The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-06-11

cided to become candidate. That was
the beginning Of many sharp political
contests In this county. The coveted APP
pointment was withheld from him and
then he began contest which marked a
new era in the political history of Bur.
lington county.
His first act was to seek the Republican
nomination for Sheriff and after hard
contested struggle he secured majority
of the delegates and was given the place
on the ticket His vigorous campaign
for delegates and the fact that he defeated
several agencies which had before that
been in control, embittered some of the
leaders against him and personal feeling
was allowed to displace part fealty and
Mr.. Hays was defeated. A great character
istic of the man was that, although defeat
ed, he was not dismayed, and he at once
prepared for another campaign. A State
Senator was to be elected the following
year and Mr.. Hays entered the field
determined to secure vindication.
Again there was a sharp contest but
the result showed that for political
ability and strength as an organizer
Mr.. Hays was at the top. He Sc
secured the nomination but again treach-
cry in the party brought defeat. But
there was one thing accomplished and
that was that Nathan w. G. Hays must be
considered as a political factor The term
of the Burlington postmaster was about
to expire and Mr.. Hays again became a
candidate. After a bitter contest he was
appointed and things worked smoothly
until the time arrived for his reappoint.
ment Then opposition again developed,
the strongest protest being entered by the
State Senator. The administration of the
that had been given for years, and the
opposition was on purely personal
grounds. The friends of the postmaster
asserted themselves. arising from all
parts of the county, claiming that if the
official was turned down it would be the
worst move for the Republican party ever
made The matter drifted along for
some time and the postmaster was kept in
suspense until the term for which he
sought reappointment had nearly expired.
During the contest financial transaction
was bought to light in which the post
master was shown to have acted in very
honorable manner, the discredit being on
the other side. This probably had more
to do with the solution that anything else
for the situation was not at all comforting
to the opposition. The postmaster was
again given the berth, the extra time
which had elapsed during the controversy
going to his credit.
Whether it was the worry created by
the contest or whether it was merely the
advance of years we cannot tell, but soon
after the final settlement of the disputed
question Mr. Hays began to fail and he
was compelled to give up. After allowing
him all the benefits of possible hope of
recovery the Government decided to
make a change in the post office and John
w. Davis was appointed, but the ex post
master was never told of his removal and
he passed away without knowledge
that be was not in charge of the office.
There is very little that can be said of
Nathan Hays that the people of this coun
the are not acquainted with. He was an
honest, respectable and good citizen. He
believed it paid to be honorable in politics
as well as in business and one of his chief
desires was to purify politics and his fire.
auent defeats only urged him on to that
end, and the effect was visibly noticeable.
| Financial reverses came to him but one of
his first efforts when in position to do so
was to redeem his obligations and so strong
was that desire that he paid claims to
which the beneficiaries had no legal title.
| His heart and his pocket were always
open and many people will miss his acts
of kindness.
His funeral took place on Saturday from
his late residence in Burlington. 1t was
largely attended. Mr.. Hays was an ar
dent lover of flowers and the floral trib
utes sent by loving friends were a touch
ing recognition of one of the characters
tics of the deceased. The services were
conducted by Rev. Mr. Olmstead, of st
Mary's Episcopal church. The pallbearer
were: George A. Atkinson, James o. Glas
Cow, John Holland, W. E. Schermerhorn
William G. Wise and William Schuyler
The honorary pallbearers were: Ex-Sena
tor Henry j. Trick, Prosecutor Samuel A
Atkinson, Richard G. Dudley and JOSEPH
G. Kingdom. Interment was made in tn
M E. cemetery