The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-18
INDEPENDENTS HOLD
THEIR CITY CONVENTION.
Alden Freeman Presents His Candidates
in East Orange Before Audience
of About Fifty.

Charges made against John Franklin
Fort, Republican candidate for Governor,
regarding his attitude in the disclosures
brought out in the building of the Am
boy bridges many years ago, were repeated
again last night by Charles A. Bloomfield,
of Metuchen, at the Independent city con-
vention held last night in the Woman's
Clubhouse, William and Prospect streets,
East Orange. Jardine Wallace was nomi-
mated for assessor by the delegates, Alden
Freeman and Edmund d. Torpey. Mr..
Bloomfield said he wondered why no reply
had as yet come from the candidate.
Fifty people, which included several women
and the candidates, were present.
The Rev. John r. Mason, Prohibition-In-
dependent candidate for Governor, deliv-
cred a lengthy address on the liquor ques-
ton aud made objections to being called
childish by a certain newspaper. Then
he told Of the time he had been that way
and reeited that on many occasions he had
gone down in his own pocket to help a
man who had fallen from the effects of
liquor, aud said once he sat down and
cried together with a man who had fallen.
Mr.. Mason declared that IL members of
his congregation made objections to his
political work he would Immediately re-
sign, get another position of some kin
and continue in politics. He didn't speak
much on issues outside of the liquor ques-
ton.
Mr.. Freeman recited the efforts he had
made to obtain the papers in the disbar-
ment proceedings instituted against Mr..
Fort. and of the strong opposition he met
with. Mr.. Freeman charged that articles
in old newspapers filed in the headquarters
of the New Jersey Historical Society had
been cut out, and that the accounts of the
disbarment proceedings were missing and
could net be found. The files in the State
House. he declared, were cut in the same
manner.
Mr.. Bloomfield repeated his charges re-
garding the action of Mr.. Fort when he
was on the bench, in connection with the
alleged graft incident to the erection of
the Amboy bridge. He told his auditors
that he had made these charges on June
IS and Mr.. Fort had not answered them
yet. Mr., bloomfield stated that he had
which he stated hat he had signed the
bill legalizing the acts of the F~reeholders
of Middlesex County at he suggestion OF
Judge Fort. Three different bodies went
to the then Judge Fort. he said, and told
him of the rascality of the Freeholdersi
but he went to Governor Stokes and in
sisted on his signing the bill.
IF he had remained on the bench" he
declared. Il would have taken the matter
to the Legislature and tried to have him
impeachcd and removed"
G.. Rowland Munro said there seemed tc
be a cloudy impression in the minds Of
many residents as to the stand taken by
the Independents. and wondered at the
| stand taken by many church people anC
ministers that the Republican candidate
for Governor was the great man who
said, are in favor of allowing the voters o
every community in the State to decide
whether saloons should exist at all in theil
sections. and hoped this would be under
stood once and for all.
Mr.. Wallace was chairman and William
II. Klimcke, secretary.