New-York tribune., 1909-04-17
FORT CLINCHES VICTORY
Routs Bosses in Rally for HIS Ne7c
Primary Bill.
rRy -e.erraph to The Tribune. ]

Trertop Anru 16-It was after o'clock this
morning when the 133d New Jersey IesIS'"'uie
completed its labors. The session VIII go down j"
,be history of the state as of the most 9TH
r,eti. and ren1arla BILE battles between Governor.
striving 10 c,lrry out a pledge to the people ana
the bosses trying 10y every means In ''elI P'N'i
10 balll MS purpose 49,,
Governor Fort succeeded in getting enacted into
law about midnight last night his bill calling ioi
tho aIac+ion of the county commit tteemen OF oo'h
parties at the open primaries, but II was oh9 oS
almost s1Iperhnan efforts that he was anie L" se
# through the Assembly. and then only Wheh AS
sembIvman John J. Matthews. of HuhleIuoh' a
Democrat changed his vote from NO TO aye
and supplied the vote that was needed 10 Se''u
the measure on its way TO the Governor I"' ''''
signature 'Rlere was objection to the primary
bill by the Republicans in the Senate barrier III
the night the bill had been defeated II the tf'usF
The Governor was not disheartened. however. bu'
renewed the fight with greater vigof. he sem i'i
the Assamblymeu who voted against ile oI'' an"
pleaded with them TO stand by HIM ih'lde"'a"S
mentioning that II it was passed he would nave
10 call them in special session. He ais" played
another strong card by announcing that he "'uI4
send in none Of his appointments until the OH
became a law.
DEMOCRAT TO THE FORE.
When the bill came up again both sides We're
prir,ed for battle .Dory" Strong. Of MiddieseN'
leading the forces % bosses and Assembly man
Harry Ward of Bergen. leading the friends "i the
Governor Never Was Governor more bitterly at
tackled on the floor Of the House than 10y Assem-.
blyrnan Grinnely. Of Mercer. who accused MI" 90
being the biggest boss in the state, ana ASSTi''S
man Brooks. Of Essex. who urged the members not
10 hack down but 10 stand by their colors and vote
as they had before. Even Mafth"Ws, ih' pein'-
crat whose change OF vote finally passed the on"
attacked the Governor. saying that no niS 9''N "'
threat would influence his vote.
When the rollcau finished It was f"Hna
that the bill needed vote and remarkable
scene was then enacted in the Assembly chamber.
the galleries OF which jamrn"d Strong ana
his follow bosses although twice removed from the
floor by order Of the Speaker, again got into the
chamber and began pleading and begging with the
AsseTnhIyman who voted against the bill Z" remain
firm and not change. The friends Of IN" Governor
we're also active and after the announcement "f
the vote had heen held up for fifteen minutes, MT.
Matthews suddenly jumped 20 hls feet ana an
nounced that he had changed his vote and IN" hiH
was passed. The bill reached the Governor about
/ 80 O'Clock and quickly signed Il. as h" did
another primary reform bill. which slipped through
without much notice. providing that primary day
the enrolment hooks shall be kept, one for Repuh-
iicans the other for Democrats which shall be used
the following year Under the primary law man
voting al a party primary one year cannot vote at
the primary of the opposing party and this bill VIII
create of the voters so that no indiscrim-
inate swapping Of votes between the two parties
can take plact.
MARK FAGAN NAMED
The Governor did not send in his nominations 70
the Senate until o'clock and big surprise
given the Senators when they read. II had
been confidently predicted that the name OF David
Baird for reappointlncnt as a member Of the State
Board Of Assessors. would head the list, but in its
stead the first name To reach the ears Of tho law
makers was that of eX-Mayor Mark NJ. Pagan Of
Jersey City for Riparian Commissioner, Of the
bitterest FOES Of Baird in the state. Rairds
was missing from the list it was said because OF