The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-09-29
Conpressman Gardner.

John J. Gardner, Congressman from
the Second District 1.-THE Farmer states
man of South Jersey"-never parades
around Congress with brass band or
steam caliope to attract attention, but he
rarely fails TO secure the passage of meas
ures that he is interested in in a quiet,
matter of fact, workmanlike manner.
There are two general classes of states
men in Congress known to every frequent
er of the Hobbies under the great dome OF
the Capitol at Washington.
First-The hard worker whodoes things
and who is rarely heard on the floor of
the House except when it is necessary to
explain measures that he is seeking to
have passed by Congress.
Second-The speechifier who goes in
for filling as many pages of the Congress
sional Record and the newspapers as pos
sible with speeches to dazzle his constit-
uents back in Buncombe county.
In these two classes all shades and gra-
dations of lawmakers can be found.
Congressman Gardner belongs to the
first class mentioned. As second member
ON the Post Office Committee and chair
man of the Committee on Labor Of the
House. he has mainly to do with large
questions of national Importance which
REQUIRE much thought, careful considera-
ton and original investigation.
Congressman Gardner was engaged for
several years as an active member OF the
famous Industrial Commission which sal
in Washington 1S97-1903, during which
period some sixteen volumes of testimony
were taken on all questions pertaining tc
industrial conditions in the United States
1t was the first systematic attempt to OBJ
tain accurate knowledge for legislative
use of the trusts, monopolies and Other
economic inequalities In our social anc
economic life. The report of that com
mission is to-day generally consulted by
social and political economists and wal
the direct cause and warrant for the crea
ton of the Department of Commerce anC
Labor by Congress to correct many socia
and economic evils which had grown VI
in the body polite of the United States
The friends of Mr. Gardner believe tina
he contributed more to the practical out
come of this movement than any othe
member of the House of Representatives
There is no class of Legislation befor
Congress which elicits more organized op
, position-and frequently bitter opposition
/, than labor legislation. There is n
I class of legislation which requires NOR
care In framing In order to avoid const
tutional pitfalls which would destroy
+ before the courts. Congressman Gardne
g proposed to the House and secured th
passage through that body. two or thre
q times. the only constitutional eight-hou
h labor law ever passed. to cover the houl
q of day labor on all Governmental col
a tracts let to contractors. The Senat
, however, always buried this measure an
q consequently it has failed to become
II law.
q Mr.. Gardner was pioneer In the deve
! opment of the rural free delivery
II America and secured more than thir
a. rural free delivery routes for his distri
ID very early in the experiment. This W
) of great advantage to all the farmers al
# suburbanites of South Jersey. That N
es Gardner is we'll qualified for the high P
Or sition he holds must be admitted In loo
u ing over his record.
To- He served four years In the civil WI
er He was six times Mayor of Atlantic CHI
In He served fifteen years in the State 81
n, rs ate of New Jersey. He has served mel
IL ly eight terms in Congress from the 81
ny ond New Jersey district, embracing
Ist lantic, Burlington, Cumberland and Ca
u May counties. Mr.. Gardner has made a n
an utation in Congress as forceful, reat
he picturesque and at times quantity hum
ed GUS speaker. Some of his best speed
pm were made on behalf Of public buildiI
ter and waterways improvements for N
,he Jersey. One or two of these speeches
classics Of their kind,