Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-01-20
OPPOSITION TO GOVERNORS AP-
POINTMENT OF PROSECUTOR
FOR ESSEX COUNTY

DIR. James X. Shields, state super
i~ntendent of the Anti-Saloon League OF
New Jersey, gives out the following
statement:
"The appointment by Governor Ed
wards of James R. Nugent as prosecu-
tor of the pleas for Essex County,
iudging the man by his record ana
public statements, is as logical as
would be the installation OF a wolf
as guardian of a sheepfold. The
ernor's action is consistent with MS
promis to New Jersey liquor dealers
to use the powers of his office III
elected G%overnor) to protect them,
and with his announcement to the
public that he would make New Jer-
sew as wet as the Atlantic Ocean, Tor
Nugent is the most conspicuous enemy
of the Prohibition Law in New Jersey.
"The Governor has publicly de-
nounced Nugent as a 'betrayer OF the
people of New Jersey and ~character-
lied his statements as untrue, re-
marking, "A falsehood u falis
from the lips of a contemptuous mar.
Their only common bond is a mutual
desire to nullify the Prohibition Law,
and Mr.. Edwards desire to regain Mr..
N~ugent's support as a political asset
in his ambition to become United
States Senator.
"Mr. Nugent is also the most con-
spicuous and blatant enemy of Women
Suffrage, declaring in an address be-
fore the Gottfried Kruger Association,
Yesterday I could show you bowling
dervishes riding around the city, de-
claring that women should get the
vote: and | warn you that, should they
get the vote, you will be ruled as they
see fit His appointment is a slap In
the face to the women of New Jersey.
1.-THE Van Ness Act places the chief
responsibility for it's enforcement upon
the prosecutors of the state. A n
torial vote for Nugent's confirmation
would be a notice that the senator
does not wish to see the law enforced.
When a candidate for the nomi-
nation of Governor, Nugent said:
If | am elected, l shall call into SER
vice all the powers, and all the re-
sources of our Sovereign State to de-
feat Prohibition which was then our
fundamental law. Would he do less
as prosecutor?
"Nugent's record proves his con-
tempt for law. He has been repeated
ly arraigned before the Grand Jury
of Essex County for lawless acts: For
assault, while City Counsel, upon Ed
ward H. Wright, Jr., in a saloon; for
rescuing policemen arrested for vio-
lation of election laws, on warrants
issued by Judge Harry V. Osborne;
and for carrying a deadly weapon-a
black jack.
I'm his charge to the Grand Jury,
as reported in the Newark Evening
News, Justice Martin, October 20, 1912,
ordered them to reconsider his case,
and rebuked the preceding Grand Jury,
saying:
Upon the evidence submitted,
James R. Nugent is also guilty of car
rying a concealed weapon, to wit, a
black jack. . Why should he have
different or other treatment at the
hands of the Grand Jury than ordinary
persons? . . By what process of rea-
soning can a poor and friendless car
rier of a razor who makes no disturb
ance whatever be indicted and sent
to prison, and another who carries a
black jack and makes a disturbance
be allowed to go free?
THE testimoy of Slutzky, Hargan,
Drake and Rogers is clear and unmis-
taxable. They are not disputed by
the officers on any important point.
Messrs. Slutzky and Hargan have been
for years connected with prosecutors
Office. On their testimony many
persons have had the penalty of the
law inflicted upon them
THE public have not yet forgotten
Nugent's claim for SIS, 900 for his al
legged influence in securing a prof.
teering government wal contract, and
his sharp denunciation by Vice Chan
cellor Backes, who said:
Influence, individually inspired,
personal and political, was the only
commodity, and the only consideration
for the contract, and contracts based
upon such considerations are univer-
sally condemned as subversive of pub
lie policy
"Nugent has for years been the
leading liquor lobbyist at Trenton,
just as he is now the leading attorney
for bootleggers, and IN a single day
represented as many as 20 Of these
creatures, chiefly aliens, before the
court.
"Mr. Nugent has charged that all
who voted for the Van Ness Act are
guilty of attempting to destroy the
foundations of our National and State
life
1.-THE Senators so insulted-who are
now in the Senate-are Senators AL
len, Barber, Bright, Case, Hagaman,
Rays, Mackay, Reeves, ,Runyon, Stew
ems, Wallworth, Whitney and Parry.
at is inconceivable that any of these
men will help Governor Edwards con-
denim the people of Essex County to