New-York tribune., 1909-05-07
Mr.. STOKES'S MOTIVES
His Former Secretary Discusses
Them in Light of Criticism.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir Your article in Mondays issue. unuer cate
line of Trenton. in asserting that Governor Stokes
s the machine candidate" for Governor, anu tnaS @
chargeabIe railroad measures. is so devoid OF
truth and accuracy that It ought not to pass uh-
/ was Governor stokes's secretary. and I know
stokes is not a candidate for Governor, and has
not only not encouraged but has DISCOURAGED any an!
suggestion of the kind While he accepted tne
nomination for the Governorship in 1904. he dld
so with great reluctance. and was not seeker
II is entirely in other directions These he will
make known at the proper time, and viii make @
his fight before the people without asking the
consent OF any machine or official boss or die
tator.
The suggestion that the measures passed during
his administration favored the railroads ~ con
creased the railroad taxes nearly three and one
half times. and the distribution of these moneys
OF this state over 81 500 900 In local school
in single year The people. not the railroads:
have henehteAby these acts. Moreover many OF
these acts ar the time they were pending were
supported almost universally by me press IN IN
eluding The Tribune itself As the Hon ran
doiph Perkins the leader Of the House al that
by every member or both House and Senate; one
Of them 10y every member save one and the
among those voting for these measures. which
you suggest IN the interest of the railroads.
at6ar senaHr sFd members The Trihune has
from time time strongly supported. Governor
Fort has. In most striking manner. shown his
appreciation OF these laws.
Senator Avis conceived introduced and fathered
the county tax board law, and Governor Fort en-
deavored 10 appoint, and would have appointed.
Senator Avis the father Of this law. member
of the Railroad Commission mad it not been for
tration Of the Governors appreciation or the man
VINO introduced ana whose influence passed the
county tax board Legislation. nable to appoint
Senator Avis for this responsible position the
ton OF the measures passed under former ad-
ministration. Senator HiHery introduced and
All other applicants Governor Fort selected Sen
ator Hllery. the author 81 the maximum tax rate
member Of the Railroad Commission. and SO high
~ dtu %" ltIhh OF lAt HuliioT ana lnlIoductr OF
the IlilIery maximum tax rate law that he refused
TO appoint Whiting. the New Idea member. on
that commission. in order 10 make place for
Arter the Governor has shown by this official
county tax board law and the Hillery maximum
tax rate law. ! trust that We shall near more
covert usnuatons that the Governor regards
these laws es railroad measures when he so sig
naly honors their sponsors. Such a suggestion
faith and sincerity against which I respectfully
Newark May 8 sos -''''' " INA l.
Mr Gray has apparently read the article
he refers TO very closely else he would have
not say that Mr.. Stokes a candidate for
Governor. What it dfd say was that there is
uumistakable drift toward making Ex-Governor
Edward g. Stokes TIE candidate in 1910 The talk
Of Stokes is confined to the dyed -thewool ma
chine men. such Baird, Voorhees,, Murray and
Strong. and is said TO be looked upon with favor
because II would mean the practical solution of
situation which is arise when successor
to United States Senator John Kean is chosen in
1911"
Mr., Gray also says that The Tribune asserts that
the acts passed during his Stokess) administration
are chargeable as railroad measures" What The
Tribune did say The ex-Governor's popular
ity has not been enhanced by the recent public
utteranCes Of Governor Fort who said that the
crowning achievements of Mr.. Stokes's term
Governor-tho Hillery maximum tax act and the
law creating cor nty tax boards-were enacted sole
ly in the interest OF the railroads and against the
interes' of the people
Mr.. Gray will have no difficulty in determining
the truth the above If he reads letter sent by
Governor Fort to Julian l. Gregory. OF Montcair
which given 70 the press and published on
March 23 This letter was instigated by many
covert attacks on Governor Fort because he recon-
mended in a special message to the Legislature
the repeal OF the Perkins law. which Mr.. Gray en-
deavors TO defend in his letter.