Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-09-20

After a general discussion vote was
taken by counties and local option |
amendment was lost by 537 to 6l9. The
Essex delegation went solidly for local
option and in Hudson only 2S votes
were recorded against it. Passaic was
the only other county to vote as unit
for local option and most of the small
er counties were solidly against it.
First Ballot Informal.
1t had been agreed that the first bal
lot on the candidate should be informal
for the purpose of testing out the
strength of the different candidates.
The result was: Fort, 75912 Lewis,
1879 Sommer, 120: Pitney. 9634 Essex
split with 121 votes for Fort, 104 for
Sommer and eight for Pitney. Hudson
went almost solidly for Fort, casting
only 6H votes for Sommer and one for
Pitney. Before the first formal ballot
had progressed far most of the coun-
ties began to swing tne1r votes into the
Fort column. At last they We're all in
line except Essex. and when Judge
Benjamin Jones, of the New Idea move
ment in that county, stepped forward
and moved that the nomination be made
unanimous. the convention became de-
lirious The band struck up the tune of
Hold the Fort" and the delegates
united in singing a song written for the
occasion and paraphrasing the we'll
known hymn.
| Then Sheriff Sommer was conducted
| to the platform and made a ringing
speech urging every republican to unite
| in loyal support of the candidate. 81
| firmly believe" said Sheriff Sommer
that if you elect Justice J. Franklin
Fort governor he will stand back OF
men in the enforcement of the laws
This speech had the effect of smoothing
| over all the differences that had beer
| thrashed out on the floor of the con-
vention. and the rest of the proceedings
we're as harmonious as could have been
wished.
Fort Accepts Nomination.
When the committee appeared with
| Judge Fort there was wild scene. The
| delegates rose to greet him. and the
| roof was shaken with the shouts and
cheers. The first thing Judge Fort did
before being introduced to the conven-
tion was to hand his resignation as q
justice of the supreme court to Cover
nor Stokes, who was present. The aud
| fence caught on, and it was a dramatic
and spectacular scene.
| After the enthusiasm had subSide(
| Judge Fort, who was beamng with sat
isfaction, stepped to the front and de-
livered a speech that fairly electrified
the audience. In part he said:
| Il have Just handed Governor Stokes
preme court or New Jersey. I am now
ready to take up at once the new dutie.
you have imposed upon me. l want tC
say that l have never lifted a finger ol
uttered a word in an effort to secure
this nomination. If there is any mar
here who can dispute this | am ready to
resign this nomination here and now"
Here the Judge paused, but there was
no response. This is a time when in
dependence is abused, and it is a time
when devotion to principle is the first
consideration. l am under obligations
to no man and no interest | am in fav-
or of the direct primary: in favor OF
choosing United States senators by di-
: rect vote. | stand for an effective civil
service. I believe with all my heart ir
: the doctrine of home rule. l believe
l that each locality should control its
= own police powers. But | believe tina
, the doctrines of Solomon that right
, eousness eXalts a nation. but sin is
; reproach to any people is still true"
The judge in closing made an appea
: for republican success as a prelude to
greater victory next year.