The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-11-01
INK BOMB FOR VOORHEES,
Retail Merchants Associa-
ton Out In a Circular
Against Him.
KILLING TRADING STAMPS BILL
say That He Did Not Keep
His Promise to Sign the
Measure.

The Retail Merchants Association of
New Jersey has taken hand in the at
Tack on Foster NJ. Voorhees,. The follow
ing circular has been issued and sent all
over the State
RETAIL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION
OF NEW JERSEY.
Officers--P S. Van Anglen New Bruns-
wick, presauefat; j. A. smith, Palnfieid
vice-presldenlt; Jno g. hendrle, Paterson
seeIeuary; 4 s. Atkinson New Bruns-
Wick, treasurer.
Ofilcial Organ-"The New Jersey Trade
Review,
no The Retail Merchants of New Jersey:
The merchants of this state nave asso-
ciated for mutual protection. We have
fought trade abuses and stamped them
out as they presented themselves from
time to time. The latest evil, ana one
Which threatened the most direfui d-sas-
ter 10 the trace, Is the trading stamp
scheme. Many of the merchants have
been forced TO take il up, because Of the
threats made by representatives OF the
Trading Stamp Company, that unless
they engaged in 1t their business would be
injured. Business in these times of sharp,
keen competition is done on an average
margin or Is per cent gross. of which
one-half is chargeable to expenses, leay-
Ing. i12 per cent. net, but by the IS tand
ard QeIivery' method of the trading
stamp sehemers 5 per cent. of that ~ per
cent. must be yielded up to them, leaving
US only ~ per cent. to cover losses. The
trading stamp evil became such a burning
question that the Retail Merchants Asso-
citation of New Jersey, assembled at New
ark in convention, IN january, 1898, in
structed the Legislative Committee of the
ASSOCIATION to act in conjunction with the
Independent organizations representing
the Several commercial interests 10 pre-
pare a bill to be introduced at the last
session of the Legislature. prohibiting
such schemes in this State. Senator
Francis, OF Monmouth, introduced SEN
ate Bill No. 121 which met the views of
the Legislative Committee representing
the merchants. That bill must have been
drawn on conservative lines, and been
popular measure. for 1t passed the SEN
ate. with only Six votes in opposition
Whiie u passed ehe rouse, ol Sixty mem
bers, with only one vote in the negative,
and the latter was cast by Assenlblyman
Huston, of Eiizabeth-the home of Fos-
ter NJ. Voorhees,. That righteous meas
ure was finally killed by Foster NJ Voor-
hees. he having filed it with the Secre-
tary of State without approval after
the adjournment of the Legislature, when
it could not be repassed BY pursuing
that course ex-Acting Governor VOORHEES,
proved himself an enemy of the mer-
chants Of New Jersey.
Why did not Mr.. Voorhees, permit the
bill to become law?
His alleged reason was because he con-
sidered it unconstitutional.
II the bill was unconstitutional, why
was he wanting in moral courage, and
not veto 1t?
If he thought the bill unconstitutional,
Trenton he would sign the bill2
Has he ever been known to keep a
promise?
Before being sworn in as Acting Gov
ernor. did Mr.. Voorhees, write an opinion
for the International Trading Stamp
Company in which he held that such
legislation would be unconstitutional?
Did he accept retainer?
Was that opinion sought because of his
pre- -eminently recognized legal ability and
Trading Stamp Company desired to COM
nit him IN advance against a righteous
and popular measure which the retali
merchants of New Jersey had contem-
and which Foster M. Voorhees,, as Act
ing Governor would be called upon to
pass upon officially?
While the bill was in his hands, the
trading stamp people boasted that he
would not sign it because of the opinion
he had written before becoming Acting
Governor. Is this true?
Mr.. Voorhees, is now on the pillory-let
him make answer.
If it is true why did he undertake the
erv T t. pub he hearng on tie 3 b At
Trenton? Was it fair treatment of the
merchants to hail them from all sections
of the State two weeks in succession at
cost of time and expense to give him req,
sons why he should approve the bill
against which he had already committed
himself?
As citizens of New Jersey, we are proud
of the high honor in which the State IS
held; and If political trickster should
nal disgrace to the Commonwealth. We,
therefore, ask our fellow merchants, on
whose behalf such large delegations wait
sign the Arti-Trading Stamp bill, to vote
on the Sth of November next against
him.
chants Association of New Jersey, held
in Newark. January. 1888, F. s. Van An
glen of New Brunswick. our State Presi-
dent, in his annual address, urged the
trading stamp question and secure rem
edial legislation against such schemes; he
called attention to the bill passed by the
Legislature in Virginia, and hoped the
Legislative Committee of the association
would have such measure introduced
into the New Jersey Legislature .7l ana
Legislative Committee made report.
from which we auote.-
In giving a public hearing on the Anti
Trading Stamp bill, Mr.. Voorhees, had
Chestefieldian tact in dealing with the
enemy of the measure but in his treat
ment OF the merchants his conduct was
otherwise The pleadlngs OF the mer-
chants before him were of no avail and
every merchant at every cross road should
down. ard by whom Foster NJ. Voer-
hees is the one man who stood between
us and cur just demands, and we should
now stand as one man against him al the
coming election, and help defeat him for
Governor. We owe 1t to ourselves 10 re-
sent his treatment. Your Legislative
COMMITTEES would earnestly recommend
that a special committee be appointed
with power to circulate literature through
out the State. and show up in their true
colors the friends of the trading stamp
corporations and the enemies of the n1er-
camille classes.
The State Convention appointed a spe-
cial committee for that purpose, as fol-
lows:-James Gibson, chairman Arthur
(freRpfih!6 g Hen6rlG1 II.