The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-11-15
Ridiculous, He Declares to STAR.
Calls Ex-Governor Murphy's
Letters Interesting Serial
GOVERNORS STAND THAT OF
PROGRESSIVE REPUBLICANS
Says That the Topics Now Being
Discussed Are Not the
Issues.

Former Senator Everett CODY mas
been drawn into the controversy that
is exciting Republicans all over New
Jersey by a statement attributed to him
that he is opposed to Governor Fort
and by a further allegation that he has
Joined forces with former Governor
Murphy n the Republican machine
to eliminate the Governor from pol
itics. Ever since the issuance OF for
mer Governor Murphy's open letter OF
a week ago offering a party creed and
declaring for the repeal of the direct
primary law efforts have been made In
vain to get the former State senator,
as the prime mover in the Progressive
Republican League, to comment upon
it.
In view of the statements attributed
to him he consented today to- discuss
the party situation.
II can't, for tie life of me, see what
this Is all about, anyway" he SAID.
'.The silly season In politics seems to
have changed from summer to autumn
There has been no call for Republicans
to decide upon a State leader n most
Of the topics un der discussion by the
men who are securing so much news
paper space these days are not issues.
The direct primary is not an ISSUE
most certainly. A large majority Oh
the of the Legislature that
will convene in January are Repuph-
rams and as such they are pledged TO
maintain. the direct primary law How.
then. can the question of its repeal be
seriously discussed as a party matterf
III any primary legislation is enacted
next winter the spirit of the RepuDn-
can STATE convention platform OF lsoi,
which remains binding upon all meni-
hers of the Legislature of Repuphcah
politicai faith as well as upon the
Governor. demands that the move pc
forward and not backward, mat the
direct nomination plan be EXTENDED W
include other offices and not urtaiieo
or the statute providing for II re-
pealed." .o On
Are YOU against Governor Fort! up
posed to lin ?" was asked.
Am L against Governor Fort: lua
is 4 ridiculous question. n that SO
far as l can recall a never been
nil to me before. Am / for him ior
what. opposed to him for what. ne 10
mot a candidate for political prefer
mAnt. He says so himself. / take II
the question deals with the y
ton as to whether l am in
with his stand In favor OF the extern
sion of the direct nomination primary
law 10 include Governor and congress-
men and national committeeman; IN
"a vor of tho Martin public utilities DILL
the retention of the civil service rc-orm
law. the law for popular expression OF
choice for United States senators, for
the Massachusetts, ballot, and In favor
of the proposition 70 assess franchises
at their value and taxing them at local
rates, For all these things Progressive
Republicans have been orking lot
years, and I am in favor of all OF
them"
SIS 1t true that yon have united with
former Governor Murphy to eliminate
Governor Fort from politics?"
Il don't need to answer that ques-
tion."
Mr.. Colby was pressed for a state
ment on former Governor Murphy's ct
ters of yesterday n a week ago.
II am very much interested IN the
serial that is running" he said, "and
/ find each chapter containing some-
thing Of keen interest. I look for even
better things as the weeks go by"
Reminded that the former Governor
had insisted that he was not seeking
personal ends in his open letter cam
paign, Mr.. Colby said:
"Well, as / remarked before. I don't
know what it's all about, this talk. If
nobody is a candidate for anything
and the people have just elected a
Legislature thai is pledged to maintain
the advanced position of the Republic
can party, what is the object and what
can be the result of personalities end
much talk? Nothing"