Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-10-21
PUBLIC OPINION
lDITOR EyENING NEWS:

EDITOR EVENING NEWS:
In view of the fact that you have
misquoted and criticised me in your
editorial columns, will you kindly
allow me space In your paper to
answer some of your accusations and
set myself right, as far as possible,
with the people of this city?
In the first paragraph of your edi-
torial of October 18 you say "A man
never rises higher than his OWE
thoughts and may ! be permitted to
add desires / heartily agree with
you on this point and there is moth
ing which / can think of just at the
present time that would be Of more
interest to me than to know what
personal interest you have In electing
the present school board.
You quote me as saying at the first
ward meeting that the physical con-
dition OF the children was none of
the school boards business, and that
the present activity to relieve exist
ing distress was for political pur-
poses. / am willing to be fair and
try to believe your reporter misun-
derstood me-; but I assure you that
| neither said or insinuated that the
school board should not interest IT.
I DSlI Al Xix phy pltdt Oilol III tilo
children. You will pardon me If /
ask you to give me credit for having
too much common sense to make an
assertion Of this kind. What / did
say at the first ward meeting was
tbias That / did not believe In MAX
ing political capital for the school
board out of a few poor little chill
dren who were not properly clothed
or fed. / said 1t then, l repeat 1t
now. TRY to think and believe clean
and right, and / am not at all back
ward in expressing my thoughts and
beliefs when 1t 10 proper and permits
sible to do so. In making this criti-
cism, however, / did not there, nor
do / now refer to the gentlemen on
the school board.
God forbid that / should ever find
fault with anyone for doing a kindly
act for a child. / have a tender spot
In my heart for all the little ones,
and my neighbors will bear me out
when / tell you that my back yard.
as a rule, has more resemblance to a
Kindergarten than private property.
Again J. say J. do. not criticise the
school board for doing a kindly, and
perhaps necessary service for some
little un~fortunates, but / do criticise
you, Mr.. Editor, land l believe just
Jly," for Selling on an act of the
school board which you admit and
claim is a duty of that body and
making q two-column, front page
scarehead line article out of 1t, and
| believe If you will look at the ques-
ton from my point of view. you will
agree with me that ] had some
grounds on which to base my criti-
cism, and when / made the remarks
that have led up to this, / had refer
ence to the Perth Amboy EVENING
NEWS and not to the school board.
AS an individual, 1t is immaterial
to me whether l am elected or de-
feated.
AS q republican / would be pleased
to be elected, and I want every man
who may see fit to vote for me at the
coming election to bear In mind that
he is voting for a republican who is
neither ashamed nor afraid to be a
candidate on the republican ticket,
/ have made no promises to my
party. They have asked for none.
/ will make none to the people, be-
cause l believe a promise once made
should be saeredly kept. And |
would prefer to be free to act for
W ik4L 4 HOuld GOllDAdOI LhC DOot AAICt
ests OF those most deeply concerned
as occasions arise. But those who
know me best know that | am fair
and Just, hat / have fought against
what / have considered wrong and
for what | consider right toward my
feliowmen in my semi-public life.
You have harped on the non-par-
tisan school board until the subject
has become almost sickening, but /
know you do not believe the repub-
lican candidates, If elected, would
make the schools into republican
clubs. You do not believe they
would dare go far wrong after the
experience OF a year and a half ago
In school matters, and you dc not
believe that all the ability and
honesty of purpose in Perth Ambey
is conferred in the nine gentlemen
composing the present school board.
/ thank you. and beg to remain,
Yours very truly,
II ID VIII CON