Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-10-28

County Clerks Office is a matter of serious
concern to every property owner in the
county. As to his politics. majority of
the people of this county would undoubted-
ly prefer, all things being equal, that he
should be Republican but preference is
lost sight of in the momentous responsible
ties of the Office of County Clerk.
1t is pre-eminently a business Office the
Clerk being custodian of the records of
every foot of land in the county he ham
dies records of great value, and is also the
Clerk of certain of the County Courts. And
these records must be kept ready of access.
The people have done all in their power to
have the Gloucester County Clerks Office
the most accessible in the State. They
have provided the most complete system OF
record keeping known; they have pro-
vided the best and safest depository that
modern constructors could devise, and put
it in perfect order; and five years ago
Frank B. Ridgway had placed into his
keeping one of the best and most complete
and up-to-date record offices in this State.
And what condition is this office in to-
day after five years of his administration ?
Lawyers of Mr.. Ridgway's own political
faith tell us that it is mess business men,
and Republican business men, toe, who know
as much about its condition and needs as
any lawyers can know ,haYe told us that the
office needs and must have an immediate
and thorough overhauling by systematic,
methodical man one who realizes that he
is servant of the public, and with how
responsible trust he has been vested.
The Republicans of the county all know
what we have written above is true, be-
cause it, and much more too, was impaired
to them before the nominating election by
members of their own party, but skillful
manipulation overcame direct methods
that had heretofore prevailed. and the
speak-easy in Monroe, and the Glou-
cester contingent, triumpbed.
There is only one candidate opposed to
Mr.. RidgwaY whose candidacy is viewed
seriously by any number of voters, that of
JOSEPH LODGE, and how does he view the
position for which he asks the votes Of
Gloucester county men, let his own words
answer
taken before the Convention from which he
received unanimous nomination, and in
his acceptance said =
1 thank you for the honor you have so
unanimously bestowed, and l gratefully
accept the nomination. The Office for
which you have named me is the custodian
of the records of all the real estate in our
county. and has to do with interests varied
and important, hence its relation to the
people is more of business than political
nature. Therefore if elected / shall con-
slider the position one of public trust, and
administer the affairs thereof ever mindful
of the fact that l am a servant of the pub
lic"
Mr.. Ridgway has had opportunity to
show his conception of the responsibility he
owes to the people, and his reply has been
after five years in the Clerks Office that he
considers it public snap; had he
considered it anything else, he would not
have neglected it, and put it in condition
to warrant the charge that it was mess
that needed Strengthening out and cleaning
up.
Mr.. Lodge is new man as candidate,
but not a new man in business he is not
skilled in the art of promising one position
to dozen candidates before election, and
giving none to any. He couldn't if he
would, and wouldn't if he could, attempt
to gain the County Clerkship by the
methods. as all the people know were en-
ployed by candidate Ridgway at the
primaries, and if any reader does not know
what they were let them go to Monroe.
Harrison, Elk, West Deptford, ct. al and
learn, if they desire to vote for clean candi-
dates aud to elect men who will elevate
our elections, both nominating and final
Hence the election next Tuesday, as to
County Clerk, will decide two points
whether premium is to be placed Oh
methods which the people despise, and
whether the people desire in the Clerks
Office one who will view the office as a
public snap, or one who considers himself
public servant, an administrator of public
trust.
That is the issue to be decided as between
Mr. Lodge and Mr.. Ridgway next Tues
day, and it is the only one.