The Washington times., 1908-09-28
Everett Colby a Power for
Reform That None
Can Stay.
Converted to New Idea, He
DeheS Machine Rule
of Republicans.
By J. C. WELLIVER.

pose or Ile observations subsequent
hereto Is 20 explain one Of the greatest
mysteries in American politics
The mystery relates 10 the unusual
and unparalleled fact that the political
fortunes Of a single member Of a State
Legislature, in great State, should be
OF paramount significance as related 10
the Scholarships, the State tickets, the
Congressman and even the electoral vote
Of that State.
10 short, It Is the story Of how Ever
EFT Colby happens 70 be the towering
figure that he IS in New Jersey politics
Colby IS senator from Essex county.
II is only one Of tWenty-one counties IN
Jersey; he is only one Of twenty-one
senators in the Legislature. Colby is a
refCrmer; one Of those reformers who
started as regulars. and saw enough OF
the rOttenness OF regularity 10 make
them heterOdCx-
Colby has coin. courage, and con-
science. He is the man who founded
the new idea faction in Jersey, which IS
closely akin T. the Cummins element IN
Kansas, the Churchill uprising IN New
Hampshire. Hughes III New York, the
La Toilette struggle In Wisconsin, the
Folk uprising in Missouri.
A Modest Senator.
But Colby IS only a modest State
senator in Jersey; ne has no particular
following outside a single county. Yet
he IS a pivot in the politics Of his State.
Why2
The answer IS really rather easy. Be
cause In Jersey each county. large or
small, has one senator; no more. no less.
Essex county has nearly one-third the
population OF New Jersey Its neighbOr,
Hudson county, has just about one
third, being rather more populOus than
Essex. The new idea" started in Essex
and spread into Hudson It Is the big
gest thing in the politics Of those two
counties, which together are bigger in
wealth and voting power than all the
other nineteen counties
In other words. Essex and Hudson
counties constitute rather a bigger share
of New Jersey than New York and
Kings counties do OF New York State
II you can think OF a thoroughly revo-
lutiOnary movement IN New York get
ting so strong that il could overturr
Tammany IN New York and both the
Republican and Democratic machines ir
Brooklyn, you viii have an idea Of the
Importance Of this new idea" move
ment in Jersey.
How They Feel.
Then. II YOU will transplant the Jersey
gerrymander TO York State, and figure
how II would seem 70 New York city
10 have only one senator IN the Leg1sla-
ture at Albany, you will begin 10 see
how these Jersey refOrmeTs feel II the
Essex county refOrmerg-One-third OF
New Jersey being in Essex COUnty-win
they get one-twenty-frs OF the Senate
II Essex and Hudson should win to-
gether. they would get Observation-Disclosures
Of the senate, 20 represent twO-thirds OF
the State.
It's not much wonder that the anger
rises UP IN these Essex and Hudson pro-
gressives when they realize their impo-
tence before such IN organization as
that
So much for the ground plan OF Jer-
sey politics. Now IL happens that Essex
and Hudson counties border on New
York state, and are really only suburbs
Of the metropolis. They contain the
residences Of vast numbers Of people
who do business in Manhattan: they
are also the county seats Of the largest
industries Of Jersey. And finally, IN
these counties are located the immense
terminals Of the railroads which bring
the whole continent to it's metropolis.
Represent Millions.
These terminals represent almost an
told millions of values New Jersey be-
ing a comfortably controlled state. IL
was many years before anybody reaiz
ed that the railroad property didn
nav anything like a fair share OF taxes.
The octopusIncubating Legislature al
the capitol was naturally friendly 10
the railroads. Their taxes were so DIS
tribDted that the great, pOpulous cOun-
ties Of Essex and Hudson got practi-
caIIv no taxes for the immense railroad
nroDerties they contained, and for whlch
thew furnished police protection and al
the benefits Of orderly government
Mark Fagan, who as mayor OF Jersey
CIV made a national reputation, started
the movement for fair taxes. He be
gan his fight when Colby was neIn-
her of the lower house Of the Legisia-
ture. The bill for equal taxation went
n CoIbv's committee. and there was
smotbered. They say Colby didn't even
favor II at llLdL llAA4N- liz --e-e4-- -
over being regular; hadn't come to
realize what the Jersey political system
meant.
When that bill was killed Mark Fa-
gan issued a statement that made the
organization feel as If the waiter had
spilled the coffee pot in its lap He
was a Republican. but he charged cor
rupt alliance between the State Re
publican committee and the railroads
he roasted Governor Murphy, and pass
ed bricks to the State leaders.
Sensation Great
The sensation was so great that the
Legislature prolonged its session and
arranged for a commission TO investi-
gate the equal tax question. Colby was
not for that reform-and then. He said
he would rather see the Statehouse burn
over his head than report that bill
So they tell now. But shortly after
ward he saw a lighl and set out 10 be
a reformer of the Pagan type.
Colby announced himself a candidate
for the State senate on a reform plat
form, and Carl Lents, then Republican
boss of Essex county, decided that he