The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-03-30
FORT URGED BY
STATE G.O.P.TO LET
PRIMARIES ALONE
David Baird Head of Plan to
Check Further Election
Legislation.
GOVERNOR DENIES THAT
HE WAS CONVERTED
Said to Have Hinted, However,
That He Would Obey Re-
publican Bosses.

lEtou - SteiI toffosPonoehNl
TRENTON. March sO.-Members Of
the State Republican Committee have
presented to Governor Fort, in the
name of South Jersey, a protest against
extension of direct primaries, against
adoption OF a blanket ballot and against
voting machines. Fathered by State
Assessor David Baird and his assocf-
ate, tho pronuncfamento is taken very
seriously here, in view of Uncle
Davy's~ strength as a political leader.
In plain language. the South Jersey
men told Governor Fort he owed his
election to them. Governor Fort was
SO Impressed that he limited to tho dele
cation that he would not insist on d.
rect primaries legislation this year.
There was rejoicing among Regular
Republicans when the news spread, but
1t was brief, for the Governor gave out
the following statement:
'"The statement that at a conference
held yesterday between several of the
Republican leaders and myself T had
changed my views upon the direct pri-
mary and would not insist upon such q
law at this session is absolutely with
out any foundation in fact.
Holds Same Views.
"on the, contrary, 1 hold the Same
view which I did, and shall insist Just
as strongly az / ever have on that sub
jeet. and / cannot imagine how such a
statement could have been given cur
rency.
Il am not in the habit of changing
! my mind in hat way"
Still, South Jerseymen insist their
protest was received kindly and made
a deep impression. In the course of the
1000 typewriter words handed to Gov
ernor Fort the following Is a protest
against passing a law forcing parties
to elect their committees at open
primaries under State supervision, inch
~dentally rappinE the New Ideaftss;
Committee Unwisldy.
In the first place, a county commit
tee OF los members would be unwieidly,
and sooner or later would be bound to
cause o split In the sparty. rs Las been
the case In Essex and Hudson
ties, where the several factions fight
like cats and dogs and then knife each
other at the polls.
During all these troublous times of
the New Idea movement to get the
Jobs. Camden county, through its adj
mTable system of organization has
stood like a tone wall and saved the
party from defeat in the State.
The present Governor owes his cleo
ton to the faithful Republicanism Of
Camden county and South Jersey but IL
our county committee had been elective
instead of appointive, there Is no tell
ing what the result might ave been.
The chances are that the administra-
tion OF affairs in this State would have
been IN the hands OF the Democrats
instead of within the control OF our
own party.
1.-THE scheme of appointing members
of the county committees permits
of the selection of representative
and true and tried Republicans and
prevents the renegade and self-seekins
demagogue from participation in the
councils of the party. 1t keeps out UNI
desirable men who would seek 10 gain
admission to the executive committee
for the purpose OF d~isrupting the party
and to serve their own ends,
politics is not a sentimental game
but a plain proposition Of gaining the
best results for the greatest number,
and to accomplish that there must be
thorough organization.
omciai criticism.
THE details of that organization
cannot be safely trusted to an unor-
ganized mob OF voters, who may be
misled by demagogues seeking theii
own advancement
This protest, or whatever n may
,ali It, coming from David Baird, Gen.
eral Edward Murray, State Assesso,