Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-01-09

sF~as HIC Ia james SmiLn, Jr., re-
Gently run in the New York Evening
Post, the following interesting ac-
count Of how Mr.. Smith was first
elected to the United States senate
was given. The EVENING NEWS
reproduces 1t In order that decent
citizens hereabouts may thoroughly
~fsmiliarize themselves with the
facts.
This article is entitled Smiths
~Treachery in '93":
James Smith, Jr.'s entry into the
arena of national politics In 1893 as
a United States senator and an in
fuence In the national leadership
Twas signalized by an act Of political
treachery to a mar who had heaped
favors upon him. 1t WAS character
lied by a degree of wire-pulling and
manipulation almost, if not quite
unparalleled In the history of New
Jersey politics. There are still all
sorts of stories affoat in regard to
that remarkable episode that lifted
the boss of Newark into a position
that had been honorably occupied
by such men as Dayton and Freling-
huysen.
Most Of the stories of what oc-
Cured indicated an astounding low
standard of political morals on the
part of the legislators implicated.
Some of the stories are vague and
are probably exaggerations. others
are circumstantial enough to be true.
All are ugly, and none OF them gives
James Smith, Jr., an enviable bill or
mark him as a fit man for the part
to which he WAS chosen. At best
they stamp him as the willing In
strument of the great corporations
whose friend and defender and ally
he has been ever since. IT proof OF
his indebtedness to them Is sought,
it an be found In his management OF
the affairs of his party In New Jer-
sey within the past eighteen years.
There was no plausible reason
why Smith in 1893 should have been
sent to the United States senate as
a senator from New Jersey. he had
never demonstrated any special nj
ness for teh position. He had no
knowledge whatever of the great Is
sues of the day. He himself con-
fessed that much. He had no per
| eeivable standards Of political ac-
ton, certainly no inspiring concep-
tion of political ethics. He was a
product Of ward politics. and he ap-
piled to the management of his party
In the state and later in the nation
the same methods and principles
or lack OF them, rather-that he a
found to work ef1caciously in Essex
county. There were a dozen politi-
clans In the state with no more pre-
tentions to craftsmanship and no
more claim on the people than Smith
he had neither. II the New
York Legislature had chosen Fran
| els Hendricks OF George w. Aid
ridge senator in place of Elihu
( some reason other than a poiitical
| one would have been ascribed to the
proceeding. Should the incoming
LEGISLATURE in this state elect
"Packy" McCabe or "Fingy' Con-
ners some explanation would be
sought aside from any polltieal pres
tige or influence they may possess.
The Public Asked Why.
Smith. in 1898, occupied a place
relatively of the same character and
Importance as that held by these
men today. People naturally a1hod
why he was elected and how. They
have their answer in his subsequent
career.
woodrow Wilson, governor-eiect
of New Jersey, said the other day:
IssIf Smith goes to the senate ne VIII
met GO as the peoples representa-
tive" He didn't go as the peoples
representative when he was sent TO
ithe senate almost TWO decades ago.
He went them, as he would 90 II ne
were successful now, as the repre-
sentative OF New Jerseys oligarchy
lof corporations. This Is the story:
In the fall Of 1892 the Democrats
detected Judge George T. Werts GOV
l~ernor. and retained control OF the
Legislature. The governor at the
time was Leon Albeit, who had long
been a. power In Democratic politics
in The state. He was able and az
lgressive, rather bull-headed and
opinionated, but a thoroughly capa-
lble executive. Furthermore, he was
independent. He had incurred the
hostility OF the railroads by his pol
lev in regard 10 railroad taxation.
Goyernor Albeit realized the situa-
ltion but determined to seek an cleo
ton to the United States senate, In
~lplace of Senator Rufus Blodgett,
whose term was to expire In March,
1883.
One of those whose advice the gov
ernor sought at this tuneture 2aA
Jim Smith, of Essex county. Smith
was chairman of the State Executive
Committee. and in the factiona'
squabblesa that marked the ahaira
of the party In the latter eighties and
early nineties, he had generally
stood with the Albeit wing OF the
party in opposition to that DONNA
ted by a group of old politicians
lkonwn as the State House Crowd
Smiths Shifting Alliance.
Albeit had maintained his position
In spite of the fact that this crowd"
was strongly intrenehed In state Of
fees, because the rank and file Of
lteh party had confidence in him. and
~distrusted them. Smith made up his
mind that the Albeit wagon wal
the safest one to ride N. But hs
never took a position from which Il
WAS not perfectly easy to Jump i
his political skin Be emed TO be ii
danger, or II he saw something hi
wanted elsewhere. 1t was in 1895
that he jumped.
Although the railroads and Other
corporations had been casting aboui
for some man to oppose Albeit eve,
since 1t had become known that he
Twas ambitious to be senator, they
scarcely expected to ba able te
ehanpa the sItuafton For faa Al.