The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-10-14
GRUBB'S COMING LETTER
Will 1t Declare Explicitly for
Local Option.

Ex-Judge j. Frank Fort, of Newark,
has just given an interview to a Sunday
Cdll reporter that probably foreshadows
General Grubb's approaching letter of
acceptance. Judge Fort was chairman of
the convention that nominated Grubb;
it was he who crowded the reference to
local option out of the platform of the
party, and it is he who is said to have
General Grubb's letter of acceptance in
his pocket for delivery to the Republican
clubs at their convention in Elizabeth to-
morrow
What Judge Fort has to say as to the
general policy. of the party in the fight
may therefore be regarded as foreshadow-
ing what General Grubb is about to say,
and significance is attached to these ex-
pressions dropped by him to the Newark
Cdu reporter yesterday. Judge Fort
said
Part of the opposition to Mr. Large is because
of his vote for the temperance legislation of 1883,
/ suppose. The Republican party must face the
temperance question, and that right speedily
The time for hedging and Juggling has passed.
We shall no doubt lose some votes on it in Es-
sex county, but we can and will gain in other
parts of the State. The Republican party is
united in Essex on high license, but high
parts of the State. Many Republicans are OBJ
jective this year because our platform does not
go far enough on that issue. 1t is thought we
should have in so many words endorsed the law
passed by the Republicans in 1888. have had
many Essex Republicans say that to me and
express their disappointment that the State
platform did not so do. The Republican party
is not Prohibition party, thats clear; but it is,
and must be understood to be, in favor of
advanced ground on the question of removing
the evils of intemperance. We must not try to
stand upon two stools. The Democrats do not
do that they are out and open for all the present
attendant evils of the liquor traffic The Republi-
can party, If it expects to win, must be recog-
nized as the opponent and opposite of the Demo
cratic party, we cannot take middle ground. As
to local option, no one fears that in Essex
county 1t could not be carried here and would
not be tried. High license is the only practical
thing for cities. The rural sections of the State
are not fully satisfied with it. They ask for
more. The temperance question in my judg-
ment is a matter for settlement in the Leglsa-
tive and Senatorial conventions. The members
of the Senate and Assembly make the laws and
each locality should see to it that its representa-
tive reflects its views this question. Certainly
no part of the State can object to that 1t is
only an issue on the Governorshp in this that the
Governor should be in sympathy with the popu-
lar sentiment on the question.
The Republican party has always claimed to
be and is the party of moral ideas. and it must
maintain its position or lose the confidence of the
people of this State. Whatever the result Of the
contest which we are now in, il we are frank and
manly in the fight, we shall In any event main
tain the respect and confidence of the people Of
the State.
1t Will be remembered that General
Grubb said to JERSEY CITY NEWS cor
respondent early in the campaign, that
he did not intend to write letter of ac-
ceptance. His change of mind is believed
to be due to determination to take an
explicit stand on the local option issue,
which the convention under Judge Forts
guidance lodged.
The letter will be read at the Conven-
tion of Republican Clubs in Elizabeth to-
morrow