The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1908-10-14

stock in trade of Democratic politi-
clans. Hunterdon County is no ex-
ception to the rule in this respect, al
though there is probably less need Of
it here than in almost any County in
the State. In fact it is no more neces-
sary than filth is to clean living. This
sort of campaigning generally indicates
! that the party which resorts to it is
alarmed by the prospect Of the defeat
Of one or more of its candidates. That
seems 10 be the condition OF the Dem
ocratic leaders and the promoters OF
campaign literature in this county at
this time
A notable instance OF the determine
ton of the Democrats TO win by foul
means if they cannot win by fair are the
attacks Of their spokesman and news
papers upon Archibald G. Smith, the
Republican candidate for the Assem-
bly,. One complaint against him by
the once unterrihed but now alarmed
Democrats is that he has been in Hun
terdon county only eight years, and
that he is therefore a Philadelphia can
didate.
Does anybody, with as much intell-
gence as a sparrow suppose that the
Democrats who are thus trying to WIN
votes against Mr.. Smith would hesitate
to nominate man from California if
he had been in the county fifteen min
utes il he was eligible to election and
they thought they could elect him2
Will any intelligent man, Democrat
or Republican, decline to vote for a
man of Mr. Smiths character for yer
acity and conceded ability simply be-
cause he has not lived here as long or
longer than Mr.. Matthews Is it not
true that Mr.. Smith has brought bust
ness and employment to Hunterdon
county, to the betterment Of it 2
What has Mr. Matthews done to en-
title him to the consideration Of public
confidence and support of those voters
who desire good clean government that
Mr.. Smith has not done
Hasn't Mr.. Smith done more for the
business interests of Hunterdon than
Mr. Matthews
These are straightforward questions
which if they are answered in the same
way and if the people want to be repre-.
sented in the Legislature by man to
whom partisan politics are secondary to
home interests and popular rights, Mr.
Matthews, who ever has been positive
partisan, will be defeated.
As between the two candidates, Mr..
Matthews and Mr. Smith: il is as well
known as anything in politics that Mr.
Matthews was elected in and was a re-
cognized follower OF the Miles Ross and
"Nelse" Pideoek ring and school. Mr..
Smith has never belonged 10 or been
under the rule OF any political ring or
school, He is no mans man, but il
elected will be man Of the people be
fore being the follower of any man or
men. Everybody who knows Mr.. Smith
is aware that this statement does not
need verihcation.
The assertion that Mr. Smith has
promised to support "any old kind OF
Local Option, is absolutely false, and
know that it is. MIR Smith is not the
man to hedge on what he has said
about Local Option or anything else.
His personal reputation is good enough
to stand for that statement anywhere
and before all men. His record in
Council shows conclusively that he is a
reliable man.
In his letter to the voters Of Hunter
don county, MIR. Smith says: 81 desire
most emphatically to say that | stand
absolutely Tor Local Option, and | am
unqualified in my support of it-law
known as the Bishops bill, and would
oppose any modification permitting the
sale of intoxicating liquors on Sunday"
Could anything be more explicit or
easy to comprehend than that statement
Mr.. Smith made it, and by it he is ready
to stand or fall as the voters, to whom
in all honesty and candor it was adj
dress, shall decide.
But how about Mr.. Matthews. Where
does he stand ? Does anybody but him.
self know? Probably not But it is
known where he stood on Local Option
in 1888 The Legislative record tells
that story. He was a member of the
House in that year and cast his vote
against Local Option. Where he stood
then he probably would stand again ;
he certainly would il the Democrats in
the Housf shonll decide tn line M that
way, as it is safe to say they undoubt-
eddy will
In word, Mr.. Smith ia a progress
sive man. in u progressive age. He il
upright aud downright in his convic-
tons upon the protection OF the inter
eats Of the home aud the family and
the county generally before any and
all kinds OF political craftsmanship. He
is Republican, but he never come in
to- political contact with those Demo-