The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-10-08
Judge Fort Speaks.

Judge Fort Speaks.
At a mass-meeting in Newark Friday
night, ex Justice John Franklin Fort, the
Republican nominee for Governor, was
formally notified of his selection as the
standard bearer of the party in the cam
paign now in progress. Mr. Fort said:
cat the very outset of any discussion of
the liquor question we are met with the
fact that the Democratic State platform
has taken no position upon it and in no
way mentioned it, The candidate of that
party in his speech of acceptance has done
the same thing. The only plank in the
Democratic platform that can by any DOS
sibility be considered as relating to the
subject is this:
eve favor the greatest extension of
the principle of home rule in municipal
government, securing to each mu-
nicipality the absolute control of all
matters requiring local administration
| without undue interference by the
Legislature"
There Is popular song that runs like
this: He walked right In and turned
around and walked right out again That
seems to fit this plank. 1t declares for
home rule without undue interference by
the Legislature Who is to determine
what is undue interference by the Legis-
lature2 Does not this clause leave the
whole matter open to action at Trenton
without regard to what localities may
want7 Home rule brooks no interference
by the Legislature. Home rule confers
like powers upon all municipalities and
leaves 1t to the people of each locality to
accept or reject the powers conferred
This plank of the Democratic platform
might stand for anything, high license,
local option, wide-open Sunday or prohi-
bition; what it does stand for no one knows
and 1t was intended that no one should
know.
THE Republican plank on the excise
question is as follows:
''The Republican party has accom-
plished needed reform in excise legis-
lation and pledges itself to the main
tenance of it,"
This could have reference to but one
act of legislation, the so-called bishops
bill. This plank claimed little too much
when it said this law was passed by Re-
publicans only. Some Democratic Senators
and Assemblymen voted for the bill. Has
anyone denied that the bishops bill has
effected needed reform In excise matters?
Is the Democratic party opposed to the
bishops bill2 Is its candidate? Neither
of them have said SO. Will they so de-
clare?
"What is the bishops bill? Who
caused its PASSAGE This bill was
passed in response to the moral and
religious demands of the people of the
State. The sentiment for it was as broad
as Professionalism; as catholic as Catholi-
cism; and as general as the love of moral
| ity. Does any one object to the provis-
ion in the bill that eliminates back rooms
in saloons? Does anyone seek to repeal
the provision preventing sales to children
If so ask the mothers of New Jersey what
they think about it. Does any one object
to combining sales to the barroom except in
restaurants and hotels? Ii so, why? One
clause in the bill which penalties the owner
of property for the violation of the law by
tenant, whether the owner has know
| ledge of such violation or not, is open to
question.
''The other chief feature and the vital one
is that which requires screens to be down
so that clear view of the interior may be
had on prohibited days. If this were not
in the bill we should hear none of this dis
cussion.
ut needs to be remembered in all the
discussion on this subject that the Bishops
bill did not change the penalties against
the illegal sale of liquor from what they
have previously been under the Werts act
passed by the Democratic party In 1880
and the Crimes act Ct -ls syS.
ne real question before the people il
not whether the legislation of 1906 should
be amended or repealed, but whether the
people of the State desire to remove from
the Werts act of 1889 and the Crimes ac
of 1898 all penal clauses against the sale Of
liquors on the prohibited days. All these
questions are legislative questions The
Executive cannot make the law He en-
forces the law as enacted by Legislature
elected by the people.
'The sixth paragraph of article of oul
State Constitution, speaking of the duties
of the Governor, declares
} ITO refuse to execute a law is nullif
cation. While the present excise law re
mains upon the statute books Governor
who regards his oath of Office land his Fl
| deity to the Constitution of the State hal
] no discretion. His sworn constitutions
duty is to execute the law"
'If elected, shall obey my oath. IN
der our form of government the will of thu
/ people as expressed at the ballot box is tn,
supreme law of the land. 1t is for then
, to say whether they desire any modifica
tion on existing law. If they do thei
remedy is to elect Legislature that will
J make it.
r II do not mean to commit myself ir
. revocably at this or any other time as t,
what will do in a given case If elected
Governor of the State. Conditions at tn
8 time that action may be required as wei
= as public sentiment may be entirely chang
a ed and the nature and character of the leg
islation upon which may be asked to pas
han d. ID II i
This, however, | will say, that for myself
e have no personal opinion to enforc
/, against the will of the people, and If ca
learn what that will is will endeavor +
e follow it in all official recommendations 0
d actions, reserving always, however, t
# myself the right, even against what ma
n before the time seems to be popular de
? mand, to stand for what my judgmen
u and conscience dictate to be right. w
e must not put this campaign In the sloug
:. of despond, but on the hilltop of civi
;. Righteousness.
II Have You an American Flag in Your Home
That splendid home news paper, til
It Philadelphia Press, offers beautift
p American Flag-size 3x5 feet-guarar
:. teed fast to sun and rain, stripes sewet
not printeSMe daily edition of the
II publication ~ 0Ee year for $3.50. Til
e is just about the price of the paper alon
$3.50 is the total expense to you, SO tbs
r you get the flag almost free. Hand yor
r check or money to your Postmaster
=. Newsdealer or mail 1t to the Circulatio
department of the Press, Philadelphi,
and the paper and flag will be mailed
ID once. Money returned for the asking
ID ION are not satisfied