The Penn's Grove record., 1921-06-24

lual banquet in Atlantic city. Sena-
ar Willis warned the gathering of
awyers from all parts of the state,
with a considerable number Of the
ligher judiciary among them at the
'eSjice board. against government by
ore pa-audu.' He called attention to
lie dangers attendant upon the pres
ence of the ubiquitous professional
lobbyist in the legislative halls. Not
the old type Of fellow, reeking in bril-
berry and corruption he said, hut his
successor, suave, college bred. well
spoken. The great majority of the
present day lobbyists are honest id
sincere, but the legislators must keep
the streams pure at the source. The
legislative agent is usually a lawyer
and often a tremendously able one.
He seeks to promote his clients case
sincerely and honestly. Still. the leg
iSlatOr must steel himself like flint
against these arguments, otherwise
legislation will be shaped not from the
standpoint of the public interest, but
from his viewpoint of special pleading.
He has only the side of the question
before him."
II is and has been very evident that
in recent years the new type Of lobby
list has displayed his power in New
Jersey legislative matters and it is
Just as plain that government b.
propaganda" played a conspicuous part
in the supposed dry legislation of the
last few years. Those who were in
touch With the movements of last
winter had no difficulty in following
the trend If legislation nor the manner
il which it was put over. II has never
been "a secret that a majority of the
senators and aSsemhiymen who voted
for the enforcement bill which bears
Mrs. Van Ness name, but which was
drawn and prepared by Speaker Ho-
bart. with the aid IF other prominent
lawyers, We're net actuated by the
highest motives, but largely by po-
litical reasons.
Some of those Who supported the
measure did So eonScientiOusly and
with the gravest concern for their
oaths as representatives of the people,
but others followed the course of ~
p~ediency. The Republican party had
decreed that a law Of some such dras-
tic character must be put upon the
books of the state and the order vas
obeyed. Senator Clarence L. Case Of
Somerset cuunty-who by the turn Of
- 80 d. - --
the body two wears ago-balked at
the order and refused to trail along. de
claring thar in his campafgn for re.
election he had made it plain to the
people of his county lust where he
stood upon the whole question and he
believed he was representing the opin-
ion of those people in opposing the bill.
Active supporters Of the movement
for some kind of revision of the new
law. or y e lis repeaf. believe it will
be possible to elect IL majority in the
next legislature committed to some
action along that line. No precise pro-
gram has been laid out. but if is said
that W~eII-fufofmpd and effective organi-
cation all over fhp state will be ar.
ranged before the September primaries
are held and that candidates for the
legislature will be sounded on the pro-
posaI.
The coming election cannot change
the political complexion Of the senate.
The Republicans will continue to hold
their majority there next year, but
there may be some senators Of that
party ready to turn with others if the
situation shall seem to warrant such
a movement and ut least modify the
~so-called Van Ness law.
OF course, the ultra drys will spring
at such a movement. 1t will afford
them opportunity to start the fight all
over again. They have declared that
the new law must stand, that it repre-
sents the aroused public sentiment Of
the people ana cannot be attacked.
IAey VIII pr9papiN 2et BUSY IN all the
counties early ana SUCK close TO the
JoD all summer, but II is very pam
that IN some OF the upper counties OF
the state tnefe mas DeeD q QlStllcL