The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-01-30
A COURAGEOUS GOVERNOR
From, the Ne,uark Ttmes.

Governor Werts has taken the bull by
the horns at the beginning of his career,
and in this has set aside all precedent and
has marked ont course for himeelf as
original as 1t is independent. Coming
from Hudson County it was believed by
the Republicans that he would be the
creature of the Hudson County ring, and
1t was thought that he would follow IN
the footsteps of Governor Albeit. and
work exclusively in the interests OF the
party. The ring evidently did not give full
weight TO the Iact that Governor Werts
was largely an independent candidate. lie
was nominated against his express wish
and even protest, and while he is demo-
crat in principal, tlie manner of his nom
inarion left him free to be an honest man
as well as the servant of the people, and
not exclusively of party. Taken from
the bench of the Supreme Court, where
he had learned to weigh causes alone on
their merits, he is not the man to quit SO
exalted position to come down and do
other man. The Jersey City ring by their
own acts lost their chestnuts in the fire,
and now they wish to use Governor
Werts to get them ont. That they will
fail in that plan goes without saying, We
have Governor at last who is not
trickster and who can say no.
The only plea on which the signature
of the Governor to Senate bill No. 13 can
be asked is that it is purely Democratic
measure, In Democratic interests, and
passed by a harmonious party vote. And
next that a Governor should pay defer
ence to the action of the Legislature, and
not put hisssiugle will against the wishes
and win of decided majority of the law
making body. We believe this latter
sentiment was promulgated by General
Grant. y6en President. Not being
lawyer himself, nor law maker, 1t was
an easy way for him to escape some
Of the responsibilities Of his posi-
tion, but at the same time be evad-
ed its duties, for the Constitution
places the law making power in these
departments, the Executive, the Sateen
and the House, each intended to over
look the other SO as to securely provide
against errors and class legislation, and
it is simply duty Governor Werts is
exercising ID refusing his consent to a
bill that does not meet his approval.
Were this bill or any other legislative
act in the general interests of the people
and not exclusively a party measure,
then there might be some claim on the
Governors forbearance, but as 1t
is, there is not the slightest ground
for asking anything OF the Kind.
The bill was entirely party measure
and had no features to be consid-
cred outside of the one object to serve
party ends. The ring in jersey City had
been demanding party legislation for the
purpose of ofstrengthening their hold on the
offices and emoluments there and when
they had. as they thought, everything
nicely fixed to run matters to suit them
selves, they went into new election for
Mayor, and to their utter confusion Mr..
Wanser, a republican, was elected, and
all the plnms that they had provided for
their own man fell Into his hands. Now,
by the Legislature they propose to steal
from Mr.. Wanser what they could not
get through the action OF the people;
that is all there is to 1t.