Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1904-09-22

Bloomfield I'll. Minch, who while not
| posing as a speech-maker, made one of
the best of the whole convention. 1t
was brief, short, clean cut, interesting
and well delivered, and was roundly
cheered for the effort. Prosecutor of
the Pleas William H. Speer, of Hud-
son, made the second speech, and
| former Governor Voorhees,, for whom
Stokes performed similar Office on
the same stage six years ago, gave
Union county's Endorsement to the
| Cumberland man. Among the things
| the former Governor said was ssYou
need never have fear that the honor
of your State will be tarnished in the
| hands of Edward G. Stokes. %
| Senator Horner, of Burlington, and
all of the counties following, seconded
the nomination of Mr.. Stokes. When
| Hudson county was called William HI.
Speer was lifted to the stage and made
a speech seconding the nomination, in
which he eloquently eulogized the
candidate. Mr.. Speer's speech was
easily one of the ablest of the day.
His review Of the history of the Dem
ocratic party in 1891, 1892 and 1898
was a scathing rebuke to the assump-
tion of virtuef now assumed by it,
which was, Mr.. Speer said, in the
nature of an invitation to the people
to restore them to power in the State
that they might "repeat their lawless-
| ness in the legislature and do it all
over again.
Ex-senator Voorhees, received an
ovation when he arose to second the
nomination. Mr.. Voorhees, was a fell
low Senator of Mr.. Stokes and a fell
low member of the Assembly, and he
eloquently advocated the nomination.
Following the hearty and unani-
NOUS nomination committee present.
| ed Mr.. Stokes, and the reception he
received was one of the greatest ova-
tions ever given man in the State of
New Jersey. Looking a little weak
and pale, but with ionly trace of
huskiness in his voice, the candidate
made speech which was declared to
be one of the best efforts of his life.
Referring to Ethe taxation question,
now such paramount issue in the
State, Senator Stokes said:
sour opponents in their platform
charged that the Republicans would
never get any farther in the matter of
equal taxation than a commission.
May I suggest that they never get that
far. They never get any farther than
a platform. Their sarcastic reflections
upon the present Equal Tax Commits.
sion ought to have been coupled with
an apology to their candidate for Gov
| ernor, who is himself a member there
on. His acceptance Of this duty would
indicate that he at least believed in
| it's usefulness. I resent their imputa-
tion upon their candidate S good faith.
He and the platform should get to-
gether for at least an appearance of
harmony.
"Our platform is specific where the
course is clear. AS to the rest of the
question, where it is intricate and in
| volved with State and municipal in
terests, where Court questions are
likely to provoke endless litigation,
where the Democratic candidate says
sit requires the best trained ability,
| where it cannot be dealt with off-band
in a political platform, he laid down
the principle that the property,
| whether owned by individuals or by
railroads, should bear equally the bur-
| den OF taxation. The methods by
which it is to be accomplished are to
be determined upon the presentation
of the facts and. legal questions in
volved. It is the promise of an honest
party conscious of its intentions to
carry out its pledges. Our platform
is not for campaign. gns.purposes, it is for
fulfllment.
The general railroad tax law of 1884
was hailed as great advancement in
railroad taxation. It has been of great
advantage to the State. 1t has been
lauded by our opponents as an evil
dence OF their craftsmanship; but we'll
as it has served the State, it is, under
the changing conditions of years, prop
erly the subject of revision. Prosper
ity has multiplied the avenues of COM
merce and in some of our cities prop
erty that would otherwise be listed in
! the local tax ratables, has been neces-
sarily absorbed by the great lines of
transportation and municipal avenues
have been accordingly reduced. We
say this property should be taxed at
equal rates for equal lines, and that
all inequalities should be remedies for
the benefit of municipal treasures,
and with justice to all concerned I
pledge myself to that end
nSnn