The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1905-02-01
FEBRUARY !. 1905.


twenty seventh prints the substance of
the High Bridge Gazette article quot
ed by us in our issue OF last week and
comments in part as follows:
Quite a good while ago-yet long
enough after the public accusations
to have given abundant time for an
swsr-this paper called on those coun
ty officials for whom the Democratic
party was responsible for having
placed in public trust, to give to the
people of the county their answer to
certain specific and open charges that
they had betrayed their trusts by IL
legally and fradulently pocketIng
moneys OF the taxpayers Of the coun
ty.
And yet no answer or attempt at 1t
and last week the High Bridge Ga
zette writer who represents tue inves-
tigation which brought TO light these
apparent frauds takes the annual ii
nancial statement as text for sum
ming up what has thus far come from
the accused officials In the way of
answer Bs thlz 1t appears that re-
paration has been made III some cases,
but barely to the limit of the prlma
facie proofs OF the frauds charged, and
1t does not appear to have come in the
form of correction of an error. or
even as "coDscieDce- money" in any
case. There IL not even an apology
for or defense OF the pocketlng of the
county money ~ the act of honest
but ignorant men.
If those authoritative statements Of
the legal vestigatois are true and
they stand week after week aud mouth
alter month without even II promise
of explanation to tho people whose
trust these men are charged with ven
ally violating it must DO taken as II
plea of mon vuit," which III an or
binary criminal ut the bar IN nothing
less than plea of guilty"
Can Hnnterdon county Officials or
sI-ofiicials lot 1t stand like that? We
again ask them as due not only to
the party that elected them for an
explanation on which, If possible, the
Democratic press can defend them II
the accusations against them be un-
just and from partisan motive.
The Democrat takes a strong and
proper stand in the premises, nearly
reaching the conclusion, by inference
at least, that if all the corruption
charged by those interested in the in
vestigation is to be believed, of which
there is apparently no doubt, then the
Democratic party which is responsible
tor practically all OF the frauds uncov-
cred is not to be trusted with the gov.
eminent Of our affairs.
The conditions existing are the out
come of a system OF secrecy which has
kept the people of the country ignor
ant OF the true state OF affairs and the
uninterrupted control of the affairs OF
the county 10y one party. We attrib-
ute the success of this system of secre
cy to the fact that nearly all of the Off
Gals who were engaged IN various en-
terprlses to increase their incomes un-
lawfully had at their disposal sufficient
patronage in the way of printing to
make 1t advantageous 10 newspaper
to keep in favor and secure a liberal
portion OF the public business All
publishers know that if they crtlClse an
official the legitimate printing IN the
way of advertisements supplies &c
which they are entitled to receive will
be shut off and given to the publisher
who is discreet enough to say nothing
or INSCRIPTIONS enough to praise him
The result has been that ii any pub
Usher has felt inclined to expose con
ditions he has refrained from dong so
because of the certainly of losing his
legitimate share OF business, which few
country papers can afford to do
The bennington publishers are the
best situated being at the county seat,
10 inform themselves of conditions but
they receive the greatest share OF the
puOnC pruning nom the Shetltf, SuffU-
gate, Clerk and Board OF treeholders
and therefore print a correspondlngly
scant amount OF facts rejecting on
their beneiiclaries.
The High Bridge Gazette is to be
congratulated upon its courageous
stand on the side of right and ii is to
hoped that the fruits OF It's efforts will
be shown by general awakening of
public interest in local affairs leading
to the establishment of honesty and
clean government in our country OFF,
ces.