Hague goes out of his own county to tour the state as he is now doing he knows that the passage of these amendments will end the succession of Democratic governors 83 The New York Times reported on September 10 that Republicans feared defections by woman voters persuaded by the Democratic arguments 10 On September 13 the Democrats held a dinner meeting at the Sea Girt Inn in Sea Girt Monmouth County featuring Governor Moore Senator Edwards and former assemblyman John Matthews of Essex County There were 1 428 present who had dinner not counting late arrivals who stood in the room Matthews stated that passing the amendments would give the party of Teapot Dome more power in the state 84 The same night Hague spoke in Cliffside Park Bergen County to a crowd of about 1 300 which included many Republicans He accused Edge and Stokes of trying to fool the people and that they were trying to prevent the election of Democratic governors whom the people had placed as watch dogs to guard against Republican excesses he deemed the term extender purely partisan 85 Republicans held a meeting in Trenton that day and Edge predicted a victory if Republicans turned out he stated that if the amendments were defeated it would be because Republicans who had for years criticized Hague s power failed to act to break it Mott predicted that the amendments would be passed by about 50 000 votes 86 Moore had stated that having the gubernatorial election in an election year when national issues would be paramount would be unjust and unfair on September 14 state Senator William B Mackay of Bergen County responded in an address to his county s Republican committee He said that Moore and the two other Democratic governors elected since 1916 had each used the national question of Prohibition to gain election an issue not used by Edge when he was elected governor in 1916 87 The next night thousands of Democrats crowded the Newark Armory for a rally against the amendments with speeches by Moore Edwards Norton Hague and Heher The governor spoke against Republican arguments that the term extender would increase the number of voters in the gubernatorial election noting that turnout for the election for governor had nearly equaled that for president in recent years 88 Camden County Republicans scheduled several meetings for September 19 with the main rally to feature Congressman Charles A Wolverton and with other meetings focused on Italian American African American Jewish and rural voters 89 Election and aftermath EditFive proposed amendments were on the ballot on September 20 1927 The first permitted the legislature to pass legislation allowing municipalities to enact zoning ordinances the second allowed for the establishment of water supply and sewerage districts while the third provided that future constitutional amendment proposals would be on the ballot at general rather than special elections The fourth was the term extender and the fifth was to repeal an obsolete provision regarding the selection of judges and prosecutors 90 Polls were open from 7 a m to 8 p m except in rural districts that did not observe Daylight Savings Time where votes could be cast from 6 a m to 7 p m 91 Mayor Frank Hague of Jersey City The term extender amendment was defeated 219 749 against to 153 960 for 41 2 percent a margin of 65 789 Of the five amendments only the zoning amendment passed the term extender lost by the largest margin of the defeated amendments Hudson County voted against it by 98 492 against to 28 338 for 22 3 percent a margin of 70 152 Hudson County provided the margin of defeat on the four beaten amendments and voted for zoning by over 90 000 votes providing nearly half of the margin of victory there Turnout was 31 0 percent statewide but 72 2 percent in Hudson County which was the county with the greatest number of registered voters 1 though it was second in population to Essex County per the 1920 census 92 One in every three votes was cast in Hudson County 1 The light turnout outside of Hudson County together with the fact that counties normally Republican by large margins voted against the proposed amendment or supported it only narrowly meant that the Hudson County vote could not be overcome and defeated the proposal 93 Mayor Hague stated that he was highly pleased by the result 94 He called it a bad thing to use the state constitution for political purposes 90 Stokes stated that the result was unsurprising as it is a difficult thing to educate the people to an interest in abstract organic law 90 Senator Edge regretted that the state for at least five more years will remain in a class by itself with expensive and wholly unnecessary annual legislative sessions and hybrid terms for state officials 90 Governor Moore said that the vote shows that the people of New Jersey hold the constitution too sacred to permit political manipulation 93 The Bergen Evening Record editorialized that the term extender amendment had been more or less an insult to the high minded people of New Jersey it was so bunglingly framed that it might well have been the handiwork of the pages in the Senate instead of the members If it had been adopted it would have plunged us into endless confusion 95 That newspaper also pointed out that though Stokes had long lived in and represented Cumberland County and that county had returned a Republican to the Assembly the year before with almost 80 