Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-11-14
GODFREY DENIES
BIG INTERESTS
SUPPORT HIM
Candidate for House Speaker
Says He Is Their
Enemy.
snsclal To the Evening star.

Special to the Evening star
ATLANTIC CITY, Nov. 14.-As-
semblyman Carlton Godfrey, candi-
| date for speaker of the next House OF
Assembly. in a statement today de-
MES the charge that he is affiliated
| with the special interests. On the
contrary. the opposition to Mr. God
frey's candidacy, according to the
statement, emanates from the special
interests. and he alleges two we'll
known lobbyists of the State are
supporting rNal of Mr.. Godfrey for
the seakership honor.
The statement says:
My attention mas been called to
certain statements contained in the
public press to the effect that my
candidacy for the position of speaker
of the House of Assembly of New
Jersey Is advocated by certain spe-
cial interests l wish to state en-
phatically that these assertions are
absolutely incorrect and untrue. No
special interest is now supporting me
nor did any special interest ever sup
port me when | have been a candl-
date for any public office.
Indeed. the opposition to me comes
from the special interests themselves,
and the Misrepresentation concern
ing my candidacy. manifestly deliber-
ate | believe emanate from this very
source Two well-known lobbyists of
the State have opposed me from the
outset and are supporting another
candidate. They naturally want 10
organize the House for their future
operations, and they are therefore
most logically opposed to me, as
shall be entirely Independent OF the
lobby influences.
"0f course. the Lehigh Valley Rail
road Company and the East Jersey
Water Company are opposed to my Sc
lection as speaker because, under the
renort of the Morris canal investiga-
ton committee, of which committee
am chairman, they will be compelled
to nay many hundreds of thousands
of dollars more to the State of New
Jersey than would have been required
under any former report.
1.-The merits of the plan which our
committee recommended has an eye
single only for the development OF our
state, justice to the people and to all
interests involved and not for the
railroad company or water company
alone.
MY candidacy must stand upon its
own merits. / emphatically deny that
it has been inspired by or supported
By any of the interests named in the
false reports sent out by my oppo-
nents Every man has a right TO be
a candidate for this high office. but l
resent. as all fair-minded people. must,
the constituencies schemers in this
contest who do not hesitate to attack
the reputation of others who stand In
the way of the contamination of their
secret and vicious plans. After
twenty-five years OF active business
life in New Jersey, I feel sure that
my reputation is a sufficient vindica-
ton of the slanderous attacks of my
opponents. l supposed that this would
be a fair, open field to everybody.
rsgrets very much that my opponents
have resorted TO abuse and misrepre-
sentation. I always supposed such
tactics were not the weapons to be
used by Republicans. and l appeal to
the fair-minded people of the State
against these methods of character
assassination. @
My record is before the people. II
elected speaker of the House OF AS
sembly, I shall conscientiously en-
deayor to favor such measures as will
CdASN OlI 1idNC SONSAAAAhCnl 10 nc
economically and efficiently conducted.
have no promises to fulfill or pledges
to carry out, other than those con-
tanned in our platform, except the
promise to be fair to all and to act
conscientiously upon the legislation
presented to the House of Assembly
for consideration.
1T Is my belief that the officers OF
the House should be selected by the
members elected and without undue
influence from outside sources. Some
time since I was requested to become
a candidate for speaker by several
members with whom l had served at
the sessions Of 1912 and 1914. II was
their judgment that business man,
"a ther than a practicing lawyer,
should be speaker, especially in view
of the present condition of the
States finances. / have consented to
become a candidate. II is my judg-
ment that no member selected by a
vote of the majority should refuse to
accept this or any other position to
which he may be assigned, and he has
a right to freedom from untrue and
vicious attacks.
1T was my privilege to be at the
state House in Trenton on Tuesday
last. where I met many of the newly
elected members of the Legislature
and Ii is my belief that the State will
receive splendid service from this able
body of men. who will work har-
moniously, but none the less earn
estly for the benefit of the people OF
State dTariDu the rnrnfner cacSsor, y