The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-09-24

49,
duty, to AXE an interest In h enact
ment of laws, and see that good laws
are passed and that bad ones are de-
feated. l do not believe that any fair
minded man will challenge the correct
ness of this statement.
Tells OF Direct Primary.
Legislative committees of the Com
mon Council, Board of F~reeholders,
Board of Trade and other civic and
municipal bodies have performed In
valuable service to the people of the
State, and particularly Essex county,
by their attendance at the legislative
sessions. and this charge comes with
questionable grace from a Governor
who constantly had his personal repre-
sentatives, high officials of the State
to the number of half a dozen or more.
In constant attendance at the sessions.
cajoling, ~persuading. pursuing the sue
cess of the Governors plans. And when
at times the floor was ostensibly cleared
of what [ believe are technically known
as Strangers" an exception was made
In behalf of this bunch of Light Horse
Cavalry" who were there TO do the
Governors bidding.
A word might be said in this place
concerning the direct primary for coun-
ty committeeman. The plan adopted
by the State is substantially, If not ex-
actly, the plan which Essex county has
used for the last ten years under a
permissive statute.
In his recent speech Governor Fort
said that the Republican party was
under the domination of the bosses
who had combined to defeat the will
of the people and prevent the Repub-
lican party from carrying out its plat
form pledges. The truth of the mat
ter is that the leaders of the Repup-
lican party rave refused to become a
part of the personal machine which the
Governor has been trying for two years
to build up. His charge against the
leaders Is not hat they ave betrayed
their party-for such is not the fact
but because they have refused to fall
In with the plans of the Governor In
obtaining control of the party in this
State for his own purposes. 1t Is gem
orally accepted as a fact that New
jersey has never had a Governor that
has used the official patronage of the
office to build up a personal machine,
as has the present Governor, and this
great power was especially used on
members of the Legislature TO secure
the passage of bills in which the Gov
ernor was personally interested
Constitution Amended.
1t is charged thai I nave lone moth
ing to bring the discordant factions of
the county together. One of the first
things that was accomplished during
my administration was the change in
the constitution and bylaws of the
county committee. This was done at
the suggestion of the New Idea leaders
in order TO harmonize the discordant
factions. Under the old constitution
autocratic power was given to the
chairman, not only by way of appoint-
ment of members Of the advisory COM
mittee, but also of the appointment Of
chairmen of wards and townships,
against the wishes OF, a majority of the
elected members therein, Indeed, the
unfairness of the constitution and by
laws of the committee was n OF the
CHIEF auses for complaint on the part
of mar Republicans in this county and
with my hearty cooperation the oonsti-
tuition and bylaws were amended SO
as to place the absolute control OF the
in the hands of It's elected
members, n l challenge any Republi-
can to show that, as they stand today,
they are not absolutely fair to all.
In addition to this. instead of arbj-
trarily appointing election officers, /
requested the elected members of the
committee to send in the names of two
persons to be appointed as election
officers in each district, and in every
single instance those persons were
named by me and approved by the
County Beard of Elections.
1t is only fair TO say also that the
New Idea leaders have opposed all at
tempts at harmony and have declared
time and time again that they would
not stand for harmony with the organ
ization under any circumstances ex-
cept on the basis of turning over con-
troll of the organization to them and
allowing them to name all the candi-
dates on the Republican ticket. Mr..
Colby recently expressed this sentiment
in q speech before the New Idea
League; and the effort of Mr.. Colgate
to make the voters believe he Is for
harmony and that 1t Is his wish to get
the factions together Is mere political
buncombe. and is done for the purpose
of d~eceiving the voters as to the real
situation.
No Reckless Extravaganza.
1 may also say that no individual, or
set of individuals, or corporation, or
special interest, has controlled either
the county committee or the chair
man since my term began, and no in
limitation or threats to public officials
or ofice-holders of the loss of position
or emolument has been INDUCED In to
affect the judgment of any Republican
employee in the county of Essex. There
has been no reckless extravaganza in
the election expenses and no unlawful
methods pursued in conducting cleo
lions since l have been chairman.
Since I have occupied the position every
Republican, regardless of his views, has
had the fullest and freest opportunity
to aspire to nomination for every office
and every member of the Republican
party has had an absolutely Square
deal.
| am glad to see that Governor Fort
has torn off the mask that he has been
wearing. When he was seeking the
nomination for Governor he pleaded