Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-06
FORT WINS IN JERSEY
DEFEATS THE LEADERS-TAFT
INSTRUCTIONS DOWNED.

TRENTON, n. j.. May 6.-Gov Fort
won his fight against the republican
bosses yesterday afternoon, and despite
the opposition of the leaders was elected
one Of the four delegates at large to the
national convention.
The other three who will constitute the
big four" from New Jersey are David
Baird of Camden and United States SEN
ators Kean of Elizabeth and Briggs of
this city.
The delegates will go to Chicago unin-
structed. Gov. Fort has announced him.
self for Taft, Senator Kean is said to be
for Knox. David Baird has no particular
choice. but it Is against Taft. and Senator
Briggs is open to persuasion. The gov
ernOr says he can win him over The
twenty district delegates are divided in
their choice. the majority being for Taft
A delegate from Essex offered an
amendment favoring the nomination of
former Gov. Franklin Murphy of Newark
for Vice President. and the amendment
was accepted. Another amendment was
offered favoring the nomination for Presi-
dent of Secretary of War Taft which was
followed by another favoring the renomi-
nation of President Roosevelt. The con-
ventiOn broke into an uproar and finally
the latter two amendments were laid on
the table.
The Governors Victory.
The governors victory was not achieved
without some bitterness. 1t necessitated
the sidetracking of former Gov Murphy
and the defeat of former Gov. John w.
Griggs. Murphy. who is also chairman of
the republican state committee, swallowed
his pill with difficulty. even though it was
sugar-coated with the. resolution indors-
ing him for Vice President.
However, as he expressed it, in the in
terest of harmony he took his dose and
stepped aside in favor Of the governor
And this, too. with the entire delegation
from Essex solid for him.
With Griggs 1t was different. The for
mer United States Attorney General re-
fused to be persuaded to withdraw. He
came to town determined to prove that he
Is still in the running and a power to be
reckoned with. Behind him stood the
delegations from Passaic. Bergen and sew
erat other northern counties. They clam
ored wildly for their candidate: they "hol-
Tered" and threatened, but to no avail.
The state committee politely declined to
listen; the members informed Griggs that
there was nothing doing. Nevertheless,
the man who is looked upon as the BRAIN
lest in the state declined to submit peace
fully. and he entered the convention hall
prepared to fight.
Taylor's Opera House with forty-five dele
gates in attendance. Former United
States Senator John F. Dryden was elect
ed temporary chairman, and later this
temporary honor was made permanent.
The Platform.
The platform. in part. says:
The administration of President Roose-
welt, supported by a republican Congress-
has raised the standards of fair. dealing.
among nations and man. both at home
and abroad. We earnestly uphold and
commend his management and direction
of national and International affairs: his
views and recommendations for peace and
arbitration in disputes among nations: for
the strengthening of our army and navy
that we may be so invncible as to pre-
clude the danger of attack; for justice and
fair dealing. irrespective of race. color or
condition; for the right and equal en-
forcement of the laws; for honesty and
integrity in financial. commercial and in
dustrial life; for the protection of the
rights OF the people and for the develop
ment and proper conservation of our I'M
mense national resources.
1.-The republicans of New Jersey stand
for principles rather than details. and II
changing conditions require an adjust
ment of tariff schedules. we most en-
hatfcally insist upon the full maintenance
Of the protective policy. that the reve-
nues Of the government may be preserved,
American wages maintained at the high
est standard. and american markets pre-
served for American industries.
Relying upon the discretion OF our dele
gates to voice the preference of the repub-
licans of New Jersey at the next cOnven-
ton, we refrain from hampering their ac-'
ton by suggestion or by specific instruc-
ton. fndulgfng, at the same time. the hope
thai New Jersey may have representation
on the national ticket