Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1898-10-12

Dig DID lOr popularity by OppOs'
ing the Republican nominee for
Assemblyman. Claiming to be "Re-
publican to the back bone" fearing
the defeat of the ticket and the elec-
tiOn OF Democratic u. S. Senator,
the Editor is doing his level best to
accomplish what he processes to fear.
Before the nomination was made,
opposition, IN favor of another Repub-
licau was legitimate but. remember
ing that no other name was mention
ed in the convention, we believe it to
be every Republicans duty to sup
port the nominee. unless he is known
to be unfit for the pOsition,-lacks
necessary qualifications, or has
rendered himself obnoxious by pre-
viOus acts and even the Press makes
no claim of the kind. The statement
that Mr.. Ashley is not person
ally popular is not sufficient,
now.-he had every vote in the con-
ventiOn. Besides, personal popular
ity does not always make a man
honest, upright, straightforward,-
as Mr.. Ashley undoubtedly is. Give
us men who can be depended upon.
be their friends few or many.-West
Jersey Republican, October s, ISoS.
We are glad to see that our editor
ial brother recognizes the fact that
opposing the reelection of Assembly
man Ashley is ga bid for popularity" +"
If he only knew the numerous COM
mendations we receive from working
Republicans, all over the County,
both verbally and by letter, for our
independent course, he would be still
further convinced that our course is a
popular" one. Ashley's newspaper
organs are asserting that our oppo-
sition is based upon personal malice,
statement which we again declare
to be an unqualified falsehood. The
writer of the lengthy editorial that
fl st attracted so much political at
tention, never met Mr.. Ashley in his
life, to his personal knowledge, and
probably would not know him if he
met him to-day. None of the editor
ial writer's of this newspaper, or the
proprietors. ever had any business,
personal, or political dealings with
Mr.. Ashley, except to contribute to
his campaign expenses last year
when he ran five hundred votes be-
hind his ticket.
We oppose Mr.. Ashley partly
on account of his repellant
manner, his lack Of tact, his want oi
qualifications for useful Legislative
work, his base ingratitude to poll
tical friends, and outrageous i'm
position on the party for a genera
ton. From 1876 to 1877, he
served two terms in the Assembly
and from 1881 to 1890 he served as
the Deputy Warden in the N. J. State
Prison, and from 1898 to 1898 as
Deputy Sheriff, when he ageeed Gt is
rumOred) to step aside from the
latter office, and did SO, but as soon
as the Legislature adjourned he re-
turned to his old position.
1t is these conditions that have
disgusted the party-workers, and
righteously too. If the Editor of the
Republican can continue to recon-
mend him for further honors and
ignore worthy republicans, he can do
Sd, but he will not have our assist
ance.
The democrats of the State do not
expect elect their candidate for Gov
ernor, but they do hope, by tremend-
GUS effort, to get control Of the legisla-
ture by close shave. 1t Is not likely
that either party will have five ma
jority on a Joint ballot, and a single
vote may decide it's political control.
Under such circumstances, we sub
nit, it was a huge political blunder
to renominate such a weak man as
Mr.. Ashley. He was forced upon the
County Convention, against ejudg-
ment of the best men in the republi.
can party, by few "bosses' who
have always been in office and always
intended to be as long as they can
fool the people and "whip in'' all
who try to oppose them. There is
only one hope remaining OF electing a
republican to the Assembly of Allan
tic County. GET MIR. ASHLEY OFF
THE TICKET AND REPLACE HIM WITH
A GENTLEMAN SUFFICIENTLY POPULAF
TO COMMAND THE UNITED SUPPORT
OF THE PARTY.
BETHEL's GOLDEN JUBILEE.