The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-09-05

should govern, and a chief executive
should be not only an executive but be
the chief executive in effect, as well as
in name, of the commonwealth.
Thus, instead of visiting the execu-
tive mansion at Trenton occasionally,
like most governors, he proposes to be
ON the job 365 days in the year, when
the Legislature is in session, and when it
is not, scrutinizing the operations of the
government machinery, to the end that
errors may be instantly corrected and
improved methods put in operation.
Those buoyant and well-meanlng
souls, who believe that an acquaintance
with practical politics is not an lmpera-
lively important prerequisite to execu-
tive direction, and that any college pro-
fessor, or one fresh from the counting
house, will make a good governor, are
too absolutely childish for serious con-
sideration among practical men.
Zone schooImaster that we recall made
something of a success in the governors
chair, but he was freak of nature. Be-
sides, he was altogether unique in that
he was born politician, though there
are still some unsophisticated mortals
who look upon him only as a statesman.
This is Senator Edges conception of
tive: 1t is his earnest conviction that
the governor of New Jersey should be
the business manager of the state, and
that he should, in addition to constitu
tional requirements, assume the same
responsibilities that fall to the head of a
great business organization.
He believes that the governor should,
therefore, be in daily touch with his Of
| fee and his work.
HE believes also that the governor
should famillariZe himself, through the
heads of departments, with all branches
of institutional work, and cooperate
with the responsible heads of these de-
partments and legislative committees
and commissions to systematic the
machinery, to the end that the greastest
possible measure of results may be OBJ
| tanned.
This is businesslike program, which
is bound to eventuate in valuable ad-
vantages to the state, though it will give
the incoming governor only meager
time for side issues and vacations.
while in the legislature Senator
Edge has demonstrated a keenness of
vision, rarely encountered even in a
latter-day legislator. To catalog the
measures introduced by him, most of
which were enacted into laws, would be
too voluminous a proposition to be in
corporated in this review of the guber-
material situation. A few only will be
noted.
s'He introduced and secured the pas
sage of the so-called economy and eff
cheney act, which consolidated and
systematized the various branches of the
state government; also the state budget
system act" which recognized the
finances of the state; an amendment to
the general act, providing for the re-
valuation Of all railroad property in the
state for taxation purposes, the result
being largely increased revenue for the
state, etc.
His energies in the legislative field
have been confined not alone to public
affairs, but he has been keen and con-
sistent in fathering many sociological
and humanitarian measures, aiming at
the amelioration of the lot of the citizen
as an individul. Thus he was response
BILE for New Jerseys famous workmen's
compensation act, secured the passage OF
an act limiting the working hours OF
women, pushed to enactment q bill
compelling safety devices on elevators,
| fathered measures which were finally
passed, providing for the improvement oil
conditions in factories, whereby the
danger from occupational diseases: was
leSSened, etc.
"a writer has thus epitomized the
situation: Senator Edges term in the
senate concludes with this session, and
it is the natural evolution of his con-
structive detail work in the legislature
along business lines that he should be
the occupant of the governors chair, to
carry into still more practical effect the
system of business government to which
he has contributed so much as a mem
Der of both house and senate
Several things are worth noting with
reference to Walter E. Edge. His ma.
terial prosperity has been due solely to
his own efforts. He did not inherit a
big business plant; he understands and
follows legislation SO thoroughly that he
does not find it necessary to employ q
lawyer to coach him on each bill that
comes up; he is his own campaign man
ager and does not have his literature
sent out from the political headquarters
of any boss.
1.-THE above statements are written as
simple facts, and not in the nature of q
eulogy, by one who has seen Senator
Edge but once, and then for few min
utes only. They are written, however, by
one who has made careful study of the
situation, whose life has been given ovel
to such character studies; by Republic
can of Progressive proclivities who has q
keen anxiety to see placed in the CHIEF
magisterial chair in Trenton the ablest
keenest, most up-to-date, most available
candidate among those who are now in
in the field.'