New-York tribune., 1909-09-23
GOVERNOR FORT ON HIS STATE.

Governor Forts noteworthy address at New
ark last night on political conditions in the
State of New Jersey may, as he anticipated,
cause call the dogs of war of the bosses ana
platform breakers to he let loose upon him.
There is little doubt that some of his remarks
will be resented. as some similar utterances or
his have hitherto been. But there can he no
doubt whatever in the minds of those who see
clearly and think straight that the attitude
which he has consistently maintained ever since
his nomination and election and which he re-
emphasized last night is impregnahle in logic. in
morals and. as we believe, in practical political
common sense
The text of his address was the specific and
explicit pledges of the Republican party in the
platform upon which it elected him Governor
The argument of it was that those pledges. to
which the party was fully committed and on
the strength of which the party was successful
at the polls should he honestly fulfilled. His
criticisms and denunciatiOns directed
solely against those self-styled real leaders
who for selfish purposes have repudiated the
pIighted faith of the party or have directed its
reputation by their subservent tools I'm the
Legislature. His cOmmendatiOn and advocacy
were given to those who are sincerely striving
to fulfil the party's pledges and thus TO obey
the peoples will His exhortatiOn was that the
voters of the Republican party at the coming
primaries should rebuke the pledge breakers
and should choose men who have been and who
will be faithful to their trust.
The lot of those who may take issue with
Governor Fort on those grounds is not to be
enved. Every we'll informed Jerseyman knows
that every word he spoke was true. 1t is
matter of public record that the Republican
platform of 1907 sCathfngly condemned the
Democratic Assembly for its refusal 10 do GER
tain things which were desired by the people
and unequivocally pledged the Republican LeSis
Iature to do those things, and that both of the
two Republican legislatures since then, under
the undisguised dictatiOn of the bosses and Spe-
Cial interests, refused to do them. He must he
a short-sighted politician who imagines that the
electorate of intelligent state will long endure
such conduct The people Of New Jersey realize
that, as their Governor said last night, they are
face 10 face with the problem whether they
themselves or the bosses and special interests
shall rule the state There can be no doubt as
10 how they will ultimately and we fancy. very
soon decide the question. and for that reason
Governor Forts plain talk was instinct not only
with morality and public spirit. but also with
the highest practical POLITICAL wisdom.
1t will not do for anybody to complain that
i'll thus antagonizing self-consttuted "leaders"
Governor Fort is opposing party organization or
regularity" The only rational definition OF
regularity" IS that which the Governor him
self gave some time ago-that it consists not in
subserviency to individual dictatOrs, but in f1de
ity TO party principles and in loyal fulflment
of party pledges as set forth in the official plat
forms Measured by that rule. Governor Fort Is
himself a regular of the regulars, while those
who oppose his efforts to fulfil the party pledges
by that conduct place upon themselves the
stigma of "irregularity' and of disloyaty to the
very organization which they affect TO revere.
independence and Intelligence and serve their
own political interests in no other way so well
as in needing and acting upon the admonitons
of Governor Fort.