Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-11-25
Action to Be instituted Against
Author of LibeIOus
Letter.
CHARGES ARE BASELESS AND
FALSE, SAYS THE SENATOR
lnsinuati0ns and InnuendOes
Form Web and Wool
of Attack.

Declaring that the time had come
when malicious and unjust attacks
against him must cease former United
States Senator James Smith, jr, today
directed suit to be instituted against
Julian A. Gregory. of East Orange, for
his recent libelous letterwhich he caused
to be published. The suit will be
pressed to an Immediate trial. When
seen today by an EVENING STAR
reporter the former senator declined
to discuss the legal phase of his libel
suit, except to say that it was his
answer to villainous attack. When
I was younger in years" he said, II
permitted oil such acts to pass un-
noticed. but I have now come to an
age in life when the duty to resent
them becomes imperative.
Helps Man who Now Attacks.
Il have spent a long and active life
In public affairs. and / can look back
over 1t today and see it free from dis
honor. I have made mistakes. Who
has not? But l have never broken
faith or violated a pledge. l have taken
great pleasure in aiding and encourag-
ing young men, both in business and
in political life. The young man who
now assails me accepted of my help in
other days. Does he think 1t was his
own personality which elected him?
Was it he who set in motion the forces
which ended in the recent great VIC
tory?
TT seems easier nowadays to show
ingratitude rather than loyalty. Most
people can forgive certain moral short
comings. but they all despise an in
CRATE.
Relations with Cleveland Cordial.
II feel keenly the insinuation that
the late Grover Cleveland and ! were
unfriendly. During the entire discus
sion on the Wilson bill 1 was in daily
communication with him. and enjoyed
his confidence. He was always my
friend. and 1 was his friend. I at
tended every national convention which
nominated him, and gave him always
my loyal support. Our friendship
lasted until his death. When he came
to Newark, my home was his home,
and when 1 visited Princeton he made
me feel that 1 held his regard. Il
started the movement for the erection
of monument to his memory, move
ment which was later taken up and
ably carried to fulfilment by former
United States Senator John F. Dry
den.''
This action of the former Senator
will surprise his friends. inasmuch as
on no previous occasion in his long
career in public life did he ever make
any direct reply to personal attacks in
politics. His prominence in party pol
itics and his energy and aggressiveness
in political campaigns made him fire.
quent target for attack, and his rule
has always been to let them pass un-
noticed in the faith that the public
would understand their inspiration and
Judge accordingly.
What Mr.. Gregory Says.
Mr.. Gregory said today his only
knowledge of former Senator Smiths
determination to institute libel pro-
ceedings against him for a communi-
cation he admits having caused to be
published on Wednesday, November 25,
was the announcement he had read
In the Morning Star of today.
At first Mr. Gregory said he was
ayerse to discussing the subject at all
at this time Then he remarked: Il
am not surprised at Mr.. Smiths deter
mination, and do not see how he could
pursue any other course if his purpose
is to prevent an open expression OF
popular opinion in the interest of the
Democratic party. Mr.. Smiths course
may have the effect of preventing
others from expressing their opinion,
but 1t will have no effect on me. My
statement was simply letter to AS
semblyman- -elect Charles M. Brown,
which speaks for itself, and more than
that L have nothing to say at this time.
II caused copies of the letter in
question to- be maffed to several news
papers, including the STAR, from my
office on Wednesday morning, but did
not mail them myself"