New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-31
STOKES ASKS PROOF.
MAYOR FAGAM,S CHARGE.
Gorernor WIN ReappoiHt Secretary
of State Unless Convinced.

rrezton. n J., March 80 CSpecaD.-GOvernor
stokGs n e statement to-day Indicated that II
Mayor Pagan could substantiate the charges no
tad preferred against the private character OF the
foeretarv OF state Samuel D. Dickinson. he would
not be reappointed. On the other hand the Gov
trnor made 81 equally plain that unless substantial
evidence OF the truth OF the allegations were OF
fered he would be compelled TO reappoint Coionei
Dickinson as a vndicstion Of his personal char
ncter
The Governor said:
So many rumors are current with reference 70 the
appointment OF the Secretary OF State that Wei
lic The present Secretary OF State has been ~
oince five years having peen aRPolnosG Cement
81 the Office has been most excellent ] ne loiCe
proSness ana efcienoy ana in ali Of the bitter
hess OF political OF the last hve years no
lodged against the performance OF the present seo
retary Of States Official duty As pu99c oi Fo
e tsri S5sHa.'' ms D'@'' .i''''
Last week a signed protest was filed with m. me
against the Secretary OF States reappointment'
This protest came from official source that en-
appointing power especially IN view o. the gravity
q the CHARGES THESE 9'e SS sTe orersbad.
owed and, under the circumstances P5@ceacafg
fect mans dearest end only enduring possession
Had The question IN the case been left n Purely
political one. it could probably have been settled
% the satisfaction at least. Of fair MINDED peope
private life OF the present Secretary of State
e IS 20 be TeFreted shat these aco1sations should
have been made in way that viii necessarily IN
( flied by the discussion OF matters OF this kind'
whether true or false II the charges are IaLse.
ter deeply TO be deplored: II true the facts Iishc
that he could have retired voluntarily
AS the situation now exists the appointing power
iofnelai. but personal with only few days time
20 act both as judge and jury upon mans char.
issue the refusal 10 reappoint the Secretary oe
state. would make him pariah and an onIG i;,S
zeal Il mas reached the stage where upon II de-
h1P a fellow man. IN the performance Of this duty
mot invited. not sought. but inadvertently al
VIII influence the appointing power. The issue at
stake is too sacred for that. ,-...,-...
the private life OF ofcias has never been settled:
Many people Think that their private Veg are ee 1
upon these questions are 70 unconlproIllslns thaI
-vboss SrTste life was not Clean II these charges
lsgainst the Secretary OF State are true. coula
itho charges should subsequently prove true,
should ask for his resignation - 49,, -.
Indeed had these charges at any time Gurlng my
term been made 70 ne. with substantiai PROOF; l
nation. and not waited for the hour Of re-appont-
The present Secretary ~ State over his own sig
nature. has most enphatcally denied every snch
charge or suggestion innuendo that be drawn
ithersfTom. He says that IL the charges were true
he would not expect consideration and that II such
charges should ever become true he would resign
no reelection upon the word OF the accuFer 20 say
shat the Secretary Of States Innocence Tqss Se ne
only common law, but common fairness and JUS
5 The accusations are lodged against man who for
years has been in the full glare OF publicity; ana
they come upon him now ct an hour when the time
FOR action which must be taken IS all too brief for
esfie5s T-nIess fbeT are s9bstantiaiIv proved
upon myself the responsibility. without proof OF
placing the brand Of shame upon the life and char
Ecter OF q fellow