The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-04
THE COLBY MOVEMENT.
Some Interesting Questions ~Propounded
by Lawyer Edsall.
To the Editor of the Evening Star:

by Lawyer Edsall.
To the Editor Of the Evening Star:
Are the following questions in order?
Did the "Colbyites'' obtain favor with
the citizens of the county of Essex. and
especially in the Oranges and in some of
the wards of Newark, because the citizens
in these places believed that the
"Colbyites' stood for reform, high i6aslS
in politics and In morals, and for civic
righteousness" and that they would not
stand for the lowering of our moral stand
ards?
Was 1t for this reason that the people of
the county of Essex put into their hands
the power In 1906, so that the "Colbyites"
controlled the convention of the Repub-
lican party In Essex County that year,
and, with the cooperation OF the Regulars,
the Republican nominees-'Colbyites"-
were elected and the Bishops bilp' was
passed?
In 1906 the "Colbyites" failed to control
the county, and the convention was con-
trolled by the Regulars. Was it because
the Regular candidates would not stand
for the bishops bilr' that an independent
movement was started? Was the indie
pendent party given support by Colby
ites2" Was it in those places In the county
where the "Colbyites' were strongest that
the Assembly candidates failed to get the
usual Republican vote? Were the Repub-
lican Assembly candidates defeated for
these reasons?
Did the people, in the places where the
Colbyites were strongest, believe that had
the Colbyites succeeded in 1906, in the
county convention, there would not have
been any independent party nor need for
me? II SOM of the C~olbyites, instead OF
joining in hearty support OF the Repub-
lican nominees, gave support to the inde-
pendent movement, were they excused Tor
such lack of party loyalty in the belief
that they would not stand for the lower
ing OF our moral standards?
Have the people who nave supported the
Colby movement believing 1t a move
ment for civic righteousness been be
trayed In the house Of their friends? When
the people clearly understand, will the
"Colby movement" unless they reform"
be supported in the places In the county
Wore they have been heretofore strongest,
as D iey were before7 Is 1t even good poll
files? Can the Colby people hold their
power where they now have power, and
yet for the purpose Of securing control in
the districts in the onnty where hereto
fore they have failed, advocate such prln-
cipies on excise MS they have in the cam
palgn of 1907?
Was It with chagrin, disappointment and
US ~ NiAfN hAhAA " - win "%S
been supporting the "Colbyites" found the
leaders of the Colby party In Essex zeal
ously advocating such an excise plank Ia
the county and State platform Of the Re
publican party rs theIrs7
Will the people who have heretofore been
supporters Of the "%Colbyites' stand for an
open sgloon on the Sabbath dly2
Do promises Of reform" IN other matters
go we'll with this demand for laws that
would legalizG ths breaking Of one OF the
Ten Commandments?
The suggestion of the repeal of the
Bishops bill put Essex County in a tur-
moil. Would a law permitting the open
saloon on the Sabbath day arouse the
people of the county as they have never
been before2 Would it especially arouse
that part of 1t which nave heretofore been
the ~strongholds Of the Republican party
and been supporters of the Colby" move
ment? Would, for instance. the Eleventh
Ward. n strong Colby ward. Sheriff SOM
mer's own ward, stand for any such law2
Did many Republicans. who believed IN
the Bishops bill refuse last year to fol-
low the independent movement because
they believed it would result in the divis-
ion of the Republican party vote in Essex
and the loss of that county for the Re
publicans, and because they believed in
the Republican party of the Stale, and that
10 IL the people must look iof REFORM ana
for "civic righteousness even If the local
candidates were not men after their own
heart?
Ia It q matter Of rejoicing that the State
leaders Of the party were wiser and
broader men than the Essex County lead
ers Of the Colby movement, who can only
see Essex County. and who do not recog
nlze that their particular strength here
tofore has been with that part of the Els
sex County Republicans who will not stand
for the principles that they so ~strenuously
advocated and tried to force into the State
platform?
Do they in this regard represent the
people who gave them power? Does not
the excise plank in the State PLATFORM
'The Republican party has accomplished
needed reforms in excise Legislation and
pledges itself to maintenance of tin
e. Of a platform which would advocate
! traditfJaarg Of the sale Of liquor or
W one." 'nsan votes for the Republi-
IN Essex County?
~ srct ,an excise