The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-04
RING
RECEPTION
TO COLBY
Sheriff's Sentiments Are
Applauded at Meetings
of the New Idea.

New Idea speakers were busy last
night. The inclement weather did not
have much effect on the attendance.
In odd Fellows Hall in Irvington,
there was q good crowd, as told else
where in the EVENING STAR. AT
Bergen street and Madison avenue the
open air meeting was pleasing to the
reformers, and IN at Carr's Hall at
Bergen and Cabinet streets did not fall
short, of expectations.
While Sheriff Frank II. Sommer was
having a heart-to-heart talk with the
Irvingtonians. Senator Everett Colby
and former Assemblyman Austen Col
gate were speaking in Cars Fan ana
at the open air meeting at Madison
avenue and Bergen street. The Sena-
tors talks were very brief. he deyoting
himself to an explanation of the work
done by the New Idea Assemblymen
in Trenton two years g what
they promised to do If elected TINS
year. William Fellowes Morgan dwelt
on the need of a direct primary ana
public utilities commission.
Former Assemblyman Gustave Roeber
was in charge OF the meeting at Cars
Hall. and had his hands full holding the
crowd during the ntermission between
Senator Colby's departure and the appear
ance Of Sheriff Sommer. The crowd was
anxious to see the Sheriff and SAID so
vociferously whenever there was a luil IN
the proceedings for4 a moment. and when'
he appeared he was accorded a warm
welcome.
The gathering was entirely informal.
When the spirit moved any one he rose
mn and put his question. Some were not
easily convinced and they were argued
with at more or less length until they
were satisfied or tired out and had sub
sided.
Some in the audience wanted enlighten-
ment as to how equal taxation was nelp-
ing the workingman. Raises In salaries
for Office holders was the only result that
one lnterrogater could see OF the re-
suitjng funds and the raise in rents was
the only effect he knew of that 1t had had
upon him Mr.. Roeber said that the
railroads were fighting the payment OIL
their assessment, but the city would oe-
rive the benefit as soon as the question
was decided by the courts.
The Sheriff was accompanied by Alder
man william r. Martin. who had been
speaking with him at an open-air meeting
Mt Madison avenue and Bergen street.
Sheriff Sommer said that he had come
to talk to the men there as one father 10
another. Then he went on to say:
.It ia nearly eighteen months since / first
became Sheriff. For that time I have
administered the office in spite of mis-
representation as to my motives and Will
hcation from those who do not ike my
way Of doing 1t. I have kept quiet ana
not answered these people because l knew
in the end the work would justify itself,
and now I come to the people to explain
! my position. and / will explain 1t now Tor
: the last time in this campaign, because IL
is now understood.
Before election two years ago. ne con-
tinued, II told people as clearly as Eng
lish permitted what I intended to do II |
were elected. ! told them that II they did
not want the office administered as l said
/ was going to administer 1t, they should
vote for someone else. They elected me by
Ia majority Of 10000. and I took them at
their word and did as / said l would"
His work as Sheriff, what he had found
and how he had overcome 1t was the next
topic touched on. Then he took up the
Bishops Law. telling how 1t was enforced
before he took office, and of what came 10
light when he went after the gambling
dens and cocaine sellers. Speaking OF the
saloon problem he said: +,
II offered a solution of 1t In municipal
home rule. | wanted to let you decide tnat
question for yourselves, ~ was t saaq r nnpe
poses. but / did not. III you elect us you
will find that our program will be carried
out. 1t is not a new suggestion. L nave
been making 1t for two years; l have SAID
that the people In cities know what the
cities want and need. l wanted the state
Constitution amended SO that cities could
severn themselves. All cities are not the
same and you cannot make one piece OF
legislation fit all OF them.
we want to bring up our boys as uncon-
taminated as possible, so that when they
come to the age when they receive the bal
lot they can receive the powers of the
founders of the country. But what are
those powers? They nave gradually slipped
away into the hands of a clique of men
who are using them for their ag-
grandizement. Those rights should be In
your hands and not In those of a small
body Of men. The direct primary In which
you can vote directly for your choice for
office will give 1t to you, but the direct
primary is bitterly opposed by politicians.
They know that If 1t becomes a fact they
will be~in the last ditch and fighting for
their lives. The only way to wipe out
bossism is by the abolition OF the party
convention"
The elimination of bossism by means of
the direct primary was the burden OF
Alderman William p. Martins speech. The
county committee controlled h county
conventions. he said, and the committees
in turn were controlled by corporations.
Senator Colby. Sheriff Sommer, former
Assemblymen Austen Colgate and William
p. Martin were the principal speakers at
the open air meeting at which they advo-