Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-10-25
FORT PRAISES
THE GOVERNOR
Former Governor Speaks at
Meeting in Elizabeth.

Elizabeth Oct. 25.-"And Balah
said unto Balaam, What hast thou
done unto me? / took thee to curse
mine enemies, and, behold, thou
hast blessed them altogether.
Elizabeth Republicans are today
quoting these words of Holy Writ
against former Governor John
Franklin Fort. who Monday night
was the principal speaker at a Re
publican massmeeting In Elizabeth
port. For the former Governor, In
stead Of attacking the administra-
tion of his successor, gave 1t hearty
praise.
He declared the laws put through
the last Legislature, through the eff
forts Of Governor Wilson, were just
what he had tried to have enacted
while governor, but that he was
thwarted by a hostile Republican
Legislature.
The failure of his party to keep
its promises, the Former governor
declared, was responsible for the
overwhelming Republican defeat
last fall. The time had gone, he
said, when voters could be hood
winked by false pretenses, and no
political party could remain long In
power when it betrayed the people
who had placed the reins of gov
eminent In its hands.
Governor Wilson the speaker
said, did a manly act in promptly
admitting that he had made a mis-
take in his recent Elizabeth speech,
as soon as apprised of it by Senator
Iial Candidate Carleton B. Pierce.
That he was in full accord with
most OF the legislation pushed
through by Governor Wilson, was
the assertion of the latter's prede-
cessor. his only regret being, he
said, that his own efforts In the
same direction had not been more
successful. He gave high praise to
the employers liability law, and
predicted that in less than five years
its workings would be found to give
general satisfaction.
The former governor said in part.
Republicans Did Not Keep Promises.
IF we can have men elected to
the Senate like Pierce, Colgate and
Smalley, the Republican party will
never be called upon to apologize
for anything they do and no inter
est of any sort will control them.
II we had had all such men as these
in the Legislature during my term
as Governor the laws the party
promised would have been enacted
.nd the Republican party would not
low be undergoing the Illuminating
which the present COVER
aor IS making against II.
In the platform of the EepubIi-
marty Observation-Disclosures
sed the people OF the State about
everything that the last Legislature
enacted into law. The Legislature
last year was non-partisan. The
Senate Republican, the House Demo-
The credit for this Iegisla-
ton is therefore divided. The Gov
OF course, is entitled to great
credit for what he did.
"One thing we must all admire
about Governor Wilson, and that ia
his perfect fairness In condemnfng
the evil or corrupt influences in his
own party as well as ours. 1t takes
courage to do that, put no man is
a true friend Of his party X he does
not criticize 1t when 1t Ia wrong or
has failed to do its duty. Roose-
Welt did and Taft does. / heard
President Taft declare that aauy
party deserves defeat IL it did not
keep Its promises But | dislike TO
see the party defeated because of
the selishness of a few self-consti-
tuted leaders who take their orders
from the interests. We must send
to the halls Of legislation me- like
Pierce, who own themselves and
cannot be told what to do. Men who
will keep the party faith and carry
out the party pledges, who will al
ways be with the people. Governor
wilson Is quoted as saying at New
ton the other evening: The party
lines Of old are disappearing more
and more every day, and, although
men still call themselves Democrats
and Republicans, this is the day OF
the individual candidate, and the
thoughtful voter who looks to the
man elected to keep his election
pledges. In the old days Democrats
and Republicans alike held their
election pledges very lightly
1.-THE Governors statement il
true. It is just that sentiment thai
viii elect Mr.. Pierce Senator from
Union. He has always kept his
0AG aO Will dlHdy6 no SO
No party can win at the election an,
longer by simply relying on its his.
tory. That may be very good, buj
the voter wants TO know, In these
days, for what the candidate stands
The Republican Senate had as mues
to do with the progressive Iegisla
ton adopted last year as the Demo
cratic House. 1t is Just as much tn,
duty OF Republicans who love roc
government to try to sustain ant
maintain that legislation as it i
the Democrats. | fought for tina
legislation for three years agains
the reactionartes and interests Ii
the Republican party, and we dit
not get tt. Now that 1t has come
by the action of q non-partisan Iee
isiature. every one who loves III
State must do all he can to keep i
Ito see that only such men go t,
Trenton as are in sympathy witl
that kind Of legislation Modify II
Of course, II needs be. but maintai,
the principle enabodiad In it,