Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-10-21

Offices, and have generally been successful.
Ia the late caucus of that party they frank
ly told the people that the candidate for
County Clerk, who sought a denomination,
had been tried for five years in that Office
and been found wanting. That he neglect
ed his Office by absenting himself there
from; that the records of the Office were
not kept up to the standard, and that the
excellent system of the Office, adopted at
so great an expense to the taxpayers, need
ed methodical mind TO put it in proper
working order-in fact, that change must
be made in the County Clerk. And they
endeavored to make the change and work
the reform within the party.
That they failed was not due to lack OF
energy in the canvass inaugurated at the
primaries, the courage nor the popularity
of the gentleman they selected to lead. He
was both popular, honest and competent
and his candidacy met general approval.
Under the peculiar rules of nomination
the vote must be canvassed and prom
ulgated by the Central Committee of the
Republican party. At the meeting of this
committee, only three days after the votes
were cast, the candidate who, on the face
of the returns was defeated by twelve
votes, appeared before the committee and
asked to be allowed to prove:-
First, Taat sufficient number of illegal
votes were cast to change the result OF the
primaries
Second, That in one township, the vote
was not returned AS cast.
Third, That in one township the pri-
maries were not conducted according to
the rules, and that evidences of fraud were
apparent from the fact that there were a
greater number oil ballots in the box of
that township than there names on the
poll book.
To this indictment the Central Com
mittee turned deaf ear, refused to hear
the proofs, and declared Frank B. Ridgway
the nominee.
In as brief space as possible we have
endeavOred in the above paragraphs TO state
the important phases of the Republican
County Clerkship nomination, and make 1t
SO plain that she who runs may read and
understand" That it is deplorable con-
dition for the majority party all must re-
cognize, but that it is a condition that will
be heroically met is born out by the politi-
cal record of the voters Of Gloucester
county. They will purify their primaries
and place the Clerks Office in way to sys-
tematic and correct re-adjustment on Tues
day, November 2nd
In this Nation which we all love, in
every State and in every county in every
State, there is minority political organi-
cation. ALI Americans recognize that there
must be minorities, and if they are pa
triotic; if they are honestly directed in
their political action; if, when occasion
arises, they are true to the people and rise
to the occasion, then they always have the
respect of msjorities, and when majorities
are powerless to correct error or evil the
people turn to them for relief.
Hence the nominee of the Democratic
party in this county for County Clerk has
more significance at this juncture than has
who will 60 to the polls on November 2nd.
JOSEPH LODGE is the son of Benjamin
q. Lodge, and was born on the homestead,
South of Mantna, on the Barnsboro road,
thirty segen years ago. He was well edu-
Gated and received a thorough business
training. He has been in the general store
business at Pitman Grove for the past ten
years, and has been uniformly successful
in the conduct of that business. He has
been Township Clerk of Mantua township,
and no adverse criticism was ever made Of
his official conduct. He is now serving his
second term as member of the Township
Committee. He was appointed postmaster
in August of 1898 by the Cleveland ad.
ministration. and was a popular and palms.
taking official for four years.
The man who is successful general
merchant; who has made good Township
Clerk; who is a faithful member of the Com
mittee of a populous township. and who
has been popular postmaster, and who is
methodical and accurate in his business
habit, has it in him to make correct and
courteous County Clerk. He is an
elegant penman, too, and this accomplish
meut counts for much in the Clerks Of
fee.
Further, JOSEPH LODGE is clean man.
There are no flaws in his character-or
private or public record. In selecting him
as the candidate the minority party had
the situation as we have stated it in mind;
he was chosen because Of his high charac-
ter as man, a business man and as pub
lie servant
VIII the people Of Gloucester county
stand by their record and put purity, fit
ness and the public service before partisan
ship in choosing County Clerk on Novem-
Der 2nd? We believe they win.