The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1907-10-02
CAREER OF JUDGE FORT,
GUBERNAT0RtAt NOMINEE
MANwEit FRANK HARLEY,
Secretary Chairman

In making John Franklin Fort, jus
ice OF the supreme court, It's candidate
tof governor, the Republican party has
chosen 4 standard bearer who has had
more than ten years experience on the
bench, who has made famous record
ior the enforcement Of the law and the
uPholdtag oi morality, and who has fix
uted often before as a prominent char
aeter IN New Jersey politics. Besides
this they have selected one OF the most
vigorous and effective campaign speak
ers the state has ever produced
1t WIS At Pemberlon. Burlington
county, that Justice Font was bonn,
March 20, 1859, and he Is the son of
Andrew H. and Hannah 4. Fort. He
Is also the nephew Of the late Cover
nor George t. Fort, who was chef cx
eeutNe Of the state nom 1851 to ISsl.
uStICe Fort received ms eduaton at
Mt, Holly institute and Pennington
seminary, and then studied law with
Evan Merritt, OF Burlington county,
and still later was IN The office of Car
ut ). Cannon, then prosecutor of Bur
lngton county lie was graduated
from the ALBANY law school in 1872,
with the degree of IL, Il. Justice
Fort WIS admitted 10 the New Jersey
bar as an attorney IN 1873, and as
counselor IN 1870
MIR lorts political career began be
fore he was old enough 10 vote, when
he took IN active part IN the presiden-
tai campaign of 1875. Although he
had baely reached his majority he
served is journal clerk oi the assembly
darng The SESSIONS OF 1854 He
began the Practice OF law IN Newark in
1874
Governor Mcclellan thought SO well
OF Nh. Font that in 1873 he appointed
HIM Judge OF the lifst district court Of
Newark tor a term OF five Years. and At
the expiration Of the term he WIS reap
pointed 10y Governor Ludlow, but re
signed two years later to resume the
active practice of law.
Justice Fort knows what it means To
run state campaign for he served on
the Republican state committee, and
was wee president OF that body in 1850.
The man who NOW aspires to be COVER
mol OF this state has had 4 hand IN the
affairs OF i national convention, for in
1884 he WAS delegate-at.laige to the
Republican assembly that nominated
James G. Blaine fol the presidency.
At the Republican national conven.
ton held in St LOUIS in 1890 Justice
Fort, speaking tor New Jersey, placed
IN nomination tor wee president OF the
United States, Garret a. Hobart
Justice Fort has also figured prominent
" IN two Republican state conventions
He presided over The conventions of
1880 and 1895, when General L. Burd
Gluhb and John W. Grggs were re-
Spcctlvey nominated for governor.
The candidate was member of the
constitutional commission of 1904 and
IS now one OF the three New Jersey
members Of the constitutional commits
sion ON uniform laws tor all the states.
Governor Griggs, December /, 1900,
appointed MIR. Fort as Judge of the Is
sex county court OF common pleas to
I'LL vacancy caused by the resignation
OF Andrew kirkpatrick, who had &C
cepted the office OF Judge of the United
States district court for New Jersey.
When the legislature assembled Judge
Fort was nominated for full term of
five years and was unanimously con-
firmed by the senate. In May, 1900,
Judge Fort was appointed by Governor
Voorhees, as a Justice of the supreme
court to fill vacancy caused by the
elevation OF Justice Depue to the Office
of chief justice of the supreme court
January IA, 1901, he was nominated by
Governor Voorhees, for a full term of
seven years and the nomination was
confirmed by the senate January 20,
following. Justice Forts present cir
cult is composed OF Hudson county