The evening star and Newark advertiser., 1908-01-29
MASON LAUDS
COLBY AND
SOMMER
Democratic Under. Sheriff
Tells Of Fight Against
Political Bosses.

| Under-sheriff Charles NJ. Mason was
the guest of the evening and the prin-
cipal speaker at the club meeting of
st. Peters Orphan Aid Society held
last night in the clubs headquarters.
in Belmont avenue. The under-sherlff,
who is a Democrat and has been in
dorsed for the Democratic nomination
for sheriff. divided his time between
praise of Senator Colby and Sheriff
Sommer, Republicans, and condemna.
tion of the influences antagonistic to
the work both of them are attempting
Mr.. Mason was introduced to the
company by the president of the or
ganlzation, Frank A. Gsell. The sub
ject of the under-sheriffs address was
work for Young Men," and the work
referred to was the bettering of moral
conditions.
Senator Colby he said, when he went
| to the Senate two years ago. found
that a few big interests were in su-
preme control, and that legislation for
the benefit of the people at large was
left to shift for itself or allowed to be
killed. A man who did not vote as di-
rected by his boss was regarded as a
traitor.
"It was necessary for Mr.. Colby to
decide" Mr.. Mason continued, "wheth-
er he would be man or the pawn of a
boss. Being of character and intell-
gence, Mr.. Colby pursued an independ-
ent course, regardless of promises or
threats. When he was told he could
not have the nomination for Senator
! because he did not support certain
measures, being of courage and wealth,
he decided to fight the bosses that were
betraying the people in the interests
of the corporations Surrounded by
young men Of intelligence and indie
pendence, Mr.. Colby challenged the
bosses to battle"
The speaker went on to tell of Sena-
tor Colby's fight for public utilities
control and direct primaries. Then he
commenced to talk about the sheriff,
who was elected at the same time as
Mr. Colby.
"The nomination and election of Mr..
Colby and Mr.. Sommer for sheriff. he
said. twas the first time in years that
men were nominated By delegates
chosen by the intelligent people of Bs-
sex County, and whose nominations
were not dictated by party bosses"
He next took up the work of the
sheriff, telling how, shortly after Mr.
Sommer had been elected, complaints
began to come in that young girls were
frequenting dance halls and other
places of ill-repute. He said that the
sheriff did not wish to go over the
heads OF the police, and so notified the
commissioners of the complaints, with
the result that the professional poll
ticians and bosses were arrayed against
| -. j he
divided into two classes. The first
comprised those who ran houses where
Illegal voters could be placed and
where other shady characters lived.
"The police" he. said. ARE generally
compelled by higher authorities in or
out of the department to permit these
men to follow their graft, and woe to
the cop that offends any of this class
in these days of bipartisan police
boards selected by politicians
The second class, he aVerred, in
cluded those police officials who per-
mitted these places to run on payment
of protection money.
Speaking of the work done by Sheriff
Sommer and Senator Colby to destroy
the hold of graft and corruption, he
said
everett Colby demonstrated that
their forces could be overcome. Sheriff
Sommer shattered the standard of pull
and money and erected new one, the
standard of morality and honesty in
public life. These men have set po-
litical standard that both parties must
strive to reach They have benefited
both parties, as the standard of one
party is largely dependent on the stand
ard of the other The beneficial effect
of their work upon the body polite will
endure for years.
Mr.. Mason received an ovation when
he was introduced and at every point
In his talk where the good accom-
plished by the two men he spoke of
was mentioned the applause was re-
peated.
The under-sherin was followed by De-
witt Paxton, a Westerner, who declared
that he was proud of Newark If for
no other reason than that he had been
unable to get drink here on Sunday
the one time ne tried. He said that
there were comparatively few nnpopu
lar men in public life, but that Under
Sheriff Mason was one of them and
had made himself unpopular because |
he chose to do what was right.
John 3. Brasser a former president
of the society. also addressed the
meeting. The Rev. Matthias Tinmes,
assistant pastor of st. Peters r. c.
Church. was an interested listener of
Mr.. Mason's talk
Tn rEIFRp ATE ANNIVFRSARY