percent of the vote it had voted down the amendment 96 The Morning Post of Camden ascribed the Republican defeat to conservatism among New Jersey s voters when it came to changing the constitution a feeling among them that state and national politics should be separated and that the term extender was unfair as well as Hague s power and ability 97 The New York Times opined that the result showed that Hague was more powerful than ever 98 The Passaic Daily News argued that the pity of the situation is that the Democrats in their zeal to beat the Extender also defeated three other amendments which should have been carried 99 The Newark Daily Call stated outside the ranks of intense partisans there were many who would have supported the term extender amendment had it not been so crudely drawn As a piece of botch work it was unique and deserved its fate It was impossible to defend it with the same enthusiasm displayed by its enemies 100 After 1938 when New York rewrote its constitution New Jersey was the only state electing members of its legislature s lower house for a one year term 101 In 1939 New Jersey voters passed an amendment to allow parimutuel betting at horse races Over the next several years repeated attempts were made to pass a new constitution but they failed in part because of the opposition of Hague who considered them partisan Edge who had been elected governor again in 1943 supported them In 1947 a convention that even Hague supported assembled to consider a new draft 102 103 The new constitution increased terms of members of the General Assembly to two years and of the Senate to four years to allow legislators to give more time to state affairs and less to campaigning 104 According to John E Bebout and Joseph Harrison in their study of the 1947 New Jersey Constitution The old system of annual selection exacted a high price in time money wasted experience and diversion from the main business of the legislature 105 The term of the governor was increased to four years Elections for governor and for the legislature were placed in odd numbered years allowing for a separation between state and federal affairs 104 It was passed by the voters overwhelmingly on November 4 1947 106 and provided that the General Assembly shall consist of members elected biennially c 108 Notes Edit The 1844 constitution stated that the General Assembly shall be composed of members annually elected by the legal voters of the counties See Boyd p 170 Simpson had cast one of the two votes against the amendment in 1926 with Senator David H Agans of Hunterdon County See Senate 1926 p 1101 He did not vote on the 1927 passage of the election See Senate 1927 p 605 Pursuant to an amendment passed in 1966 the relevant provision now reads two members of the General Assembly shall be elected by the legally qualified voters of each Assembly district for terms beginning at noon of the second Tuesday in January next following their election and ending at noon of the second Tuesday in January two years thereafter 107 References Edit a b c State of New Jersey October 10 1927 Results of the Special Constitutional Amendment Election Held September 20 1927 PDF Historical information New Jersey Legislature Retrieved November 21 2022 a b Ambitions of Kean Edge Frelinghuysen and Stokes clash on Stevens primary Camden Courier February 15 1926 p 2 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com May alter status of jail keeper Asbury Park Press January 19 1926 p 17 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Black Charles F August 16 1927 How to change constitution The Ridgewood Herald p 14 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Voters of this state reject term extender Keyport Weekly September 23 1927 pp 1 5 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Page 5 here Boyd p 39 a b Senators Edge and Edwards commended by Assembly for fight on dry bill Plainfield Courier News March 24 1926 p 1 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com a b c Probably fatal error stumbled upon in resolution The Daily Record Long Branch New Jersey April 15 1927 pp 1 12 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Page 12 here a b c d e Jersey s special election PDF The New York Times September 10 1927 p 16 Constitutional amendments may pass legislature this year Asbury Park Press March 24 1926 p 15 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Bebout pp xlviii xlix Manual 1927 p 75 Manual 1926 p 138 Lawmakers propose biennial sessions The Bergen Evening Record Hackensack New Jersey March 25 1926 p 3 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Assembly 1926 pp 857 861 Assembly 1926 pp 861 862 Assembly 1926 pp 862 866 a b Those eight amendments Passaic Daily News August 3 1926 p 8 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Drunken driver bills signed by governor The Central New Jersey Home News New Brunswick New Jersey March 27 1926 p 1 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Longer terms to get action later Asbury Park Press April 2 1926 p 6 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Some leaders are angry The Bergen Evening Record Hackensack New Jersey June 29 1926 p 2 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Recess until fall taken by solons early this morning The Bergen Evening Record Hackensack New Jersey July 20 1926 p 3 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com