The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-23
WHERE DOES CANDIDATE KATzENBAcH STAND ON ExcEsH7 p TINE
FOR JUDGE FORT TO ANSWER CHARGES, ETC, ETC.

WICK LUZ @HtNA4O4 ~ 1fHffD ON
FOR JUDGE FORT TO ANSWER CHARGES. ETc, ETc
Candidate Katzenbach denies that he came out for Home
Rule in excise matters in his Camden speech last Saturday.
He declares that the alleged speech was made out of whole
cloth. According to him it first appeared in the philadelphia
Ledger on Sunday morning, and he rather suggests that per
sonal animosity was at the bottom of it. But the declaration
was accepted in good faith and reprinted in the Trenton True
American, the sturdiest of all MI. Katzenbachs champions,
both before and since his nomination. It is a curious fact that
Candidate Forts first alleged announcement on the liquor
question received publicity through the Philadelphia Ledger"
The regular newspaper correspondents who are touring with
Judge Fort did not go to Bordentown with him, but the local
correspondent of the Ledger avered that he did make the
declaration attributed TO him. This the judge repudiated, but
the next night at New Brunswick he formally and deliberately
made practically the sam statement.
The opinions which Mr.. Katzenbach was reported as having
aired in Camden may not correctly express his attitude. But he
surely has some ideas on the question. What are they? He
can't keep the people in the dark if he wants to make even a
decent showing at the polls week after next AS a candidate
for Governor it is his duty to himself, to his party and to the
general public to speak out plainly and incbvey. Surely
he is not ashamed of his views on this point. 1t is a matter
of current interest and before deciding how they are going
to vote the citizens Of New Jersey want to know just where
to locate him-to know where he stands. He is for the
Bishops bill or against it; for its enforcement Or against it.
He is for or against modification or amendment in any shape
or manner.
Judge Fort has told us just what he thinks about the
matter, and it is now up to Mr.. Katzenbach TO be equally
frank. Speak up tonight
The commohon in New York banking circles need cause
no worry here. Our banks and trust companies are managed
on more conservative lines than the Manhattan institutions
which ar now in the lmeight. Across the river the treasures
of a half dozen or so of those concerns were used IS the funds
of the insurance companies were-for personal exploitation and
the financing of all kinds of schemes. There is nothing to in
dictate that even the worst of them will not pay 100 cents on
the dollar. But there are reasons for thinking that a searching
Investigation would bring to LIGHT some NASTY scandals, That
is the Interpretation put upon Luther w. Motifs resignation of
the Office of State Superintendent of Banks.
Mi. Mott held the office just six days. He wanted the job.
and Governor Hughes readily selected him because of his known
integrity. But when Mr.. Mott looked around a bit in New York
he realized that in order to do his work thoroughly and con-
scientiousy he must drag into the mire some pious rascals who
had been abusing their trust and misusing their power-and
then he wilted. He wouldn't shield them and he wasn't pre-
pared to meet the trouble, worry and general unpleasantness
which are ready for the man who undertakes the thank1ess but
necessary work. 1t is possible that, as Mr.. Mott says, his
health wouldn't stand the strain, but as Fessenden OF Con-
|necticut once told Marley of Maine, "The Lord Almighty hates
a GUTTER, Somebody must do the exposing and overhaulng;
the more rapidly and thoroughly It's done the quicker will be
the restoration of public confidence in the beclouded institutions.
William Bryan is not doing justice to himself or his
reputation by his vague attacks on the New York newspapers.
He can't have much trouble in learning just who own the
various publications there. They are all published by stock
companies, but in the case of at least six of them the owner
ship is a matter of common knowledge. "The Tribune is
practically owned by Whielaw Reid, "The Press" by Henry 1"
Eintein, "The Herald by James Gordon Bennett, "The Jour
nal' by William R. Hearst. "The World by Joseph Pulitzer
and the Evening Post by Henry Willard. 1t is all rubbish
and tommyrot to inSnuate that any of these newspapers can be
|bribed n bought to support this or that interest. Each has its
own pecuHarhes that we may not like, but there is no sub
|stantia1 ground for atuibuting mercenary motives unless, per-
Ihaps, in the readiness of some of them to adopt extreme meas
.ures in the hunt for circulation. If MI. Bryan knows any
thing definite about the controlling influences behind the other.