New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-26
4 DJSCRFDTTABLE LOBBY"

On the principle Of printing the news OF all
phases of the campaign The Tribune gave some
space the other day to the report which the
so-caIed Or self-called Peoples Lobby" in
New Jersey, had made concerning the members
of last winters Legislature, with, Of course an
implied recommendation to voters Of candi-
dates to vote for and against at the coming
election. Now, the principle Of seeking TO
have justice and truth prevail and 10 have
citizens vote intelngently and fairly, we must
say that that report was grossly misleading
and untruthful, and that its implied recon-
mpndations are mischievous and unworthy to
serve as q guide for any conscientious citizen.
The Peoples Lobby which seems to be
self-consttuted and irresponsible close corpora
ton, classi1es the legislators as For the
People" and as For the Bosses and Corpora
tions," putting the great majority in the latter
category. In some respects the classification
may be correct In many respects it is scan
dalously incorrect. Note, for example, the very
first name on the list taken alphabetically.
Senator Alderman of Union County is put in
the condemned list as For the Bosses and
Corporations" Yet Senator Alderman. during
his whole term has been conspicuous for his
advocacy and support Of measures IN the in
terest Of the people as distinguished from the
special interests" He was one Of the fore
most champions Of the direct primaries bill, Of
the public utilities bill (fOr which he voted five
times). of the pure food bill, Of the limited
franchise bill, Of the railroad school tax law,
which now puts more than 100000 a year into
the state school funds; Of the equal taxation
measure, of the measure defining the main
stems" of railroads, Of the bill for the nomina-
ton OF United States Senators in direct pri-
maries, Of the Civil Service law, Of the bill for
an inquiry into the right Of a railroad corpora
ton to operate the Morris Canal and Of that
for an inquiry into the decline of traffic the
Raritan Canal under railroad control, and Of
numerous other measures for the public good
most of the very measures in brief, which this
Peoples Lobby" itself desired Moreover,
when early last summer Mr.. Alderman was IN
doubt whether to be candidate for reelection,
Mr. Depew, the president Of the Peoples
Lobby and Mr.. Moy, one Of It's chief mem
bers wrote to him almost passionately entreat-
ing him to run again because Of his splendid
Independence and his effective opposition to the
bosses and corporations" and they signed his
petition for nomination. We have no doubt
that Mr. Depew and Mr.. Moy were then quite
sincere, and that they still hold the same opn-
ion of Mr.. Alderman and repudlate this attempt
OF some of their colleagues in the Lobby" to
put him into the pillory. Still, IN the name Of
the Peoples Lobby" this scandalous attack is
made upon him and upon number Of the most
faithful and efficient public servants Of the
state.
1t is monstrous that such a thing should be-
If after such a record and such commentator
Mr. Alderman and others like him-fGr we have
cited his as only one OF many In this
precious Peoples Lobby" list-can be thus
held up to execration as enemies OF the public
veal by a concern whose pretentious title in
vests it with an air of representative author
ity what encouragement is there for men Of
cha rHcter, ability and devotion to the general
welfare 10 enter the public service? The tri-
umph Of so vicious a conspiracy would be a
grave menace TO representative institutions
As a matter Of fact, we suppose that this
Peoples Lobby" apart from the honorable ex-
ceptions whom we have noted and perhaps some
others, amounts 10 little more than a handful
Of impractical and not overscrupuous notoriety