The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-20
H0TLYcoNTEsTED CAMPAIGN
CANDIDATES. PRETTY EVENLY MATCHED, ETC. ETC

A HOTLYncONTESTED CAMPAIGN OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
CANDIDATES PRETTY EVENLY MATCHED, ETC, ETC
Well, the unexpected didn't happen in Trenton yesterday
The forecast of the political experts was indicated by the
nomination for Governor of Supreme Court Justice John Franklin
Fort, to oppose the Democratic candidate, Frank S. Katzenbach-
The battle is going to be a great one, a stubbOrnly-con-
tested one and one in which neither side is going to have
many votes to spare, unless the situation alters materially dur
paigners. Each is a ready ta1ker, quick wited and of pleas
ing personality. Mr.. Katzenbach has the advantage of youth
on his side, but at ffy-fve Judge Fort is in the prime OF
life, and the seventeen years or SO that he has been longer in
the world than his opponent have given him experience, broad
ness and a clear grasp of public questions. All in all, they
are pretty evenly matched antagonists from the personal point
of view.
Neither. candidate will be helped much by the platform of
his party. Each will to a large extent make his own plat
form, especially on the excise question. Both Conventions
treated that issue more or less evasively, and with a lack of
frankness that makes necessary fuller explanation, interpretation
and exposition by the candidates. For this reason their speeches
will be scanned with unusual interest, and it is not impossible
that the result of the Election may turn upon a single phrase.
Foraker Defends The Constitution" The poor old Con-
sttution is deserving of sympathy.
The Standard Oil inquiry now proceeding in New York
simply confirms all that was known about the company's methods
its thickness, deception, lying, extortonate prices and cooking.
of the books to misead and obfuscate. We all remember how
fefvently and religiously the Standard Oil people denied owner
ship or connection with the Waters-Perce Company. This lat
ter concern, it may be recalled, was driven out of Texas, but
Senator Joe Bailey, the great Trust buster, had it readmitted
on his solemn assurance, among other things, that it had no
utilization whatever with the Standard Oil Company.
It is in order now for some Standard Oil apoogist to get
up and tell us that the present unpleasant investigation is
hurting business and paralyzing prosperity and is caused by a
"Socaisdc wave
Men who get used to the employment of such methods as
have been common with the Standard Oil Company apparently
lose all sense of right and wrong. Their moral faculties become
atrophied. Lying for business advantage or to protect themselves
from annoyance seems justifabe to them.
Witness the case of H. H. Rogers. This man was abso-
lutely renorse1ess when it came to a question of destroying a
competitor. For years he went on his way unchecked, none
daring to say him nay. He was above and beyond the proc
esses of courts or other governmental agencies. But times have
changed. Last week he was ordered to appear in court as a
witness. Immediately the country was flooded with sympathetic
tales of his incurab1e illness, and physicians certificates were
Forthcoming to back them up. And all the while he was
motoring around Fairhaven, in Massachusetts,, and acting as his
own chauffeur.
What doth it profit a man to pile up il1-gotten millions if
he have to answer for infractions of the moral, civil or criminal
law like anybody else?
There was a meeting in Ocean Grove the other night of
property owners who are dissatisfied with the present methods
of governing that town. In one report of the gathering this
paragraph occurs:
1t was limited at the meeting that the Hahn committee
would be asked to investigate the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting
Association. Should the committee come here the subject Of
under a special charter granted by the Legislature. No tax is
paid to the State or County on the valuable real estate, 1t being
the contention of the association officials that the realty is
exempt.
1t seems incredible that such a wealthy settlement as Ocean
Grove should be exempt from its share of County and State
tax. There is no justification in law or equity and the tax
ing authorities have been shamefuny negligent if they have
permitted it.
Barrels of money roll into the treasury of Ocean Grove
every year. The fact, a s alleged, that none of it finds its
way into the County or State treasury is a sufficient reason
for a rigid investigation either by the Senate or Assembl,
Committee.
James T. MARITIME naturally feels disappointed at his failur
to capture the Democratic nomination for Governor. Many o
the sturdy old chaps admirers ire firmly convinced that h
would have succeeded had the political bosses kept their hand