The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-03-09
MURPHY DEFENDS ACT.

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Criticism on state Committee.
The following statement was given
out at Newark last Tuesday by former
Governor franklin Murphy, chairman
of the republican state committee Of
New Jersey:
find, on returning after an absence
of ten days in the south, that the ac-
tion of the state committee, at it's
meeting on February 10Th, in consti-
tuting it's executive committee COM
mittee on legislation, has caused some
criticism in the state on the part of
the democrats and those who for their
own ends desire to be regarded some
times as Independents and sometimes
as regular republicans. have not
heard that the action of the commit
tee has been criticised by any genuine
republican who believes in his party
and who believes that the best inter-
ests of the people are safest when con-
ided to its charge.
| What the committee did, and the
reason for it's action, was explained in
the statement by Governor Stokes,
which was sufficient for those who de-
sire information, and should have been
sufficient for every one. But in these
days of new political fashions which
change as frequently as women's bon
nets, it has come to be thought inn
proper, apparently, that the republican
state committee which cares for the
well-being and preservation of the re-
publican party. should exercise its
right to advise with the republican
members of the legislature concerning
those measures which are Of interest
to the party, and not to the party
alone, but, as republicans believe, to
the people as a whole.
4 This tempestin a teapot has created
so much fuss that have been request
ed to make statement Of the situa
tion lest the action of the committee
should be misunderstood and itshoulC
be regarded as assuming the Functions
both of the governor and the legisla
ture. 1t is because it has beer
charged with doing this that state
ment is Justified.
i The duty of the state committee il
to issue calls for conventions, to pre-
pare the platforms of the party sub
| ject to the approval of the conven
tionS, and to conduct the state cam
paigns for governor and for presiden
and to advise with the leaders of tn
party in the various counties OF tn,
state with the active members Of til,
party in the legislature, and it ha
even at times ventured TO make Sug
gestions to the governor OF the state
and this without offence. 1t serve
the political ambition of no man.
holds in charge the political destiny Q
no man. 1t cares for the interest o
the republican party, and, througl
4 that party, the interest of the people
i and so long as this country is governe
NJ kN~AOJ oN AObfr' ~ U
do this, and when it fails it will go t
i defeat. and it should go to defeat.
i The state committee has never ye
interfered improperly in any legisla
uiOn, and it probably never will. Blu
it has never hesitated to counsel thos
in authority as to what it believed t,
be for the best interests of the part
and the people, and as am Chairman
Of the state committee it will neve
cease to do this.
4 1t Is said that its advice is unwel
come. Unwelcome to whom ? To tn
repu blicans who have fought the part
battles and carried the party to sue
cess ? Not at all: but unwelcome Il
its enemies and its half enemies ant
its half friends. Notwithstandin,
this criticism, the committee will gt
on with what it has undertaken to do
and what it believes to be it's duty Il
do, now as heretofore, and it will try a
best it may to save the party from {
whole lot of foolishness that nov
seems to threaten it from it's enimieS
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