Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-04-23
Much Gossip About Lewis.

tons of Vivian Nj. Lewis of PasSaic
to be commissioner of banking and in
surance and President Samuel II. Rob-
bins of the senate to be clerk in chan
Gerry. 1t had been generally accepted
by the corridor gossips that Mr.. Rob-
bins was to be commissioner of bank
ing and insurance, and, as Mr.. Lewis
was clerk of chancery, with the best of
prospects of being appointed next year
for another full term, there was much
speculation as to what the change
meant. Mr.. Lewis, it is known, is a
prominent candidate for the Republic
an nomination for governor in 1910,
and such political wiseacres as ex-
Governor Stokes and General G. Ed
ward Murray, the leader of the Mercer
county Republicans, are quoted as say
ing that by accepting the commissions
ership he has ended his political career.
Others. however, equally well known
for their political wisdom declare that
Mr.. Lewis has not only not ended his
political career, but has materially
helped his gubernatorial aspirations by
accepting the commissionership.
In the parlance of the sporting fra
ternity, the governor handed a jolt to
Theodore Strong, the Republican lead
er of MiddleseX county, when he made
Judge Theodore Booream prosecutor
of that county and appointed Judge
Adrain Lyon of Perth Am5oy to sue
coed Judge Booream on the common
pleas bench of that county. Mr.. Strong
all the session had been using every
means in his power to secure the re
appointment of George Besdine as
prosecutor, and he took very much to
heart his failure to land LIS mar
Governor Forts Victory.
In the closing hours of the legisla-
ture Governor Fort snatched a vic
tory out of what his political enemies
considered certain defeat. One of the
measures which his excellency consid-
cred the party was pledged to pass was
that providing for the election of MEM
bers of the various county committees
at the open primaries in the fall, and
he bent bis energies to securing its
passage. John Rotherman of Hudson,
Theodore Strong of MiddleseX, Gen
eral c. Edward Murray of Mercer, Al
fred n. Dalrymple of Essex and other
county leaders, believing they would
lose their control of the county organ
izations should the bill become a law,
did everything to encompass its defeat.
1t was a battle royal, and when the
bill first came up in the house, having
rassedthe-sena eitMas-lEiAed- a
vote of 20 to 80. Then, as if to make
it's death more certain, Leader Lewis
had a resolution adopted providing
that, "in order to expedite business, 40
lost bill should be reconsidered."
When the governor heard of the
death of the measure he started to
have it revived. Sending for some of
those who voted against the bill, he
argued and pleaded with them until
he succeeded in obtaining from them
promises to vote for the bill if they got
another chance to do so. Later in the
evening Assemblyman Colgate asked
to have the bill rec~onsidered. Mr..
Strong, who was in the lobby, moved
down to the desk of Mr.. Voorhees, of
Middlesex and whispered to him. I'm
mediately Mr.. Voorhees, objected,
while General Murray, Mr.. Dalrymple
and other opponents of the governor
began to get busy among the men they
controlled. This procedure aroused
Mr.. Martin of Essex, and he demand
cd that the Hobbies be cleared. The
speaker insisted that the sergeant at
arms do so. and the floor was cleared.
Strong and General Murray remained
on the floor, however. as they are state
officials. Mr.. Colgate's motion was final
~ carried. the vote showing that the
governor had changed the votes Of
some assemblymen, and a long debate
on the bill followed. Prompted by
i. General Murray, Assemblyman Gin.
nelly made a bitter speech in which
he accused the governor of being u
boss and trying to jam the bill
through.
Mr.. Colgate and Mr.. Nichols of Cum
berland defended the governor and de-
clared that If the governor was a boss
he was the right kind Of a boss, as he
was working for a measure which was
in the interests of the people.
Mt. Matthews of Hunterdon said
that he was originally in favor of the
bill: but, since the executive had I'M
dertaken to coerce the legislative
branch of the government, he would
have to vote against it.
Matthews Changes His Mind.
The roll call showed that the bill had
only thirty votes, and there was great
excitement in the house. Mr.. Connolly
cfamored that the vote be announced,
while others shouted for the absentees.
During the excitement Assemblyman
Myer changed his vote from nay to yea,
giving the necessary thirty-one to pass
it. 1t was not generally known, however.
what he had done, and it was supposed
that the bill still lacked one vote to put
it through when Mr.. Matthews, adj
dressing the chair, said that. notwith-