Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-10-17
Democrats Promise Their Platform Conserve to
y the Peoples Rights

OO11OC1 dGS 1IO1AlSO LII l. AC
the Peopl
The representatives of the Democratic
'arty Of the State Of New Jersey, in con-
ention assembled, do hereby adopt the
principles as declaration of our
aith:
ISSUES ARE STATE ONES.
The issues of the pending campaign are
exclusively State issues, and we purpose,
therefore,, to address ourselves to the cor
ection of the gross abuses of power Of the
Republican party made SO manifest during
heir recent domination of public affairs in
his State.
DEPLoRE MCKINLEY'S KILLING.
We deeply deplore the blow that fell
lpon the Republic in the death Of its chief
magistrate by the hand of an assassin.
N common with all our citizens we feel a
ense of shame that there should be any
nan beneath our flag who would raise his
land against the President of the United
States. We demand the enactment of
proper laws in order to provide effectively
or the future. There is no room within
,ur borders for an anarchist.
CONDEMN PARTISAN CONTROL.
The partisan control Of legislation by
The Republican State Committee has been
The most marked in our history. Orders
nave been issued to the Legislature by this
Irresponsible body for the enactment Of
,uch legislation as would best secure its
control over the State. Salutary measures
N the interest of the people have been
defeated in obedience to their demands. 1t
IS not disguised that the Republican party
If this State is under the domination and
control of the great corporations and trusts
If the country, and that without the ap-
prevail Of these gigantic combinations of
wealth no legislation can be passed in the
interest of the general public and of indi-
yidual competition.
REPUBLICAN RULE EXPENSIVE.
The conduct of public affairs by the
Republican party has been expensive, in
and conducted without regard
TO the interest of the State. Every effort
mas been made to fasten upon this State
Republican rule. 1t has, for its
,wn selfish purpose, destroyed in the cities
II the State the opportunity of our fellow
,itizens to conduct their local elections I'M
;rammeled by State OF National issues.
Other States in the interest of real
reform, have been engaged in
,he work Of separating the local and State
elections. Here the Republican party has
aiken step backward and deprived our
,ities of an independent opportunity to
correct the errors in their municipal affairs.
This law has been created because the three
largest cities in the State have Democratic
mayors.
ENCRoACH ON CITIES RIGHTS.
1t has also, in order to deprive the cities
If the State of their rights to divide their
respective municipalities into wards, en-
acted law vesting in the Governor the
right to say when, in his discretion, such
cities should be so divided. No greater
in local affairs, in open defiance
IF the constitution, has ever been attempted
by a political party in this State. This act
has been declared unconstitutional by the
Supreme Court, but the attempt to pass il
will not be forgotten or forgiven by the
people.
MISUSED SUPREME COURT.
The Supreme Court itself has been used
as a reward for party services. 1t has been
lowered in public esteem by the act Of
Governor Voorhees, in elevating to the
bench formidable opponent of the present
candidate for governor in order
to smooth his path to the Republican State
We charge such conduct to be
and an offense to the State.
IMPAIRED MILITIA's EFFICIENCY.
The efficiency of the National Guard has
been impaired. Regiments have been dis
banded without any definite public purpose
and when such acts were challenged az
wanting in legal force recourse was had
again to the legislature to ratify such
illegal acts.
DEMAND INVESTIGATIONS.
The scandal of the State Reformatory
Tor Girls at Trenton and the management
Of the Asylum for the Insane in the SAME
city have been shock to the State. Not
these disclosures the chic
offenders are retained in their high Office
and in high esteem.
We demand rigorous investigation o.
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.
.cArHrcr uru,I c,vcTu1r
We believe that the fee system should bt
paid in salaries, thereby saving to the
people large sums of money annually
which will be paid into the public treasury
instead Of being retained in the pockets Of
the office holders Of the State.
DEMAND EQUAL TAXATION.
We again declare for equal taxation and
again demand a thorough revision of the
tax laws of the State. All property, real
and personal, not used for religious, chart
liable or educational purposes should be
assessed at its true value in accordance
with the constitution, which says:
Property shall be assessed for taxes
under general laws and by uniform rules,
to its true value"
REPUBLICANS FOES OF LABOR.
Every attempt on the part OF organized
labor to secure legislation in its interest
has been defeated by the Republican party.
It has shown that it is hostile to the wage
workers of the State. Every important
act on the statute books in the interest OF
labor was placed there by Democratic legis-
atures. We believe that the true interest
of labor and capital lies in complete COM
prehension of their respective rights and
luties and common desire to have COM
plete understanding between them. They
are friends and not foes. Great loss has
Iallen upon the industrial interests of the
State by bitter struggles, which have re-
suited in strikes and discomfort.
WILL PRESERVE FORESTS.
The preservation Of the forests of the
State has become pressing question, af-
letting vitality the welfare Of all our citizens
and should receive careful consideration
from the Legislature.
The cities and towns of our State, with
bheir rapidly increasing populations, must
depend for their water supplies upon the
Of our forests.
REPEAL OBNOXIOUS LAWS.
We favor the repeal Of all laws abridg-
ing the rights Of iuries to fix the amount
Of damages in cases where the death Of a
person is caused by wrongful act,