New-York tribune., 1908-08-28
GOFERNOR FORT HE4NS BUSINESS.

GOTERNOR FORT MEANS BUSINESS.
There can be no mfstaking the purport of the
extraordinary proclamation which was issued
Yesterday by the Governor Of New Jersey. 1t
means that that conscientious and resolute
Chief Executive intends to fulfil to the utmost
extent of his ability the pledges which he
made during his electoral campaign, on the
strength of which and because Of which he
was elected Governor which after election he
repeated and confirmed in his inaugural ad-
dress-nanrpIy that he would enforce the laws
of the state mpartially in all parts Of the state,
without fear or favor. 1t means, moreover,
that he purposes to regard the excise law as
equal to all other laws In validity, and to com
pei so far as in him lies, its enforcement just
the same as the other laws of the state We
have hitherto explained the peculiar limitations
of power of the Governor of New Jersey, In
that he cannot remove unfatflful or incompetent
officials In counties or municipalities as the
Governor of New York can do. That circum-
stance accounts for some Of the conditions which
now exist in various parts of that state. We
also expressed confidence the other day that
he had not yet reached the end or MS re-
sources and that confidence is amply vndicated
In this mornings news.
The specific case in hand is that of Atlantic
CITY In that place the excise law Is violated
with an openness and a fagrancy for which II
WOuld be u11culI 10 Hlu ii pdIdlIti' va thc
simple ground that it is profitable, in dollars
and cents. to break the law, the local authori-
ties-executive. legislative and judicial-have
entered into a compact to defy the law. The
police and Sheriff will not arrest offenders.
and the courts announce In advance that no
convictions can be secured In them Recently
the Governor ordered a special grand jury to
act in the matter OF excise violations. and
faithful Judge urged that body To do its duty
But the grand jury was largely made up OF the
very lawbreakers against whom 1t was e1-
pected to proceed. The result was that indict-
ments were not found, although both judge and
prosecutor declared that there adequate
ground for them and the grand jury took
recess and the next Sunday its members re-
newed their defiant violation Of the law
Such a condition of affairs is. OF course fntol-
erable in civilized state. To acquiesce in
it would he to admit that the state had no
power to make its laws respected. and that any
community or, indeed. any combination OF In
terested persons might ignore and defy It's au-
thority with mpunity. Governor Fort has been
patient and cautious In procedure. preferring to
accomplish the necessary end through the ordi-
nary operations of law. just as he did years ago
in suppressing gambling In other parts OF the
state and hoping that the local authorities OF
Atlantic City and Atlantic County would come
TO their senses and do their duty His corre-
spondence with some of those authorities fully
reveals his admirable and judicious course. But
extraordinary evils call for extraordinary rem
edies Since the local authorities will not do
their duty but contumaciously fout the author
ity of the state and seek to nullify its laws, 1t
becomes necessary for the higher authority Of
the state, both executive and legislative, to be
exercised.
The reception of this message Of the Gov
ernOr's by the people of the state. and their re-
sponse To IT, cannot be In doubt. The people
elected him Governor for just such work as this
whenever it might be necessary, and we believe
they will Loyalty support him in the inexorabe
execution of their will. Whether they will want
the present excise law retained or modified or
repealed is another matter. not Of present CON
cern. The point upon which the Governor in
sists and upon which the people should sustain
him. is that so long as the law remains upon the
statute book it must be enforced, or at least an
honest and decent effort to enforce It must be
made. That is imperative, unless law is to
become Il farce and government mockery,
catastrophe which is, we think, not likely to
befal the State of New Jersey.