Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-08-07
Commissioner Smith Will
Not Answer Trade
Association.
SAYS RESOLUTION
is MISSTATEMENT
Denies That Jersey Has Con-
Quoted Warfare Upon For
eign Auto Owners.
Especial to the Newark star.l

Especial to the Newark starl
TRENTON, Aug. 7.-when Commits
sioner of Motor Vehicles ]. B. r. Smith
was asked If he had yet replied to the
communication of the secretary of the
New Jersey Automobile Trade Asso-
ciation, containing resolutions condemn
ing his action in refusing short-term
licenses to residents of New York. he
replied that both the letter and the
resolutions had been received, but that
their spirit was so deliberately and un-
necessarily offensive that he must de-
cline to either answer or have further
intercourse with their authors until
suitable apologies had been made.
He said that in the first place the
resolutions did not come from the trade
association at all, and the rank and file
of that organization ought not and
would not be held responsible therefor.
They did not even con as the unani-
nous vote of the executive committee
and the secretary's statement TO that
effect Is a deliberate misstatement.
There was a trong protest from lead
ing members, who refrained from vot-
ing for the express purpose of pre-
venting further discord. but their opin-
ions were we'll known. The voting was
done by few men who were affiliated
with the New Jersey branch Of the
American Automobile Association, and
Who are trying to use the local trade
association as a catspaw 20 pull the
rapidly burning chestnuts of the par
ant a aaaoCf tton 0Iit of the fire.
T. Not Residents OF Jersey.
This parent association is a national
body composed mainly OF nCn-residents
of New Jersey, has been the leading
propa gandist of the free privilege with
out registration policy throughout the
country, and as one of the means to
secure the adoption of that policy in
New Jersey has not scrupled to hold up
to ridicule and persecution New Jersey
motorists, including members of their
own association, while touring In other
States
I do not hesitate to charge those In
official position in this association with
being the prime cause of the tourists
troubles.
Because of this campaign of persecu-
ton and Misrepresentation, on the part
of this association, its former members
In this State has dwindled to a mere
handful, probably not more than per
cent. of our motorists are even NOM
inally members of any club affiliated
with that association.
The first statement, to the effect that
New Jersey has compelled non-resi-
dents to 5lbmit to many indignities, Is
not only deliberately and willfully un-
true, but the exact opposite Is the case.
While the indignities heaped upon New
Jersef motorists at the express request
of those in authority in the American
Automobile Association has not been
so great in New York as in Massa
chusetts and Pennsylvania, it has still
existed; whereas. every resident of New
York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania
has received in New Jersey the highest
degree of courtesy, as the trainers of
this resolution not only well know, but
as the majority of them in private con-
versation freely admit.
Resentment Not In This state,
The trainers of this resolution know
very we'll that the feeling of resent
ment is not in New Jersey, but else
where. They know very well that
there is no feeling of resentment in
my act.
They know that it is not as they
state. New Jersey who served notice
on the residents of other States;" that
New Jersey did not serve notice on
other States that their motorists were
not welcome in New Jersey, but that
other Ste S served notice on New Jer-
sey motorists that they were not well
come in thore other States. To state
the contrary by any association is to
state an untruth. This effort to misrep 1
resent. to make the poorer appear the
better cause, this effort to humiliate
and persecute their own brother mo-
torists touring i other States l resent
with all the energy possess, and when
this effort comes from residents of our
own State, even though they are few,
indeed, in number, resent it even more
bitterly.
George H. Smith, manager of the
Peerless Motor Car Company and Sec
retary of the New Jersey Auto,n )bile
Trade Association. read the statement
of j. B. r. Smith carefully and then
handed il back to the Evening STAR |
reporter with the statement. Nothing
to say. brother"
AS he read the statement at times
his face wreathed in smiles, white at
other times his mouth took a scornful I
upward turn. Pressed for some state
ment Mr. Smith said:
This appears to be a TRADE against !
the associated clubs and does not hit !
us. Mr.. Smith. of Trenton, cannot drag
us into any fight, political or other I
wise
All other questions Mr.. Smith re-
fused to answer, stating that George
Blakesley. of the Crescent Automobile
Company, Of Jersey City, president cf