Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-08-25

AssemBlyaan Swackhammer, of Somer-
set, on being interviewed as to his willing
ness to accept the Democratic nomiaation
for Governor, gave prompt expression to
these thoughts
NO. man with human impulse coald be
Indifferent to the high honor attaching to
the Office of governor Of New Jersey, and,
in my opinion, he who should, without
good reason, decline the nomination if
regularly rendered by his party, would
thereby assume grave responsibility.
1.-THE man, however, who compgehends
the mission of Democracy in state and nation
at this time will, if he be prompted by
patriotic impulses, regard the success of his
party as Of the first and highest Importance
IF the convention should decide to
nominate me should accept the trust, and
make the best fight possible for the success
of the ticket. If another were chosen I
should feel bound to bring the same exer-
tons into the compaignn
When asked as to his ideas of the pros
poets for Democratic success the assembly,
man said -
ut appears to me that Democratic sue
cess this fall can be realized only through
the combination of three factors "a thorough
and efficient organization, vital issues, and
clean, vigorous, magnetic, statesman-like
nominees who command the respect and
confidence of the people. A perfect organ
ization is already assured.
1.-THE paramount issue is self-asserting.
The trusts have acquired such grip upon
legislation that thinking men cannot be
blind to the dangerous tendency Of the
times On the eve Of the assassination
Abraham Lincoln said: I see in the near
future crisis approaching that unnerves
me and makes me tremble for the safety Of
my country. As result of war corpora
lions have become enthroned and an era of
corruption in high places will follow, and
the money powers of the country will en-
deavor to prolong their reign by
working upon the preiudices Of the people
until all wealth is aggregated in a few
hands and the republic is destroyed. This
prophecy is fast becoming history" -
Here are Mr.. Swackhammer's views as
to the main cause of bad legislation -:
1.-THE archives of the state contain in
dubitable evidence Of the fact that the lob
! byist is potent factor in Jersey politics,
and to-day the most important function
| belonging to the chief executive is the veto
power AS in the days of the great law
giver Moses, the necessities of the times de-
mand that the head of the state shall again
and again declare, Thou shalt not.
Many legislators, found in all parties,
appear to feel that they are under higher
obligations to political heelers and vote
uottiney r,Ayvnr than IN tho Ylnnnla that 4hnv
are to represent. A bill is exposed and
killed to-day, but tonight the lobbyist
passes by and breathes into its nostrils the
] breath of life and it becomes living law
i unless the veto is interposed. But the
difficulty Of passing just laws is as great as
that Of defeating unjust ones.
Experience has demons trated that no
political power can long stand against the
sentiment Of injustice, and it is a fact that
| the railroad companies will this year unload
some So, 900, 600 of their just share Of the
burden Of taxation on the individual tax
payers of this state, owing to dereliction OF
duty on the part Of the Republican organ
| ization.
The records will show that the Demo-
Gratis last winter introduced and urged the
passage Of an equal taxation bill, which the
| Republicans resisted, and, by superior
numbers, defeated. say organization, for
am convinced that the rank and file of the
| Republican party are in favor Of good
government and honest legislation, and de-
plore the policy Of the machine politicians.
/ What stronger reason could be offered for
| the overthrow Of the Republican machine
IN this state r.