New-York tribune., 1908-08-28
DEFY GOVERNOR FORT
Continued from first page.

General Nelson Gaskill. thoroughly angry at
the grand jury, declared TO a reporter
Atlantic City tack it up on the wall that
the state will make her obey the law. This af-
fair has come to issue
Atlantic City will have the law changed
defantly remarked Senator Edward s. Wilson,
a member of the discharged grand jury.
Judge Higbee declined be interviewed and
remained in Mays Landing all night to escape
reporters.
1t is declared that more drastic action than
the statement of Governor Fort has never been
taken by a Chief Executive of New Jersey to
enforce a general law.
The Governor in his statement which was
given out at his summer home at Sea Girt. tells
of the steps he has taken to try to enforce the
law at Atlantic city. He quotes from the let
ters he has written to Smith e. Johnson. Sheriff
OF Atlantic County; F. P Story, Mayor of At
antic city and Judge Enoch A. Higbee. Gov
ernor Fort also explains one reason why it is
impossible enforce the law the city. by
Incorporating in his statement affidavit
signed by James c. Steelman and William
Reeves Winter. in which they declare that they
purchased liquor Sunday in the saloons of
three members of the grand Jury-Harry S.
Graft Anthony y. Ruffer and W S. Stafford.
THE GOVERNORS STATEMENT
the fasco OF ten days ago. when a grand jury
at Mays Landing, the county seat refused to
find indictments and says that the action ID
burlesuue that three members OF the grand jury
were owners of saloons in Atlantic City. and
that the others were in sympathy with the viola
tors OF the law. The grand jury now in session
IS not likely 10 find indictments. the Governor
declares. and in his proclamation he says that
he has affidavits from James c. Steelman and
William Reeves Winters asseverating that they
purchased liquors last Sunday in saloons op-
Grated by three members of the grand jury.
The Governor says he but
things to be done under the circumstances
First call out the militia and police of Atlantic
CITY and declare the resort to be under martial
law This would require an appropriation by
the Legislature
Second he will SIX special session of the
Legislature to enact special legislation author
izng him to appoint disinterested commission
to take charge of '.e affairs of Atlantic City
He also wants law authorizing him TO remove
officers. after hearing. for failure to perform
or who wilfulIy refuse to do their duty. The
Governor says that the admitted conditions
amount to a combination of officials and certain
influential citizens to subVert the state laws
in a word treason against the state" and con-
tinues:
The chief of police will not act because the
Mayor will order The Mayor refuses TO
do The grand jury VIII not lndlct because
they are directly indirectly controlled Dy the
liquor power. The Governor cannot act because
he has no power of removal
WANTS LAWS UNIFORMLY ENFORCED
In Newark. Jersey City, Hoboken, Paterson,
Trenton Elizabeth, Long Branch. Asbury Park
Cape May and other places the excise law is
reasonably well observed on Sunday because 1t
is enforced by the officials. There be no
discrimination In the enforcement of the law.
one city may not be permitted to be kept open
on Sunday to get pecuniary gain by violating
the laws, while others must close. This cues
ton rises higher than RepubliCanism Democ-
racy. higher than Prohibition or local option.
None of these questions is of concern; it is
simply this. Shall the people of the state stand
by and the laws nufed by one place in
the state. in defiance of the courts the Execu-
tive Of the state and of all authority? y state
law is applicable to all the people. and all must
obey 1t. Any other rule leads to anarchy.
This statement is put out that the people may
know the facts and understand the real oond-
tions in order that public sentiment can be
voiced and public condemnation or approval be
expressed. If a law is Objectionable the remedy
is not to destroy and nullify it but to repeal
II The sale of liquors Sunday has been pro-
hibited by the laws of New Jersey from Colonial
three years state prison. either or both.
Relief against this can come only through lcgis-
laton. 1t is abhorrent 10 al ideas of republican
government that locality shall assert It's
right to refuse to obey the law while all others
yield obedience.
The Governor then points out the two courses
of action left open to him in the present crisis
and adds:
This address to the people of the state is
issued that the viola tors of the law A Atlantic
City and the officials who stand by and refuse
to prevent or punish such vioators may be
warned of the fact that in case of their further
refusals to enforce 0r obey the law the I.egis-
Iature will be convened to meet the emergency.
If a successful effort is not made by the Off
cials and citizens of Atlantic City to enforce
the Sunday law against the sale of liquor be-
gi [ herpb
by this public statement, notify the citizens of
the state that | shall forthwith issue prOcla-
nation calling extraordinary session of the
Legislature of the state, that Legislation may be
enacted under which the laws of the state NAV
the people IN the state, and ! call upon all good
people in the state. without regard to Iartv
creed or citizenship to take steps to voice their
sentiments upon the all absorbing issue now
before the people of the state-nameiy shall
the laws of the state be obeyed?
While the Governors statement came as a
startling piece of news, it was not wholly un-
expected as there had been rumors for days that
he would resort the calling of the militia
if necessary to enforce the excise laws. What
the result of the statement will be remains to be
seen but it is freely predicted that it will be
much ore difficult to purchase liquor In this
seaside resort next Sunday than any other
Sabbath in the history of the town.
ACTION DISCREDITS ALLEGED DEAL
Governor Forts action is thought by many
New Jersey politicians to be his answer to a
story pu lished last week, to the effect that he
had entered into an agreement with the poll
ticians of Atlantic County last fall. when he was
running for Governor. that in return for their