State lawmakers adjourn The Montclair Times July 24 1926 p 9 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Senate 1926 pp 1099 1101 a b c Biannually and biennially PDF The New York Times April 18 1927 Retrieved December 2 2022 Senate 1926 p 1101 Assembly 1926 pp 1065 1068 Assembly bills Legislative Index New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce 359 July 24 1926 Governor asks referendum on Volstead Act Evening Courier Camden New Jersey January 11 1927 p 8 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Senate and Assembly chiefs pledge their best efforts Asbury Park Press January 11 1927 p 6 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Bills before legislature Plainfield Courier News January 25 1927 pp 1 4 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Page 4 here Harmony bill planned to replace convention doomed to defeat The Daily Record Long Branch New Jersey February 7 1927 pp 1 12 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Page 12 here Assembly 1927 p 168 Compromise primary bill introduced by Assemblyman Giuliano The Daily Record Long Branch New Jersey February 8 1927 pp 1 2 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Page 2 here Constitutional amendment moves slowly in Senate Plainfield Courier News p 4 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Senate 1927 p 605 Four year plan for governor voted by Senate Asbury Park Press February 23 1927 pp 1 2 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Page 2 here Lawmakers provide state s share for the Mackay Bridge The Bergen Evening Record Hackensack New Jersey March 25 1927 p 5 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Acts 1927 p 764 a b Third time in history N J legislature re called to make corrections Asbury Park Press April 13 1927 p 4 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Mrs Summers backs changes Hague opposes The News Paterson New Jersey April 6 1927 p 2 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Senate 1927 pp 1033 1034 Want election date changed The Morning Call Paterson New Jersey April 5 1927 p 2 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Special session order now likely The Bergen Evening Record Hackensack New Jersey April 6 1927 p 1 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Special session of legislature meets Thursday The Morning Call Paterson New Jersey April 12 1927 p 1 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Will beat tri state water treaty The Millville Daily April 11 1927 p 2 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com a b Wrong word stirs Jersey lawmakers PDF The New York Times April 15 1927 Retrieved December 2 2022 Assembly 1923 p iii Assembly 1927 p 871 Manual 1927 p 624 a b More blunders drive lawmakers session over next week The Bergen Evening Record Hackensack New Jersey pp 1 2 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Page 2 here Biannual or biennial The Newark Call April 23 1927 p 6 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com and The Daily Record Slip shod legislation Brooklyn Life and Activities of Long Island Society p 8 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Caught napping The Salt Lake Tribune April 24 1927 p 28 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Mixed on derivatives The Tennessean Nashville Tennessee April 24 1927 p 4 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Biannual or biennial St Louis Post Dispatch April 23 1927 p 18 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com In darkest America Los Angeles Times May 22 1927 p 4 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Constitutional amendments The Millville Daily April 18 1927 p 2 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Biannual it is says New Jersey Ledger Enquirer Columbus Georgia April 26 1927 p 7 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com a b c d Word biannual is officially defined by state legislature The Daily Record Long Branch New Jersey April 22 1927 pp 1 14 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Page 14 here Senate 1927 p 1032 Acts 1927 p 826 Senate 1927 p 1033 Senate 1927 pp 1036 1037 Assembly 1927 p 909 Assembly 1927 p 913 Senate 1927 pp 1033 1036 Assembly 1927 pp 913 917 Favors amendments to the constitution The Bergen Evening Record Hackensack New Jersey May 14 1927 p 1 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Senator Edge urges amendments Spring Lake Gazette May 20 1927 p 8 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Corriston Edwin F May 18 1927 Hague is informed sixty five clubs have been formed The Bergen Evening Record Hackensack New Jersey p 3 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com How tis done in Hudson Paterson Evening News September 2 1927 p 8 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Democrats to fight election change Camden Evening Courier June 24 1927 p 28 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com a b Amendment is scored as Republican trick to win governorship The Daily Record Long Branch New Jersey June 25 1927 pp 1 3 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Page 3 here Party platforms The Coast Star Manasquan New Jersey July 8 1927 p 1 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Lanning Leo J July 18 1927 Coming election Passaic Daily News p 2 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com