Gloucester County Democrat., 1911-10-19
ASSEMBLYMAN LAFFERTY.

nominated for the Assembly he was
comparatively unknown. Those who
were best acquainted with him be-
lieved that he would make a good
member, and many of them voted for
him for that reason, regardless of
politics.
The votes that he received from
those who were not acquainted with
cause of dissatisfaction with the Re-
| publican candidate as anything else.
Now that he is again before the peo-
pie of Gloucester county asking their
suffrages, it is by his record that he
should be judged and not by the hopes
and expectations of his friends.
/ If his constituents approve his rec
ord as legislator they should mani
fest their approval by returning him
this Fall. If his course does not meet
their approval they should return his
opponent, who in that case would
probably be wise enough to not fol-
| low in his footsteps.
! After the last election when the
| powerful Democratic machine of New
Jersey started in to dispose of the
| fruits of victory in accordance with
the time honored custom of politicians
many Of the new Assemblymen'S
| friends were afraid that the pressure
would be too strong and that he would
go the way so many had gone before
| him.
On the one hand stood the Governor
elect, who, although conceded to be
man of great ability, was novice
in politics and was generally thought
! to be cutting his own throat by an
tagonizing the political machine that
had secured his nomination and plan
ned and carried out the campaign.
Governor Hughes had tried it in
New York and failed.
Governor Fort had recently tried it
! in New Jersey with the same result.
That Wilson would succeed where
| the others had failed was doubtful
and his failure would drag down those
members of the Legislature who align
! ed themselves with him against the
organization.
| On the other hand was the machine
with it's ramifcations in every part
of the State under the leadership of
one of the shrewdest politicians in
/ the country, and boastfully declared
| by the Chairman of the Democratic
| State Committee to be more effective
| than Tammany or the Republican or
ganization in Philadelphia.
But the Assemblyman-elect from
Gloucester County did not hesitate.
AS soon as he was satisfied that the
majority of his constituents took the
primary vote for United States Sena-
/ on ol ioio
did not, and the issue at Trenton was
yet in doubt. he went to Ex-senator
Smith and frankly told him that pub
lie sentiment in Gloucester County
was in favor Of Mr.. MARITIME, and that
he felt it his duty to vote for him.
After the Legislature met Mr.. Laf
ferty not only loyalty supported the
reform measures advocated before
the election by the progressive ma
jority of his party and urged by the
| Governor but earnestly worked to Sc
cure the legislation that he had de-
clared himself in favor of during the
campaign.
For an inexperienced member he
was remarkably successful and there
is no doubt that the experience gain
ed last year will enable him to ac-
complish much more in the way of
needed legislation should he be re-
turned to the coming session
| Not only has Assemblyman Lafferty
shown himself to be an able and use
full member of the Legislature. but
what is more, he has shown himself
to be an honest man.
The people of Gloucester County
owe it to him to re-elect him, but
more than this they owe it to them
selves to re-elect a man who has
shown himself to be their representa-
tive and not the representative of the
Interests" or of a political machine.
Unless the people use the same
judgment and common sense in the
management of public affairs that
j corporations use in the management
of business affairs, they cannot ex-
pect loyal and efficient service from
other employees.
No corporation would dismiss a
good servant just as soon as he had
made himself familiar with his duties
and learned to be useful to his en-
ployer.
Political organizations realize this
and no public officer who is loyal and
subservient to the dominant machine
has occasion to worry about where his
support is coming from.
Once or twice. perhaps, in genera
ton, do the plain people, the rank and
file of the voting population, see the
record so plainly. made up and the
issues so clearly defined that there re-
mains no doubt as to what the die
tates of common sense demand of
| them.
| There was never any doubt as to
whether or not corporation influence
would support the late Congressman
Loudenslager and there should be no
doubt about the vote of every man in
Gloucester County not blinded by
partisan prejudice or swayed by cor
poration influences this Fall being for
Assemblyman Lafferty
His declaration in favor of legisla-
ton to compel the Penna. Railroad to
cover the electrified third rail be-