Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-11-04
SPECIAL FITNESS
OF D. ". CLAYTON
FOR SURROGATE

fCQnIl0Uet from IdEe IL
position of Surrogate OF Middlese,
County, the Democratic party doe
so in the fullest conviction that
ever there was a man who deserve,
the suffrage Of this county becaus'
of special fitness. coupled with hon
esty and efficiency In trusts alread.
given him, that man is Mr.. Claytoa
Surrogate Clayton became aSso
ciated with the S~urrogate's office a
deputy at "A time when Ii was beini
administered by Peter r. Daly-nov
County Judge-and his tutelage wa
under the direction OF that altogethe.
capable and reliable official. Aftei
nine years as Deputy Surrogate, dur
ing which time Mr.. Clayton studiet
tlrelessly to familiarize himself witt
the legal and other requirements o.
the Office, he was promoted by the
the people of Middlesex, succeeding
Judge Daily as Surrogate upon the
latter's appointment as Presidenl
Judge OF the Courts of MiddleseS
County.
These years that Mr.. Clayton has
spent in the Surrogate's Office have
been years of devotion to the public
trust. Every day has seen Surro-
gate Clayton at his desk. giving per
sonal attention to his work and
lending his kindly counsel and ex-
pert advice to scores, yes hundreds.
of people who has had occasion &c
seek his advice.
There is not the slightest detail of
the office that he has not mastered
or that he Is not much more compe-
tent to administer than any newcom-
err could be. His long experience has
pre-eminently fitted him for the
task. But this is net all. Mr.. Clay
ton brings to his work a kindly and
courteous disposition and a world
of patience; qualities as rare as they
are admirable.
The Surrogate's Office is as nearly
sacred as any mortal position can
be-, for there is conducted the bust
ness of the dead. The Surrogate
hears. of necessity, of many family
tragedies, sometimes unfortunate
auarrels and always of suffering ana
broken hearts. Nowhere is there
more needed the exercise of tru
sympathy, patient judgment and
willing advice.
And thus it is that those who are
today the warmest supporters of
surrogate Clayton are those who
rave been brought into contact with
him in the performance of his Of
fetal duties. There Is not one whose
burden was rot made lighter in time
Of t%ribulation by reason of his efforts
which have always been far in ex-
cess of what was strictly demanded
OF him.
As evidencing the high regard en-
tertained for Surrogate Clayton and
the attention his work commanded
outside the limits of Middlesex Coun-
ty, it is to be noted that a few
years ago when Chancellor Edwin
r. Walker headed a movement to
bring about uniformity in theadmin-
istration of probate matters, he Sc
lected Mr.. Clayton a member of his
committee and the Middlesex Sur
rogate took an active part In this
arduous and all important work.
Several statutes have been enacted
of recent years looking to the low
ering of the fees for administration
purposes in small and moderate sized
estates and all such laws have had
the warmest Endorsement and active
support of Surrogate Clayton. 1t
was, too, the Middlesex Surrogate
who was largely instrumental In Sc
curing the enactment of a law plac-
ing trained nurses in the preferred
creditors class-a measure of JUS
tice that 10 now universally COM
--Athe people of Middlesex
rounyy\owe it to their wi best in
terests rs well. as to fairness to re-
tain a man of this kind in the Office
he has by actual, faithful service
proven himself to be so %splendidly
qualified to fill.
This is an Office in no sense politi-
ral in its nature and the present sur
is that kind of an official who,
an Office of this nature, grows of
more and more value to the people
continued work. study and ex-
perience.
(Paid for by Middlesex County
Democratic Committee.)