The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-10
COLBY IS NETTLED
PRODDED ABOUT FlREMEN'S
BILL AND SALOONS.
Senator Criticised and Resents It,
but Replies to Questions-Sommer's
straight-from-shoulder Statement.

Whenever Senator Colby speaks at open
air meetings on the hill he has a siren
uous time. Last year he had some argu'
ments, and last night he had more. EIi'
vote against the bill that would allow
greater pay for the local fire fighters and
his vote on the Bishops law were the
cause Of Tits at Springfield and Belmont
avenues last night.
The Senator had barely finished n heart
to-heart talk with a man who took obJec-
ton to his one-time support of the Bishops
law, and was leaving the wagon, when a
fireman came up to him.
"You voted against our bill?" suggested
the fireman.
yes, I voted against it," Senator Colby
admitted. IT could not do anything else.
We could not give the fremen what we
could not give the police"
That's all right, but you are here ask
ing for votes, aren't you, and You want us
to back your" said the fireman.
Look here" said the Senator, you
think you will hurt us by not voting for
us. If you don't like what l did you VIII
have to vote for someone else" That closed
the Incident.
Previous to this a listener put the fol-
lowing question to the Senator:
you will vote for a measure that will
leave 1t tc the voters to decide whether
the saloons shall be open on Sunday or
not?'
Yes" answered the Senator. sharply.
IF it's left to the people and they decide
they want an open Sunday, l shall do all
l can to get It for them"
But you voted for the Bishops bill. Have
you changed stree them" he went on.
II have answered Mr.. Colby. when
I voted for that bill l thought 1t was
right. If it. were left to me, 1 would not
have the places open on Sunday, but II
the people want them they should have
them. I am sent to Trenton 70 make the
laws as the people want them, not to set
myself up TO judge their wants. / give
you credit for saying what you think is
right, my friend. but the government is
for the majority Of the people, not for a
few"
well, you can't ride two horses, Senator
Colby" said the other. as he backed
through the crowd. 81 voted for you last
time, but 1 won't do it again." That was
the end of this tilt.
Three hundred greeted the speakers at
the corner. MI. Colgate and former As
semblyman William Fellowes Morgan pre-
coded Mr.. Colby, who arrived a little late.
Senator Colby opened with the statement
that he believed the primaries would be
for Sommer today, and then dwelt upon
his work IN the Senate and the bills he
had introduced and advocated. Then he
took up the Bishops law.
II believed it would be the fair thing
whep l voted for it." he said. II thought
that 1t would affect all alike. But when
l went to Atlantic City and saw every
thing wide open and the police and all
others who were supposed to enforce the
law paying no attention 1 knew that it
was not. l saw that most people wanted
open Sunday and the only reason Newark
was dry was because we had a Sheriff
who saw that the law was enforced"
Then followed a plea for Sommer. "He
is the most u~nselish of men. He
sits pack ard says nothing until every
one else is through, then he goes right to
the point. He is one of a few who never
seem to be looking For his own glory, but
Is just trying to do all he can for other
people,"
Some little time elapsed before the Sher-
If appeared, and when he did he was I'M
mediately surrounded by a crowd of men
and BOYS that escorted him to the wagon.
He covered in his talk practically the
same ground he has been going over since
the beginning, laying special stress on his
intention to enforce whatever avs were
passed, whether as Sheriff or Governor.
IF you elect me- he said, Il am going
to enforce the law. whether you like II
or not. II you don't want 1t enforced,
vote for some one else. There will be no
enforcement for one and not for another.
MY opponent in this fight bases his oppo-
sition largely on the fact that in my office
we do not recognize pull"
IF you believe in the planks in our plat
form and elect me Governor. l will faith
fully enact the laws they stand for. II
you do not want those laws. don't vote for
me; send delegates to the convention who
will vote as they see fit"
The Belmont avenue meeting was the
largest and most enthusiastic of the thres,
though at Jacob street and Springfield ave-
nue. the speakers were received by a good
sized crowd. The other two meetings were
at Thirteenth avenue and Howard street,
and Peshine and Clinton avenues.
The Sheriff covered all four. Mr.. Colby
also spoke at all the meetings.