Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-11-10
MAJOR
HAS RESIGNED
Essex County Leader Utterly
Routed Gives Up leadership
of Republican Party.

NEWARK, Nov. 1O:-Owing K
the decisive defeat of the republican
party in Newark and Essex county
a large part Of the responsibility fol-
which was attributed by members OF
his party to him, Major Carl Lent
rendered his resignation yesterday az
chairman of the Essex county repub-
lican committee, a post he has held
through fourteen years of troublous
times, and he announced that ii
would take effect Immediately. He
also rendered to State Chairman
Frank o. Briggs, in a letter sent to
the latter at Trenton, his resignation
to take effect Immediately, as a men,
Der of the republican state commit
tee.
For years there has been opposi-
ton within the republican party in
Essex county to the domination Of
Major Lentz. His domination of the
party organization was one of the
factors that caused the starting of
the Colby movement in New Jersey.
Until now, however, despite the fierce
attacks that have been made on his
leadership, Lentz has bossed the par
ty affairs.
The results of last Tuesday were
too much for the old political fighter,
sci from even his closest associates
in the machine he wrote the letters
containing his designations and for
warded them. 1t is probable that a
special meeting of the county com-
mittee will be convened. 1t is likely
that his will be chosen
from among a list that contains the
names of Winton G. Garrison, state
chief of the department of labor, Hen
ny Dickson, Comptroller J. H. Bach
eller of Newark and Tax Receiver
Robert l.. Ross.
The letter of resignation as coun-
ty chairman is in part as follows:
ITO the Republican County Commit
tee of the County of Essex:
Gentlemen: l herewith tender
you my resignation as chairman of
the republican county committee of
Essex county, the same to take effect
Immediately. | also send by today's
mail to the chairman of the state
committee my resignation as a mem
Der of the state committee from Es-
sex county. 1 take this step not in
response to a clamor created by some
papers, but after a careful considera-
ton and without consulting any one,
simply believing that the best inter-
ests of the republican party require
that | should do SO.
Il was elected chairman of the
county committee in 1892. i found
no organization and a bankrupt treas
ury, with $4,000 debts remaining I'M
paid. There is today a good organ
i~zation, all bills are paid, and a suffi-
cient surplus in the treasury to pay
the expenses of the committee for the
coming year.
The record of the republican party
and its officials in this county and
city for the past fourteen years is
without blemish and free from cor
ruption and graft.
in my Judgment the reasons for
the defeat of the republican party
last Tuesday in our county and city
are as follows:
"First-The effects caused by the
passage of what is generally known
as the bishops bill. This legislation
was passed last winter against my
earnest advice and Judgment. As |
had absolutely no influence in the
legislature the result cannot be
charged to me. In my judgment leg
i~slation of this character will never
accomplish any good. Education
and the moral sentiment of the people
alone will regulate the excise ques-
ton. For years the republican party
of this city, through the efficient and
conservative policy adopted by the
excise board, has accomplished o
for the moral improvement OF our
city than was ever done before. Inc
policy of the democratic party, as re-
ported. is for legislation leading to
an open Sunday. This, in my opinion,
is an utter impossibility. The 1nde-
pendent party was for legislation for
he most stringent enforcement OF
the Sunday law. This, is my Judg-
ment. was impossible, at least in SO
large a city with a population like
Newark.
I'm my judgment, the policy of the
republican party in favor of the home
rule law allowing each municipality
to regulate itself on that question was
the only resultful n to take. This
policy was defeated last Tuesday, but
it will prevail in the end.
1.-THE second reason was the in
creased tax bill. | have differed from
the financial policies of some of the
officers of the city of Newark in the
last year and while realizing that the
additional appropriation of 100000
in the city's budget vas absolutely
necessary and could not be prevent
ed, the manne of raising this addi-
tional money, in my judgment, was a
mistake. The appropriation instead