Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1909-11-17
GOVERNOR ON
APPOIN TMENTS
Tells About the Newspaper
men Holding Public Office
--Many Recommended
WORK OF ADMINISTRATION
Especial Correspondence)


Trenton, Nov. 17:+Cautiously and
In semi-confidence Governor Fort
yesterday afternoon discussed with
a group Of newspaper correspondents
certain phases OF his administration
during the past two years. The
dominant note sounded by the gov
ernor for himself was quiet insist
ence that since he has been chief ex-
ecutive Of the state he has not per-
formed single act out of selfish
purpose or with a desire to promote
the chances of his further preferment
in public Office after his present term
expires.
Without referring to former Gov
ernor Murphy, or to the latter's state
ment in which he bitterly criticised
him, the governor intimated that the
assertion that he had used his office.
particularly In the appointment Of
newspaper men % number OF pub
lie places, to promote his political
fortunes or to secure favorable edito-
rial treatment to his side OF public
questions, was not the truth. He
conceded. as has been claimed. that
he had appointed about nineteen
newspaper men to different Offices.
but coupled with this aknowledge-
ment was the declaration that of the
members OF the press he had put into
the public service there were only
two who were In any sense personal
appointments. One is Willis Flet-
cher Johnson, president OF the Civil
Service Commission, who Is an edito-
rial writer on the New York Tribune.
and with whom the governor has
been intimately acquainted for twen-
ty-fye years. The other was the late
William Cloke, whom he selected for
state editor. and who for many
years contributed New Jersey politi-
cal comment to the New York Her
aid.
All the other newspaper men
named by Governor Fort were rec
ommended by republican members OF
the senate, together with other
prominent citizens concerned in
their selection. Several were reap
Tointments, and IN some instances
the governor does not have a pass
ing acquaintance with them. The
name of one Of the latter was sur-
gested to the governor and he re-
marked Why, If that man walked
into this Office this very minute /
would not know him. His selection
by me was a reappointment made
upon the urgent and earnest demand
OF the republicans of his county"
The governor conveyed the inn
preston that 1t was not fair to oues-
tion the propriety of appointing
newspaper men to office. They were
good citizens and made good officials
just as good in every respect as
or lawyers who were FREE
quently picked out for public places.
Anyway, he had never asked direct
ly or Indirectly any editor whom he
had appointed to Office to print a line
for or against anyone or anything
in public life, and as a matter OF fact
q number whom he has either first
appointed or retained by reappoint-
ment from the administration of
Governors Stokes and Murphy can
scarcely be classed In their profess
sional work as political friends of
the governor.
An inspection of the Iaw-making
records during the past two years.
the governor declared, would show
that he had not signed a single par
tisan bill, while on the other hand
ne had vetoed few of that charac-
ter that had come to him.
In conclusion the governor said
that he was anxious that the repubH-
sans should keep the pledges they
made in the platform on which he
made his canvass for Office.