The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-21
STOKES FOR. GOVERNOR.
SELECTED BY REPUBLICANS IN
NEW JERSEY.
Makes q stirring Speech Challenging
Party's CrItics-The Platform Is for
More RAILROAD Taxation and Is Salts.
factofy to All-Much Enthusiasm.

Stokes, Qerk in Chancery, and formerly
State Senator from Cumberland county
was nominated to-day as the Republican
candidate for Governor by convention az
enthusiastic and harmonious aS the mos
exacting partisan could desire. Threat
ened with, pneumonia only two days ago
Mr.. Stokes came before the convention
In the face of his physicians orders and
delivered a speech Of acceptance 80 elo-
quent and convincing as to stir the large
assemblage that packed the convention
hall. N'-"
The address defined clearly and oonoisely
the campaign issues, meeting without
equivocation every argument advanced by
the opposition and declaring emphatically
the platform upon which the party stands.
At the close OF his speech, with the dele
gates still in an enthusiastic uproar, and
the most distinguished men in public life
in Jersey crowding about him to offer their
congratulations, Mr.. Stokes, showing, too
plainly the effects Of his great effort, was
hustled into carriage and driven to his
apartments. Tomorrow he will go into
temporary seclusion at quiet resort before
entering upon the active duties OF the
campaign, ....
The threatened trouble in the convention
over the adoption of a plank relative to the
taxation of railroads was averted early
in the day by conference, which by noon
had agreed upon a platform Endorsed by
the conservative party leaders and entirely
satisfactory to the Hudson county Repub-
licans, whose expressed views upon the
subjec of railroad taxation had been too
radical to suit a majority Of the counties.
By the carrying out of the platform Jersey
City will derive the benefit it has demanded
from the taxation of the railroad terminals
within its borders, while the railroads
themselves will escape the enormous tax
increase which the Democratic platform
would place upon them, an increase esti-
mated at several million dollars year
State Chairman Frank o. Broggs called
the convention to order and introduced
as the temporary chairman former Assist
ant Postmaster General william L. John
son, whose treatment Of the campaign
issues was received with enthusiasm. Mr..
johnson met fearleSsly the charge OF extrav-
agance on the part of recent Republican
administrations, showing that in the bet
terment of It's institutions New Jersey had
been well repaid for all its. expenditures
OF general issues he said In part:
The Republican victories in Oregon. YER
mont and Maine point with. certainty to
greater victory IN Novemai9Se e We I have and;i
grams to a tired and discordapt convention
our candidate claimed to be saner and sounder
than his party Wv are more rel torn n tha =,
reverse the political declarations of the last
eight years, and to admit that during all that
time our adversaries were right and We were
wrong. ~.
Discussing the subject of railroad and
~ fax atto in Mr. Tnhp.
son said:
seinbled 10 this city last week nominated as
its candidate for Governor most estimable
apd Intelligent. gentleman OF irreprosshabte
devoted to the discussion Of the subJec{, OF
equal taxation. and which contained . deela-
law in certain specified particulars.
The present law, so far as It affects the .
s ses Of 81 tbe
subject for several years. and aftor long and
determined struggle In the Legislature. The
tested by the railroads. who claimed that they
were unfairly burdened. and after protracted
was qy ia by the Sols
constitutional mandate that property shall
be assessed for taxes under general laws, and
The law has remained in force twenty years.
through successive Democratic and Repub-
dSeve a aha the State
Changing conditions. especially the gradual
and constant absorption OF real property for
Of the same from local taxation, have re-
;SteS In an urgent dea nd for revision Of
that must be respected but the subject is not
e. s doass the soa S 81 wRsS denends
and factors relating thereto, 1t is not, and
ought not to be. so much a political question
lie nte co 81 sa POSSIBLE Of tSe
The problem is undoubtedly an important
one, and one which must be settled but let
the ssaps b; sne sas ss
as ss Is 81 a % III % cops
the railroads Of the State to pay their Just
quota Of taxes.
Upon reconvening after the appointment
Of committees the convention effected
permanent organization by selecting these
officers: Chairman, William M. johnson
q Bergen county; secretary, j. Herbert
The platform, read by Congressman
John j. Gardner, chairman OF the COM
mittee on resolutions, was adopted by ac-
clamatioh.
OF the national and State administra-
lions the platform says;
The administration Of President Roosevelt
has been American. courageops and honest
heart with admirat We indorse him
with enthusiasm for further tenure Of
office, and adopt as our own the platform OF
the last Republican national convention
We heartily indorse the administration of
Coy. Murphy. II has been honest, progressive
and achieving
On the subject Of railroad taxation the
platform states:
Railroad property is now, by legislation
sanctioned by the highest judicial authority
OF the State. segregated Into class for pur-
poses of taxation. This system has existed
for twenty years. and under II the State and
municipalities have received large returns
and State tax has been avoided. By means
OF II railroad property Is divided into different
classes for purposes Of taxation,
The franchises and the property familiarly
called the main stem" are taxed by the State
Board OF Assessors at uniform rate, assessed
upon their true value as whole Other
real estate. not included In the main stem"
owned by railroads.and used for railroad pur
poses, and known as second class" prop
erty, Is also taxed by the State Board OF As
SCISSORS at fixed rate. portion of the
taxes derived from this class Of property
was formerly paid to the State for its use.
but subgeqhently the Legislature in the in
terest o. certain municipalities, where the
diversion OF these ia Kes into the State Treas
ury seemed to be hardship. modified the
law by directing that this whole tax be paid
TO the partAeulan municipalities, where the
lapds were situate.
We believe that the time has now come
when a stilI further modification OF the law
can be made for the benefit of the munich