The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-05-29
a COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
The colby Movement in this County
Put on Permanent Basis.


Put on a Permanent Basis.
What was called as a conference,
but developed into a meeting with set
speeches was held at the residence Of
A. Al. Vance on Ridgedale avenue, last
Tuesday evening. There were about
forty men who had assembled on in
vitation The guests Of the evening
were John s. Gibson and Gardner Col
by. Senator Colby could not be pres
ent on account Of the death Of his
child.
Mr.. Gibson was the first speaker,
telling Of the organization Of the
movement in Essex county and enun-
ciating the principles, equal taxation
and limitation Of franchises, the tax
ing Of franchise Oh their value on a
plan similar to the Ford law Of New
York, giving the people the opportun-
ity to express their choice for United
States Senator.
Some results have been gained, but
The franchise tax and Senator laws
still remain for work and Others must
be improved and guarded. Other laws
needed are limitation of capital of cor
porations, and repeal of the promo
tors liability act.
In closing Mr. Gibson referred to
sThe Jungle, = which deals with the
alliance between packing house inter-
eStS and the political machine, calling
especial attention to the socialiStic
remedy which the writer offered. Yet
he said, when.a conservative progress
Sive movement for Improvement OF
conditions is started good citizens are
found opposing, forgetting the proba-
BILE swing of the pendulum to the
other extreme.
Gardner Colby then spoke, saying
that it is remarkable to find the COM
paratively large bodies of men as com
pared with conditions last year ready
to take up the movement this year,
1T was thought last fall that the up
rising in Essex would show the legis-
lators and others the feeling of the
people toward the great question OF
the hour. but this was not the case
and the representatives Of other coun-
ties including Morris, were solidly
lined up against reform on all occa-
sions. Hence the movement is being
extended to the other counties. He
told Of the absolute ignoring Of the
Essex delegation and those affiliated
with them, although they asked no
patronage, but simply stood for GER
tain principles. 1t was always the
other mans bill, that was reported in
stead of the Colby mans.
Most important Of all is to get back
to representative government men
chosen by the people to work for the
interests of the people. Do away with
blind delegates. If a man is sent as a
delegate by the work Of the machine,
he feels some obligation to the ma
chine and will take the machine cam
didate. He never heard of the people.
The campaign has been started early
because Of the experience Of last year
when it was found that plenty of time
is required. Mr.. Colby outlined plan
of organization.
A. A. Vance spoke briefly, CRITICS
ing the representatives of the county
in The last House as the tools of those
with special interest. He also dis
cussed the new tax commission and
the members declaring that it in his
opinion is corporation scheme to
override the peoples elective assessors
by a commission with power to remove
them from office.
E. r. Kellogg said he came as an en-
Quirer and was satisfied as to the
movement. He pledged his time and
energy to the work Of supporting it.
The battle for liberty was not finally
decided at Yorktown, but must be
fought again and the fight is now on.
The Colby movement is only a part Of
a movement throughout the country,
revival Of civic consciousness. Most
of the evils complained of are due to
unwise corporation laws. which need
amending.
Rev. DR.. Hughes said that as far as
the moral question is involved his life
! dedicated to it. Politically, of
course, he could not push matters.
Other reforms he thought perhaps
more Important, but push one at a
time. He referred to the forward step
taken by Bishop Lines in civic affairs.
Organization was then taken up.
Frederick G.. Burnham was elected
president 9. f. Axtell, secretary and
III. G.. Wolfe, treasurer A committee
was authorized to decide on a name
and to select candidates for vice -presi-
dents and members Of an executive
committee.
Among those present were X. G..
Burnham, B. O. Chisolm. George e.
ChisOlm, +. r. Kellogg, @. e. White
head, Rev. w. M. Hughes, HI. H..
Davis, S. N. Smith, Frank Gould, @.
WI Vernon, G.. P. Chew, q. II. Smith,
Henry Cory, r. @. Keasbey, G. r. AK
tell, Nathaniel Clark, S. Il. Garrison,
George r. Jenkins, O. ID. Platt, Z. S.
Smith, II. w. MulfOrd, /. d. Lum,
Fred Muchmore, G. w. Sinclair, Jos,
eph B. Fighter, ]. ID. Thompson.