Bridgeton pioneer., 1912-10-03
EVEN JOvE
SOMETIMES MODS
The Wilson Blast withheld From
Fiizherbsrt
The Accidental Senator From Morris
County Retains His Seat With the
Governors Consent, Though Found
Guilty of Legislative 6lackmall.

son as a candidate for the presidency
turns upon his personal character. Be
cause he has held one of the foremost
positions in the educational world 1t
has been declared and believed that
his brand of worth is superior, that
he is not governed by considerations
of expediency, that besides being mon
ey honest he is politically honest, that
he never considers his own interest
when it conflicts with public duty that
he walks unwaveringly the narrow
path of duty.
For his neglect of the work of gov
ernor of New Jersey while campaign
ing for the presidency, excuse is made
that he is seeking a place where his
influence for good will be greater than
it Is at present What would be
thought of Il man in private employ
ment who deserted his post most of
the time in order to seek a better, but
who never failed to draw his salary
for the minor service?
There is oae episode of New Jersey
politics that exposes the falstty OF
Governor Wilson's pose. The last ses-
sion Of the legislature in this state de-
veloped a new scandal of the sort
which has so frequently marked Demo
cratic legislators with the scarlet let
ter. Senator Richard Fitzherbert was
caught red handed in the act of black
mailing the Commercial Acetylene
company by the old device of intro
duclng strike bills, which, if passed,
would have excluded the product Of
that company from sale and use in
New Jersey. His rakeoff man, Rid
ner, had intimated to the company that
such legislation would be offered, and
it was. In subsequent negotiations,
conducted with the knowledge of two
of his fellow senators and of a New
York newspaper, price of $4,000 was
Then the exposure came. An inquiry
was made by the senate judiciary
committee, consisting of two Repub-
licans and one Democrat, and Senator
Fitzherbert was by this committee
unanimously found guilty.
Followed period of daily confer
ences between the Democratic senators
and the govSrnor. y leader of his
party, as superman, as autocrat, as
the unflinching foe of wrong, as the
champion of the common people,
everybody expected that the governor
would excommunicate the wicked be-
trayer of Democratic purity. But did
he? Beset by newspaper men for an
expression of his views, the governor
put them off with a promise that he
would make statement later. Manana
was his cry. Time was required to
frame the edict of expulsion so that an
epoch might be marked thereby.
The senate in turn found the Morris
man guilty of an offense Inconsistent
with the trust and duty of member
OF this senate" Still the leader of the
unco guld remained silent, but kept
conferring with Fitzherbert's fellow
Democrats in the senate.
Time arrived for sentence. All tba
Republican senators, eleven in num-
Der, voted for expulsion, three of the
Democrats lodged the issue by re-
naming away and seven of the Dem
ocrats, fresh from conference with that
governor of Spartan virtue. voted
against expulsion, considering the rem
rimand already administered and the
disgrace of exposure sufficient punish
ment for the man who had BETRAYED
his public trust.
To be a leader involves not only tho
ability to lead, but the will to lead
Governor Wilson is telling the people
OF the west that he is the leader Of
his party, but on this occasion he prov
ed recreant What took place In those
star chamber conferences betwean
hlmself and the Democratic senators
mas not yet been disclosed, but mur-
der will out. Pending confession if is
not hard to understand why the i'm
maculate leader shirked the issua
Morris county is usually Republican
Even in the Wilson year of 1910 vban
the superman hysteria affected the
voters, Fitzherbert was elected by a
bare plurality of 223. In 1911 tba
county was carried by the Republic
ans. If allowed to serve out his fern
t1tzherbert would be entitled to a seat
IN the legislature of 1913. His vote Is
needed by his party. Had he been
expelled the hold of the Republicans
upon the senate would have been con.
flrmed. AS 1t is, the Democrats do
lude themselves with the hope that tbe
elections this fall will increase tba,r
vote in the senate.
But how should this affect that lofty
soul spurning the sordid thoughts of
lesser men, that man predestined to
redeem politics from every taint2
Does he stoop to shield a follower do.
tected In the commission of a crime ?
Has this grim upholder of the bolv
grail who turned in anguish against
his political godfather and most prince.
ly benefactor, James Smith. because
the latter was too worldly to ha q
proper representative of New Jersey IN
the United States senate; has this arch
priest of morality no word of condam.
nation for the despicable holdnn
man whose guilt has haon ox,ooz !, =,