Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1909-02-25
HITS PARTY LEADERS
Says He and the Legislature
Represent Whole People
Not Partisan Committee.
OTHERS RESENT ACTION
Committee Declares Cover
nor Misunderstands Pur-
pose of Office.

Trenton, Feb. 25:-Governor Fort
lost no time yesterday on his return
from Chicago, in displaying resent
ment at the professed purpose of the
republican state committee to main
tain a legislative lobby in Trenton
during the remainder of the lawmak-
ing session.
When the newspaper men invaded
the gubernatorial sanctum yesterday
afternoon, one If them handed the
chief executive a clipping of the state
ment made by former Governor
Stokes concerning the attitude Of the
state committee, as expressed in the
resolution authorizing the executive
committee of that body to watch leg
islation, and to advise with the law
makers. The governor read Mr..
carefully, and deliberately wrote out
the following comment:
Il regard the action of the state
committee as gratuitous reflection
upon the governor and the legisla-
ture. Every senator and member /
have seen today has expressed him
self of the same opinion. The people
of the state elected the governor and
members Of the legislature to repre-
sent them at Trenton, and not parti-
san committees. This sort of thing
Is what makes trouble all the time.
There is not the least lack of har-
mony between the governor and
legislature, either in the senate or
house-none whatever, and those
who pretend that there is, are simply
doing 1t to excuse their action in a
course which every man who has any
self-respect must resent. Neither the
governor nor the Legislature needs
their help, and as for myself. while !
will gladly confer with any one on
any public question, do not propose
to sit quietly by and permit any at
tempt to run the legislature by out
side and unsolicited advice.
when the legislature finds itself
not competent to do it's work, they
will no doubt call in help, but until
they do, | shall support them in their
opinion that they are able as yet to
attend to the business of the state"
Later in the afternoon former Gov
ernor Stokes was advised of what
Governor Fort had to say about the
action Of the state committee, and
asked If he had anything further to
say in reference to the matter. He
declined to discuss the subject
The governors statement is the po-
lltical sensation of the hour. 1t was
the paramount topic of talk among
they had heard about the sharp COM
ment he indulged in.
Senator Robert G. Hand, of Cape
May county, member of the state
committee, was shown the statement
of the executive and asked his opin-
said that he was not at the meeting
ion of the committees doings. He
of the committee at the home of for
mer Governor Murphy, in Newark,
last Friday, but added that If he had
been he would have opposed the prop
osition of sending the executive COM
mittee to Trenton. AS he talked, SEN
ator Hand gradually became warmed
up. Continuing, he said:
Il consider it was a mighty dis
courteous thing for the state COM
mittee to do and am sorry that l was
not on the job in Newark last Friday.
/ would not have stood for it for
minute. We are not a lot of goslings,
and my constituents in Cape May
county don't think that l need a
guardian or they would have sent one
with me-"
Senator Hand referred to that part
of the governors statement which
says unsolicited advice" and said
that the word advice" should be
changed to orders. The senator
from Cape May insinuated that he in
tended to bring the matter up in exc
cutive session of the senate and at
tempt to have a resolution passed
condemning the action of the state
committee
Senator Wekelee, of Bergen coun-
ty, also a member of the state COM
mittee, was asked his opinion Of the
governors statement and said that
executive was laboring under mis-
apprehension. Mr.. Wakelee thought
that the action of the state COM
mittee was justified and necessary
to watch the party legislation that
might be introduced, and to help and
assist the senator's and assemblym en-.
The senator said that 1t was up to
the committee to see that the cam
paign promises were kept, and assert
ed that no discourtesy was meant to
anybody but gave it as his opinion
that the matter had been wrongly eX-
plotted in the newspapers.
The president of the senate, Sena
tor Samuel K. Robbins, said that
while he was member of the state
committee, he did not care to be quot
ed on the matter, as he did not think
he was sufficiently acquainted with
the facts.
Senator Ackerman, of Union coun-
ty. said 1t made little difference to
him how many came to Trenton to
watch the legislature. He did not
wish to express himself on the propo-
sition. but asserted that he fould
continue doing his duty If there was
a person at every door to attempt to
influence him.