Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-10-03

8
1.-THE representatives Of the \ sratic
party Of the State of New jersey in con-
vention assembled do hereby adopt the
following principles as a declaration OF our
party faith:
s'The issues of the pending campaign are
exclusively State issues and we propose
therefor to address ourselves to the cor
rection of the gross abuses of power of the
Republican party made SO manifest during
its recent domination of public affairs in
this State.
eve deeply deplore the blow that fell
upon the republic in the death of its Chief
Magistrate by the hand of an assassin. In
common with all our citizens we feel a
sense Of shame that there should be any
man beneath our Flag who would raise his
hand against the President Of the United
States. We demand the enactment OF
proper laws in order to provide effectively
for the future There is no room within
our borders for an anarchist
ssThe partisan control of legislation by
the Republican State Committee has been
the most marked in our history. Orders
have been issued to the Legislature by
this irresponsible body for the enactment
Of such legislation as would best secure
its control over the State. Salutary meas
ures in the interest of the people have Eeen
defeated in obedience to their demands
1t is not disguised that the Republican
party of this State is under the domination
and control of the great corporations and
trusts of the country and that without the
approval of these gigantic combinations OF
wealth no legislation can be passed in the
| interest of the general public and of indi-
vidual competition.
ssThe conduct of public affairs by the Re-
publican party has been expensive, incom-
petent and conducted without regard to the
| interest of the State. Every effort has been
made to fasten upon this State permanent
Republican rule 1t has for its own selfish
purpose destroyed in the cities of the State
the opportunity of our fellow citizens to
conduct their local elections untrameled
| by State or national issues. Other States
| in the interest of real municipal reform
have been engaged in the work of separat-
| ing the local and State elections. Here
the Republican party has taken step
backward and deprived our cities of an
independent opportunity to correct the err
rors in their municipal affairs. This law
has been created because the three largest
cities in the State have Democratic Mayors.
RIGHTS OF CITIES.
at has also, in order to deprive the
cities of the State of their rights to divide
their respective municipalities into wards
enacted law investing in the Governor
the right to say when in his discretion such
cities should be so divided. No greater
interference in local affairs in open defiance
of the Constitution has ever been attempted
by political party in this State. This act
| hoo1 rod OF f1TtIn Inv 10
Supreme Court, but the attempt to pass it
will not be forgotten or forgiven by the
people.
''The Supreme Court itself has been used
as reward for party services. 1t has been
lowered in public esteem by the act of
Governor Voorhees, in elevating to its bench
formidable opponent of the present Re-
publican candidate for Governor in order
to smooth his path to the Republican State
convention. We charge such conduct to be
reprehensible and an offense to the State.
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
"The efficiency of the National Guard
has been impaired. Regiments have been
disbanded without any defined public pur-
pose, and when such acts were challenged
as wanting in legal force recourse was had
again to the Legislature to ratify such
illegal acts.
tfThe scandal of the State Reformatory
for Girls at Trenton, and the management
of the Asylum for the Insane in the same
city, have been a shock to the State. Not
withstanding these disclosures the chief Of
tenders are retained in their high offices
unmolested and in high esteem.
"We demand rigorous investigation OF
all State institutions that the people may
know whether their servants in these posts
of honor and profit are faithful officials and
worthy Of the great trust reposed in them
ssWe believe that the fee system should
be abolished. Public officials should be
i pa'e :, salaries, thereby saving to the peo-
pie large sums of money annually which
will be paid into the public treasury, in
stead of being retained in the pockets Of
the Office holders Of the State.
FOR EQUA-s TAXATION.
eve again declare for equal taxation and
again demand a tho. ough revision of the
tax laws of the State. All property, real
and personal, not used for reEaians- chari
- ~ purposes, should be
tlue in accordance with
!