The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-02-20

defended his integrity and my own
Did that require backbone or did ii
not? MY position here upon some OF
the most important questions which
have been submitted to this legisla-
ture. namely, the Morris Canal, proves
that have a backbone. Some of the
strongest interests in the state were
for that measure and 2 stood against
it every time. Does that require
backbone? There are men in the
Legislature who believe it defeated me
for the leadership of the house when
the senator from Essex succeeded,
and that is no accusation against the
senator from Essex, but mention
it here as an instance to prove that
/ am independent here. have moth
ing to say as to my intelligence. Let
other men judge that; but my indie
pendence / assert, as / have a right
to assert. | was not bequeathed a
fortune, but I was bequeathed honor,
sir, and honor / shall maintain.
'Mr President, might say more.
1 have no enmity against the sena-
tor from Essex. The same honor,
sir, that makes me treat this ques-
ton in cool and deliberate manner,
that same honor makes me feel the
same toward the senator from Els
sex. I shall not change those rela-
tons if he sees fit not to. believe,
sir, that he ought to have had the
courtesy to speak of me in different
terms, at least while we were mem
bers of this body think there is
some dignity in this body, and
think it ought to be preserved. Let
me say in conclusion, Mr. President,
that believe that any man who at
tempts to ride to political supremacy
by tramping in the dust the charac-
ter of their fellowmen is guilty OF
political pirasy am done"
Il am very sorry" said Mr.. Colby,
that this incident has occurred.
The senator from Morris has suggest
ed that courtesy should have caused
me to refrain from expressing my
views and opinions in his own coun-
ty. certainly trust that nothing
will ever occur in this chamber which
shall lead me to forget myself, lead
me to conduct myself in any wise
other than as a gentleman should. /
trust outside shall never forget SEN
atorial courtesy, but / shall allow no
senatorial courtesy to ever prevent
me from expressing my views wher-
ever am placed or wherever am
speaking Now, I have never sug-
gested that the senator from Morris
did not have backbone; I never sug-
gested that he had been dominated by
boss, but, Mr.. President, | indict
myself with the other members of
this legislature, senators and assem-
blymen alike. was in the houre.
and knew perfectly well that dill
not use my own intelligence, that l
did not walk right up to every prob
lem that came up, or other members
of the house. knowing that they
were doing their own thinking.
Il know perfectly wen when that
twenty per cent. bill came up that
they could not persuade the senator
from Morris to vote for it. He GER
tainly had backbone, but indict
him with the rest, Mr.. President, on
the ground that he does not, any more
than a great many of his fellow mem
bers, approach all problems and all
difficulties and all intricate questions
which we must face here, absolute
ly. and solely on its merits and ac-
cording to the way his own mind and
brain plays about that subject.
.'That is what say. If have said
one single thing against the gentle
mans character or against him as a
gentleman would gladly, freely,
willingly apologize on the floor Of
this senate. but, gentlemen, have
only expressed my personal views as
to condition with which l believe
him with the rest are subject