Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-11
TRuTH ASSERTING ITSELF.

What will be the next step in the way of denias'
admissions, charges and countereharges and other
conflicting statements on the part of the limited
"actiye few in the Commission Government League
camp?
1t had been pointed out in the columns of The
star as matter of information based upon good and
reliable authority that the league had employed per-
sons to obtain signatures to commissionrue petitions
and paid these persons five cents for each signature
appearing upon the petitions Other features OF the
campaign or crusade, call it what will, not con-
sdered the most creditable from at least reform
standpoint, referred to-
These truths and they proved to have been
truths raised a storm of protest, foaming-at-the-
mouth kind of "ktck" the part of the only re-
liable source of information to the leagues oper-
ations All lies" 1t declared There were no
'hired men" canyassers for signatures Everything
mind you eYerything-was being done on volunteer
basis, a pure case of patriotism and labor of love
The Stars representatives were told this by the
leagues spokesman but knowing the truth about the
situation The Star refused believe these contra
dctions not for the sake of politeness or TO be
accommodating.
The Evening News obliging the wish
being father the thought, probably, for in an edi-
ora appearing last Thursdays issue of that publi-
cation it said among other things bearing upon the
commission government propositions
sThere were no paid canvassers but volunteers
secured the signatures. and the who attached
their signatures did because of undue urging.
etc.
The Sunday Call had something of like import in
its issue of a week ago.
Now let us come down the difference The
News has been enlightened. 1t has gone forth and
obtained information through its In
last Saturdays issue it published article under this
caption:
Hired Cauyassers secure-Signatures.'
The News then goes on to explain how city Of
hcias discovered the way the work of obtaining sig
natures was carried on The Star had previously
explained it,
In the Sunday Call OF yesterday there appeared
this interview with Theodore Fetnger secretary of
the Commission Government League:
I'VE forced to admit employed in good
faith few poor fellows who of work and
who were by the Bureau of Associated Char
itcs sections could in the limited
time busy business men and otherwise employed
rouId give canvassing.
1--WE did the unemployed a good turn We i'm
structed them the character of they must
bring in. and every name is by the person
who saw il affixed TO the petition. That much
as we could ask, and expected to be dealt with
fairly by those we had helped to an honest dollar
II any of them deceived it is our loss. and shall
have to the discrepancies by getting add
tionaI names. No one else need worry over it,
I'VE forced to admit sounds pretty good,
doesn't it?
Canvassers were hired from the Bureau of Asso-
ciated Charities and from the Municipal Employment
Bureau. And the point is they hired. 1t was
selemny averred few days ago that only volunteers
obtained signatures Not very hard matter to draw
conclusions,
As matter of fact there were others not procured
from the Bureau Of Associated Charities, and not by
any means volunteers, soliciting signatures.
It is said that signatures being compared
with the names the registry list. This is a new
idea, too The only way of making accurate compari-
OF signatures of the petitions and those
who voted at the last geneAl election is by means of
the signature copy books the poll books used at
the election and the latter in the ballot boxes,
under lock and seal. They can only be obtained
through order from the court to open the boxes
The registry lists be of service only as to a
question of They provide poor standard for
accurate Judging. Thousands who register at pri-
mary and other registration days neglect to vote on
election day and their signatures of the
commission government people
Last year at least 10, 900 citizens of Newark who
were registered in, say October failed to go 10 the
polls in November and vote.
Can any reasoning person conceive why, under all