The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-04-24
LISTENS TO
VOICE Of CHARMER
AND DROPS A HINT
Says if Named for Vice-Presi-
dency He Might Feel Called
Upon to Accept.
BUT BALKS AT RESIGNING
Will Make Known His Final
Decision to State Committee
on Night of May 4.

Governor Fort told the members o.
the State con- .ittee at their meeting
il the Strauss building, Academy and
Halsey streets. yesterday afternoon
that while he had declared hat he ex.
pected to serve out his term as head
of the State government, and desired
to do SO, he would feel called upon tc
accept If the nationa' Republican con-
ventior Chicago nominated him for
Vice-President. That, least. was the
Interpretation put on his speech by the
committee.
Former Go7crnor Franklin Murphy,
chairman Of the committee; former
Governor Edward C. Stokes and many
others spoke ~ the Vice-Presidential
situation and Nesg JERSEYS position In
national Republican affairs, all of them
holding firm1. to the belief that this
State could. If it put forward the man.
have the second place on the ticket.
Mr.. Stokes said that he believed the
call of the representatives of eighty
millions of people gathered in conven-
ton was not to be denied, and that IL
Governor Fort were presented by this
States twenty-four delegates at Chi
cago ON June 18 and met with the APP
prevail of the majority he should ac-
cept.
Having reached that stage of the dis
c~ussion, it was suggested that If he
took the nomination for Vice-Presideut
the Governor should resign his State
office in time for the nomination of a
party candidate for Governor to sue
coed him this fall. I. vas put squarely
up to the Governor that his resignation
would be expected Immediately after
the national convention.
Fort Wants Time.
Mr.. Fort didn't appear to be pleased
with the idea of stepping down so soon,
and said he believed it would not be
fair to the people who elected him to
SO lightly throw aside the Governor
ship.
After long discussion the Governor
said he would AVE to take time to
consider the proposition to resign and
would notify the State committee be-
fore it's next meeting or when 1t was
ilClQ DIS " NlldL COllCluS1O1 A6 ildO
reached.
The Governor was at yesterdays
meeting by invitation. There has been
SO much Vice-Presidential talk In con-
nection with his name that it was de-
cided by the party leaders to get to-
gether and see just what course was to
be pursued. They, want to know who's
who before the State convention that
is to select the four MISUNDERSTANDING
meets in Trenton on Tuesday, May 8.
There will be a meeting Of the State
committee the night before the cor
vention in Trenton, that rs, a week
from next Monday night. At that time
there will be some definite position
reached as to this State and the Vice
Presidency. 1t was suggested in the
speeches yesterday that if the Governor
didn't want the nomination and an
nounced positively that he would not
resign the Goyernorship. there would
be another man put forward. While
not publicly stated, 1t was said after
the meeting thai former Governor Muir
ply would be doomed If Mr.. Fort
stepped aside.
Appeal to state Pride.
Former Senator William M. Johnson,
of Bergen; General C. Edward Murray,
of Mercer; State Assessor David Baird,
of Camden, Essex County Chairman
Alfred M. Dalrymple, State Treasurer
Daniel S. Voorhees,, of Morris, and
other members assured Mr.. Fort, as
did the former Governors, hat they
wanted to know just how he felt, as
they stood ready to boom him for the
Vice-Presidency and to do all that they
could personally to secure his nomina-
tion and election.
In support of the request that he re-
sign the Governorship if nominated. 1t
was urged that IL he were on the ticket
State pride would do much to make
New Jersey safe for the Republican
party, and that 1t would be to the par
ty's advantage to have a candidate for
Governor III with him, rather than TO
wait until next year.
It is expected that the Governor will
consent to resign If nominated for
Vice-President. That being h case,
State Senator Thomas ]. Hillery, of
Morris. as President of the Senate, will
become Acting Governor until the next
election is decided.
There were open expressions at the
meeting yesterday that If the Governor
remained in office after taking a place
on the national ticket and was elected,
there would be strong possibility of the
Democratic party electing a Governor
a year from next November. There
wouldn't be anything to distract atten-
ton from the Governorship in 1908, and
the Democrats would concentrate their
efforts to capture thu State.
If the State leaders are satisfied with
the Governors statement to be made
at their next meeting, he will be in
dorsed by the State convention.
The fact that Mr.. Murphy, the New
Jersey member of the national Repub-
lican committee, takes the Fort boom
very seriously, give color to the state
ments that have been made from time
to time that President Roosevelt, Sec
rotary of War Taft and others in
Washington have given the State lead
ers some tangible evidence of their
willingness to support Fort and a de-
sire thai he be put forward by the
J soy delegation at Chicago.
The committee decid l that it would
be impossible to nominate State Presi-
Dental electors at next Tuesdays con-
vention. They will have to be chosen
ts q convention in the fall. The same
fal, convention will nominate a candi-
date for Governor If Fort resigns. 1t
was suggested this week that the a n
oidates for electors be chosen this
spring. Attorney-G General McCarter
held tina the law would not permit it,