The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-10-26
LABOR'S STAUACH FRIEND
Many Ways in Which He Has
Benefited the Honest
Workingman.

The life of James NJ. Seymour. the Dem
oeratic nominee for Governor of New Jer-
sey, is a striking illustration of the pos
sibilities for advancement which this
country affords a young man ef energy.
industry and honest convictiehs. In no
other country is it possible fbr a man to
rise simply by his own worth and merit
from the machinist's bench to the Cow
erms1's chair of great commonwealth.
Mr.. Seymour was born infNew York and
received his early education In the pub
lie schools of that city. When still
youth he was apprentsced as a machinist
TO the Novelty IRON Works of New York
-and, served his time in that plant, at that
time the largest machine shops in the
country. When he had served his appren-
tieeship he had shown such talents and
ability that he was advanced to the en-
cheering department. and there complet-
ed a term of service as q draghtsman.
ITS desire to be completely equipped in
every branch of his chosen profession led
him TO obtain position on the Erie Rail-
road. in order that he might acquire
thorough knowledge of locomotive work
ard ne took up all branches of the subject
including that of locomotive engineer
When he had completed this he was
placed at the head OF the designing de-
partment of the Newark Machine Com
pany.
During the War of the Rebellion it was
not alone the man who shouldered
musxet and went to the front that sue
ceeded in putting down the Rebellion.
There were many men In the ordinary
pursuits of life who rendered the gov
ernment invaluable service and without
whose aid the war could not have been
prosecuted to successful issue Mayor
Seymour was one of these men. and, al
though he wears no button which tells
that he carried gun and burned pow
der he rendered the government as much
valuable service as the men who wore the
blue and carried the Stars and Stripes
to victory in the territory south of Ma
son and Dixon's land.
In 1862 the Sharp Rifle Manufacturing
Company Of Hartford. Conn. received a
contract for gun machinery for the Span
ish Government armory at Oveido.
Mayor Seymour was selected to superiE-
tend its construction. Subsequently ne
was engaged to prepare drawings for the
machinery to be used in making guns for
the Boston armory, and reported the prog
ress of the work twice a week to cover
nor Andrews, the war Governor Of
Massachusetts, At this time patriotism
ran high and Mr.. Seymour, like most men
of the day. thought It was his duty to go
to the front and fight for the preservation
of mis- country. He started to raise A
regiment and was meeting with excellent
success when Governor Andrew heard of
his intention and insisted that he should
abandon his intention of going to the
front. The Governor pointed out that tire
government needed men of ability in i's
civil service and as no one could be found
to take his place he could be of far more
service to his country in the work he was
then doing than in leading regiment
against the enemy.
Mr.. Seymour then returned to this State
and was made general superintendent Of
the New Jersey Arms and Ordnance
Works at Trenton While he was In
charge of these works an attempt was
made by the company to reduce wages,
but Mr. Seymour raised such objections
to the scheme and declared that il the
reduction was made he would resign mis-
position. This firm stand by Mayor Sey-
mour prevented the reduction, and as
token of his loyalty they presented him
with a silver service, which he still re-
tains in his possession as a kind remem-
brance.
In 1865 Mr.. Seymour became the senior
member Of the engineering firm OF Sey-
mour & Whitlock of Newark wnlen mas
ba4n continually in business ever since
r,hIs firm has rever reduced the wages OF
~ en,ploves and d strike has never oc-
Cured In its factory since It was starred
M seymour began his political career