The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-31
Reference at Meeting Evi-
dedtly to Figures ShOW-
ing His Possible Defeat.
EXCISE UP TO THE PEOPLE
Questioned From Audience at
Harburger's Hall, Republican
Candidate Tells His Hearers
legislature Can Override
Veto by Governor.

At the meeting of the First Ward
Republican Club, Judge Fort evidently
had in mind the table prepared by
Major Carl Lentz, former chairman of
the Essex County Republican Com
fnittee, yesterday. showing that
Katzenbach woul win out, when he
said he was sure of winning, saying:
There is no doubt about the re-
suit. gentlemen. There may be a few
~croakers, but this is a G~od-fearing
State, and its people are ~God-fearing,
and they are going to do the right
thing next Tuesday. and we'll be In
the running when the ballots are
counted, and we'll be in the lead, too"
Mr.. Fort also said he would be un-
bossed. and did not want people to
vote for him because he was a Re-
publican, but for the good of the State,
which he intended to maintain.
The meeting was an enthusiastic gather
ing of $50 men. and all had a cheer for
Cubernatorial Candidate j. Franklin Fort
when he arrived. There was not a cam
didate or a speaker that did not receive
cheer upon cheer. George Zimmerman
acted as chairman of the meeting and In
reduced the speakers.
The early speakers were Alderman Will
inn P. Martin, candidate for Assembly;
John B. Woolston. candidate for County
Clerk. and Surrogate George E. Russell.
The last named was speaking when Mr..
Fort arrived, and it was he who intro
duced she candidate. AS Mr.. Fort pushed
has way through the crowded hall into
the meeting-room a cheer went up. ut
was followed by three tigers, and by that
time the candidate had removed his coat
and was ready to speak
Tn pleased to get back home and see
some faces that ! know" began the can
didate. II used to be around here a lot,
but this time I'm here in a new role.
whether Tn elected or not, boys, I've
three weeks, and I've conn to only one
conclusion-there is only one New Jersey.
] tell you. it's a great, little State; it's a
great people that live In 1t; | tell you, it's
great in every way.
Many Of you / have known for years,
some of you were clients OF mine. and 1t is
here that I want to say something that l
have been thinking about SOM time. II is
a great compliment TO be nominated for.
Governor of this great little State, whether
1 am elected or defeated, but I'm not go
ing to be defeated; I'm going to be elected.
"@This is what I want to say: Every
thing that I am as a lawyer, as a man, and
everything that I'll be as a Governor, il
elected, / owe to you men here in Essex
County, and I hope that you will never
ave cduse 10 ICsIft HdNiIlS hHDnH ttS 90 a.
citizen, a man, a lawyer and as Governor
of this great State, for I'm going to be
elected.
IT also want to say that at all times I'm
going to stand for what I believe to he
right, whether it be Republican OF Demo-
crat that may suggest it. I've been a Re-
publican all my life, and I'm going to
stand by the Republican party as long as
It behaves itself.
of I'm elected there is only going to be
one Governor of New Jersey while I'm in
office, and every person, whether high or
low, will receive the same treatment when
he comes to Trenton. Don't make any
mistake about that; no one will go away
from Trenton and be able to say that he
could not see the Governor, because the
Governor wouldn't see him.
"And I'll not be bossed by anybody.
That's another thing that / don't want
misunderstood I was nominated without
a pledge to anybody, and / haven't made
any pledges since. and don't intend to
make any. I'm making the best fight /
know how; / talk frankly and don't ask
anybody to vote for me because they are
Republicans and because I'm the Republic
can candidate.
.If they believe it is for the best inter
ests of the State to vote for me, then |
ask them to do it; but IL they think that
the interests Of the State can be better
served by the other man, then let them
vote for him. They're not voting for me;
they're voting for the best interests of the
State
1t was after this Mr.. Fort referred to the
likelihood of his election.
Senator Colby said that while he is q
Republican he Is willing to be convinced
that It would be better for his intereFts
to vote Democratic ticket.
Senator Colby arraigned Samuel Dickin-
son, Secretary of State. He said: Il
don't know of a decent, good-thinking Re-
vahlican that wants him in the party,
bat you and L can't say who shall and
who shall not be members of a party
Others say Get him out but You can't
do that, he has been elected a member OF
the State committee for four years and
must serve out that term, but I tell you
that he won't be there. long after his term
II have been criticized because | called
Katzenbach q coward. IT has been said
that 1 had no right to say he was a
coward. l relterate what 1 said up at
Newton, and say that he Ia afraid TO come
out and lot the people know where he
stands on the excise question.
HE has said that he isn't going to let
what shall be the Issues, not the candi-
date. and if he says he isn't going to let
the excise question become an issue he
isn't going to obey the Constitution Of this
Augustus f.. Eggers, candidate for re-
election to the Board OF Works Commits
sioner john r. Dennnan and all the AS
sembly candidates spoke OF the meeting
later,