G O P campaign for amendments Asbury Park Press July 22 1927 p 6 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Democrats institute fight to beat state constitution changes Paterson Evening News August 2 1927 pp 1 12 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Page 12 here Mrs Norton in Hackensack talk scores G O P Passaic Daily Herald August 10 1927 p 20 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Senator Edge calls it necessary adjustment The Central New Jersey Home News New Brunswick New Jersey August 31 1927 p 1 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com All amendments but zoning slated for defeat The Evening Courier Camden New Jersey September 2 1927 p 14 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Amendment urged The Ridgewood Herald September 7 1927 p 16 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Amendments attacked at great Democratic rally Asbury Park Press September 14 1927 p 1 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Mayor Hague takes flight at Edge and Stokes in speech The Bergen Evening Record Hackensack New Jersey September 14 1927 p 1 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com State G O P leaders plan for election Camden Evening Courier September 13 1927 p 4 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Calls attention of Governor Moore to statement The Bergen Evening Record Hackensack New Jersey September 15 1927 p 2 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Moore assails four year terms The Morning Call Paterson New Jersey September 16 1927 p 2 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Sunday meet held by G O P workers The Evening Courier Camden New Jersey September 19 1927 p 3 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com a b c d Defeat laid to lack of unity The Morning Post Camden New Jersey September 22 1927 pp 1 2 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Page 2 here Amendments bring out light vote The Central Jersey Home News New Brunswick New Jersey September 20 1927 p 1 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com New Jersey Population PDF Bureau of the Census 1920 p 5 a b Four amendments defeated in Jersey PDF The New York Times September 21 1927 p 4 Retrieved December 2 2022 Defeat of G O P tempered by Camden result The Morning Post Camden New Jersey September 22 1927 pp 1 4 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Page 4 here Stokes Edge and the catastrophe The Bergen Evening Record Hackensack New Jersey September 22 1927 p 8 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Cumberland s vote The Bergen Evening Record Hackensack New Jersey September 23 1927 p 10 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Political primer 1927 edition The Morning Post Camden New Jersey p 12 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com New Jersey s decision The New York Times September 22 1927 Retrieved December 2 2022 This medicine an emetic Passaic Daily News September 23 1927 p 8 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Unique botch work Newark Daily Call September 26 1927 p 8 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspaper com and Bergen Evening Record Bebout p ci Boyd pp 41 45 Revision to feel many influences The Central New Jersey Home News New Brunswick New Jersey June 12 1947 p 2 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com a b Official summary of new constitution The Central New Jersey Home News New Brunswick New Jersey June 12 1947 p 3 Retrieved December 2 2022 via Newspapers com Bebout amp Harrison p 353 Boyd p 46 New Jersey State Constitution 1947 New Jersey Legislature Retrieved December 6 2022 Boyd p 200 Bibliography EditActs of the One Hundred and Fifty First Legislature State of New Jersey 1927 Journal of the Eighty second Senate of the State of New Jersey State of New Jersey 1926 Journal of the Eighty third Senate of the State of New Jersey State of New Jersey 1927 Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey One Hundred and Fiftieth Session 1926 New Jersey legislative manual State of New Jersey Josephine A Fitzgerald 1926 Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey One Hundred and Fifty First Session 1927 New Jersey legislative manual State of New Jersey Josephine A Fitzgerald 1927 Minutes of the votes and proceedings of the One Hundred and Forty seventh General Assembly of the State of New Jersey State of New Jersey 1923 Minutes of the votes and proceedings of the One Hundred and Fiftieth General Assembly of the State of New Jersey State of New Jersey 1926 Minutes of the votes and proceedings of the One Hundred and Fifty first General Assembly of the State of New Jersey State of New Jersey 1927 Bebout John E 1945 Reprint of Introduction to the Proceedings of the New Jersey Constitutional Convention of 1844 MacCrellish amp Quigley Co Bebout John E Harrison Joseph December 1968 The Working of the New Jersey Constitution of 1947 William and Mary Law Review 10 2 337 365 Julian P Boyd ed 1964 Fundamental Laws and Constitutions of New Jersey 1664 1964 D Van Nostrand Company Inc External links EditText of the proposed amendment Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title New Jersey 27s 1927 biannual elections proposal amp oldid 1140680240, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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