The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-01-20


keeping Events have proved Int he
yond any DOUBT Governor Fort ap
preeiating pc; only The moral ohliga
tions made Ia a campaign, but alsc
recognizine the expedieney of keeping
pledges, displayed a political percep
tiveness that Is now acknowledged by
many of the politicians who in the be
ginning of HIS administration consid
red him unsophisticated and imprac.
deal in public affairs.
While Governor Fort held these very
proper views concerning campaign
covenants with the people, he caused
himself much embarrassment and de
ayed the progress of necessary and
'ighteous legislation by attempting to
win legislative support through the co
operation of some Of the political
bosses. II not betrayed by them, he
was ut least badly fooled before the
md of the first legislative session. II
y matter of political history that
'oterie of self constituted leaders dom.
mated the legislative branch Of the
state government Space forbids de
serihing al the lns and outs of the
Republican partnership that worked
atterly under what was designated rs
he BOARD Of guardians"
The fact that Governor Fort endeaN-
bred to vitalize prediction pledges 10y
securing the help of bosses who con
rolled votes in the legislature il not
Interpreted by fair students OF his al
ministration rs representing Il morbid
effort He was struggling 70 have Ell
acted bills that the common good re
Iuired. Whatever the ethics Of the sit.
lation may have been the bald fact
was that the orders of these bosses
men like Baird. Dalrymple. Murray
Voorhees, aud Kean- were almost in
Sariably accepted rs the dictum 70 Re
followed by the legislative representa-
ives of the counties constituting the
particular political estates of these
party moguls In BIS efforts to lead
his party into paths demanded by pub
lie good Mr. Fort doubtlessly felt IN
the beginning that he could accom-
plish results more quickly and ef
fectively by taking the presumptiye
party leaders into counsel. When he
lound to the contrary he cut loose from
them. Today he stands strong arl
popular with the people, while they
are discredited and In defeat
Parenthetieally II may have to lie
acted that, while the governor con
ferred Mt times with party leaders
about legis lation. such talks We're un-
tainted with partisan scheming. If
there has been one thing on which Mr.,
Fort has insisted all through his term
i is the idea that the state government
should serve the people instead of the
politicians.
Notwithstanding the influence of the
bosses, Governor Fort OH several o.
,asions won the majority of the legis
allure over 10 his side despite The
desperate efforts of the former 10 cir
sumyent his plans. This was notably
so in the circumstances attendant
lpon the passage of the present civil
service law and in the extension OF
The direct primary law TO the selection
IF members of political committees
Both Of these battles were fought out
On the last night of "a legislative SEES
sion. one in 1908 and the other in
1909 At the time Governor Fort was
bitterly assalled by the bosses as hay
ng transcribed his constitutional pre-
negatives and resorted to vicious POI
itical dickering, SO far as the charge
If political dlckerlng in the way of
promised patronage as the quld pro
quo for legislative votes In these two
lights is concerned, the governors APP
lointments since then have not borne
)ut any OF the accusations made
against him.
The appointments by Governor Fort
ire recognized as of his own selection
md evidently without consultation
With the erstwhile leaders He made
splendid start when AT the opening
If his administration he named Nah
on Pitney. great lawyer and thor
)ughly independent, as chancellor
All through his administration he
maintained very strict standard for
hose appointed to judicial places. APP
continents that reflected great polit
cal liberality and strength were those
IF Robert Carey an independent, and
Thomas \. Davis, a Democrat, as com
non pleas judges In Hudson and Els
sex counties respectively. No Demo
ratio common pleas judge had ever
sefore been appointed by Repub-
lean governor Both of these men
ave proved TO be excellent Judges
His recent selection of Mark A. Sulli-
van as one Of the judges OF the court
If errors and appeals was hailed as
)ne OF the most popular and fit APP
continents ever made to a high court
bench In this state.
While they have been able to control
the legislature against him to great
er or less extent. the political bosses
found themselves impotent TO secure
The appointment of men by the gov
srnor except as they measured up in
character and qualifications for the
berths to be filed. He has recognized
he Independent or new idea" wing
IF the Republican Dartv in several i'm