Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-10-17
SEYMOUR ACCEPTS.
The Platform Approved Separate NUM-
cipal Elections and Annual Legisla-
lures Demanded-The Passaic
Valley Must be Saved.

The Platform Approved Separate NUM-
cipal Elections and Annual Legisla-
lures Demanded-The Passaic
Valley Must be Saved.
Mayor James M. Seymour, the Democratic
Gubernatorial candidate, sent his formal
acceptance of the nomination conferred
upon him to the State Democratic Com
mittee in Jersey City. The letter is adj
dressed to VIM. B. Gourley, chairman, and
Others, members of the notification COM
mittee of the Democratic State Convention,
and reads as follows -
Gentlemen accept the nomination
rendered by you on behalf of the repre-
sentatives of the Democratic party of the
State of New jersey, and in doing so desire
to assure you that l fully appreciate the
high honor the nomination confers, as well
as the great responsibilities imposed by an
election to the Office of Governor OF our
State.
eff elected | shall enter the Office free
from every personal desire except to pro
mote the welfare of the State and its peo-
pie and to prove worthy of the confidence
reposed in me.
81 have read the platform adopted by
the Democratic State Convention and ac-
cept it as the party basis OF doctrine.
Pursuant to accepted usage | beg to sup
plement it by some brief reflections upon
questions which are in the minds of the
people of the State.
81 favor the enactment of such addi-
tional proper laws as will further secure
the care, support and privileges of the
soldiers of the Republic, whether they be
those who served in the war of the re-
bellion or in the war against the Spanish
nation.
ssI will favor the repeal or modification
of unjust or bad laws, so as to eliminate
their Objectionable or oppressive provisions.
'sEvery citizen of this State priced the
time-honored privilege of local separate
election each year for the selection Of
municipal officers. The custom had its
origin almost at the birth of the republic.
Last winter, for purely partisan reasons,
local, State and national elections were
consolidated in cities No other reason for
the change has been assigned than an intent
to discourage independent balloting, and it
seems to be reasonably certain that that
result has been attained. If elected, | will
do all that an executive can do to restore
separate local elections to the people of this
State.
"An amendment to the State Constitu-
ton has been passed by the Senate and
House of Assembly, which makes the
term of Office of the Governor four years,
of State Senators four years and of AS
semblymen two years. Legislative SEES
sions are to be held biennially, instead Of
annually. There is some question whether
or not this proposed change in the funda
mental law has not been made null and
void by failure to advertise it, but pre-
sumably the same influences that secured
its approval last winter will if there be NJ
political change in the State government
force its re-approval by the next and {
succeeding legislature. The purpose of thu
amendment is to take from the people thu
power to properly punish offending law
makers and to remove the Legislative,
power farther, from the electorate. NJ
thoughtful citizen of this State wants sucl
change, and I shall do all can to com
pass the defeat of the proposal.
HNearly 100000 people who live in TIN
valley of the Passaic ask relief from TIL
menace of pollution in that stream. Mucl
time has been already wasted by fail
ure to enact comprehensive remedia
law under which the river could b.
purged and kept clean. 1 pledge myself
if elected, to hasten the solution of thi
question.
''If elected, 1 will be pledged to defent
the Constitutions of the State and TIN
nation and the laws, and l certainly vii
faithfully carry out and perform these ant
all other obligations imposed upon me a
the chief executive of our State.
every respectfully,
GAMES M. SEYMOUR