Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-08-13
OSBORNE EXPLAINS
PROGRESSIVE ROW
Saws Fort Is Better Fitted for
Committeemanship Than
Whiting.
REVIEWS INCIDENTS AT
NATIONAL CONVENTION
colby's Friend, He Asserts,
Could Not Have Been Elected,
Even If Nominated. .

Edmund B. Osborne today issued d
statement giving what he declares TO
be the facts about the election oil ior-
mer Governor Fort as a memper Oh
the national committee of the FRO
gressive party.
Mi. Osborne says that since Borden
D. whiting did not attend the Roose-
Welt convention he could not expect 10
be chosen 10 represent his state IN
the Mparty's councils. He also de-
cIares that, even had Mr.. Whiting
been nominated. Mr.. Fort would nave
been chosen for the national commit
tee.
The statement is as follows;
Dcp,orcs misunderstanding.
IA statement of the facts about the
Election of Governor Fort as a member
Of the national committee of the Progress
size marty for New Jersey seems to be
necessary In the interest of Il proper nh
Restraining of the situation.
in common with all the delegates to
rho Chicago convention | deplore the
snrt that any misunderstanding mas
arisen. We are agreed on the big things
~ 800 -
and we are united in the attempt to DO
important wora II is unfortunate that
we should be divided or appear TO be
divided over little things. out of re-
gard for Everett Colby l prefer TO be
Hove that he did not make the state
ments attributed to him by the news
papers. or that. if he did. they were made
! without q correct understanding of the
facts.
Most of the delegates went to the
Chicago national Progressive convention
on the same train, but |, personally. had
gone to Chicago several days before On
the train the leading delegates. ! am in
ferred, talked over the program to be
followed. Several members. including a
close. personal friend of Mr.. Writings,
| stated that Mr.. Colby and Mr.. Whiting
had informed them that Mr.. Whiting
| could no longer take an active part In
| notifies. which led all TO the natural con-
| clusiop that some other man. who could
be active. and whose reputation would
bring prestige to that body. should be
appointed to the national committee.
"AIl agreed that the long experience of
|Governor Fort in practical politics. and
the fact that he had been the last Re-
pubIican Governor of New Jersey. made
him the strongest possible national com
mitfeeman for our state. and that his
selection would give New Jersey n pow
erfnl influence In the national counsels
or the party. That this opinion was cor
rect has been demonstrated by the fact
THAT In the organization of the national
1vommittee Governor Fort was promptly
made its vice-chairman.
Says Colby Made No Move.
"The delegates arrived at Chicago Sun
|day afternoon. Senator Colby met them
lat the hotel and talked with most of
Them freely during the afternoon and
evening, and never. so far as can learn.
laid he mention his desire that Mr.. Whit
ling be made a member of the national
|cnmmittee. Mr.. Colby did not attend the
meeting of the New Jersey delegation
held ut 10 O'Clock Monday morning, al
Enough he certainly knew of it. He sent
mo word to any delegate that he desired
action TO be taken with reference to
Mr.. whiting. AT that meeting Governor
Fort was nominated for member of the
national committee there was no other
nomination. and he was unanimously
Elected.
u. personally, had no part in the con
Ference leading up to this result. and sup
poxed. as I think every other delegate
bid. that Governor Forts selection was
satisfactory to everybody. When Gov
rrnor Fort was elected. I had not the
slightest idea that Mr.. Whiting wanted
the position or expected it, and I sup
posed that Mr.. Colby knew of the proposed
Eelection of Governor Fort and acquiesced
10 1t.
"Mr. whiting did not attend the ma
kional Progressive convention. but was,
'hs Mr.. Colby explained, away or his
Vacation. 1t was not conceivable to the
delegates that a man expecting to be
elected national committeeman would fail
to be present at that convention. Two
Important meetings of the committee were
held within twenty-four hours after the
convention adjourned. I believe all Pro-
eressives will agree that New Jersey ought
10 be represented in those counsels.
Fort Better Fitted.
selecting a national committeeman is
pot merely comforting an honor-it Is
picking out a man to do very important
work. With all friendly regard for Mr..
Writings exceptional ability, and his
nndoubted sincerity, l think practically all
he delegates agree that Governor Fort is
better fitted to perform the duties of
national committeeman. and l believe thar
lie would have been elected, even If Mr..
whiting had been nominated.
"All of us desired, and still desire, to
manage the Progressives party In New Jer-
eey in the common interest and to keep
as far as possible from being affected
BY the selfish ambitions of any leader or
leaders Any charge of bad faith in the
Election Of Governor Fort, under the per
fectiy natural conditions described, Is
without Justification and can only result
q bad feeling and injury to this move
nent.
"a statement has been published to
be effect that | am, or have been, a can
|lidnfe for the State craftsmanship of the
Progressive party. | ain not and have
rot been a candidate for this position or
my other.
tGovernor Fort told me several weeks
hfo that he thought ! ought to be the
Sfate chairman. | told him that 1 could
not give the work as much time as I
bought the chairman should give 1t. I
prefer not to be State chairman. I don't
want to do the hard work the job re-
nuires. and l would rather work under
komebody else. But | am in this move
nent, as l believe all our New Jersey
lenders are, to do all I can Tor its sue
ress. and If the majority Of my associates
IN the State committee think ought to