Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-10-09
CANDIDATE BACKUS
ON SURROGATESH|P
Democratic Nominee Explains
How He Would Conduct Office
for the General Good.

IN a communication to the Evening
Star, Harry T. Backus. Democratic
candidate for surrogate. gives his
views on the duties of the surrogate
ship, and explains the manner IN
which he would conduct the affairs
of the office, for the retention and
promotion of its efficiency, in the
event of his election.
"As a candidate for public once
1t is quite natural and proper that 1
should taket ssfeps to acquaint the
voters who sMlll be called upon to
exercise theirAffanehise at the NO
vember eleetio1f with my views re-
garding thessWay in which | believe
the office l am seeking should be
conducted, and 1t is quite hitting tnal
/ should employ the columns of your
valuable paper to make known those
views to the people of Essex county.
II am q candidate for the office or
surrogate of this county, having
been nominated by a majority OF the
members who voted in the recent
Democratic primary. 1t Is idle for
me to attempt a discussion of poll
cies which concern only those VINO
are seeking to serve the people IN
the capacity of laWmakers-the per-
formance of the duties of the snfro-
gate are not so complicated, ana 90
not call for pronouncement OF new
ideas. The rules laid down and FOL
lowed out by many laymen are easy
enough for man of good common
sense to understand, and l take II
that the most successful official VIII
be the one who carries out those
rules to the minutest detail. have
studied them carefully and know
them by heart.
zone of my opponents, the nominee
on the Republican ticket, seems to
feel that 1t is necessary for lawyer
to hold the Office in order to have 1t
administered properly, but | assume
that the chief reason for that opin-
ion is that this contender happens
to belong to the legal profession him
self I am assured by many IN Whom
/ have the greatest confidence that
tho Office should be conducted by
man who has had hard business ex-
Ferience.
Certain 1t is that if the duties of
the office were so technical that none
but legal mind could administer
them. we would experience consider
able difficulty in finding a lawyer OF
the calibre to sacrifice his lucrative
practice for O. position where the re-
turns financially would not compare
with those of successful lawyer.
"Ofice- seeking has not been a habit
with me. Twice accepted a nomi-
nation for Assembly when the pros
poets were all but favorable, and was
surprised and pleased to learn of my
subsequent election. / enjoyed the
sessions of 1907 and 1911. and enjoyed
the many opportunities which pre-
scented themselves to work in the in
ferests of the people of Essex county
Il regard the office of surrogate8in
a serious manner. My long business
experience has taught me the value
and benefit of competent men in pub
lie office, and having recently sold my
business, l am now free of all en-
tanglements and ready to devote all
the time necessary to the Office which
seek. "
Il have pledged myself, If elected,
to conduct the office in a thorough,
buslness-like manner. Rich and poor
alike will receive the same consider
ate attention. l purpose to use my
best Judgment in the selection of as
sistants, looking to honesty, efficiency
and courtesy as the prime qualifica-
tions. There will be no flaws in my
administration-lega or otherwise"