Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-10-19
DEMOCRATIC COUNTY PLATFORM.
Demands Equal Taxation : Limited
Franchise, and the Repeal of the
Primary and Merger EIec-
ton Laws.

The representatives of the Democratic
party Of the County of Gloucester in con-
vention assembled, rejoice that peace has
been established between Russia and Japan
and that our President, Theodore Roosevelt
was potent factor in its accomplishment.
We desire to encourage the President in
his efforts to rid Federal departments Of the
grafters who seem to be in possession. May
no guilty man escape. Also Mayor Weaver
in his crusade to depose from power the
corrupt Organization that for so long has
plundered the city of Philadelphia.
Presidents of corporations who expend
stockholders money in politics, without
such stockholders cons emit, violate sacred
trust, and should not be allowed to escape
punishment.
We denounce the Primary Election law,
th Election Merger law and the compulsory
use of the voting machine as triplet acts,
conceived by bosses to centralize political
power in the Organization and to destroy
independent voting. We pledge the legis-
latiye nominees of this convention to use all
efforts to secure their repeal, and return to
the people the right Of local self govern
ment without political strife; harrassment
by red tape in their political movements,
and the constitutional right to case an
intelligent ballot
We congratulate Eyeritt Colby on his
ability on democratic platform demand
ing equal taxation Of all property to defeat
the Republican Organization in the County
of Essex, and his own issue Of limited fran
chises. We reaffirm the Democratic State
Platform of 1904, demanding equal taxa
ton Of all railroad property, and pledge
our legislative nominees to the support of
laws limiting franchises
The expenditure OF over $4,000, 600 per
year by the State sets a demoralizing ex-
ample to Chosen Freeholders aud munich
pal bodies throughout tine State. Stare ex-
penditures have more than doubled in ten
years, and our county expenditures have
advanced at the same ratio. We demand
retrenchment in state, county and town
ship, and pledge all Democratic nominees
to honest, economical public service.
We denounce the methods employed to
pass the Morris Canal abandonment bill in
the last legislat ure and congratulate the
Senate on the fact that its defeat was ac-
complished in that body after passing the
House.
In the Hon. Thomas NJ. Terrell, Glou-
cester county has had an able Senator, and
attentive representative in the State Senate
for the past three years, characteristics that
are proof to the people OF his worthiness to
receive further honors and responsibilities.
In connection with the foregoing paragraph
we quote from page 7o2 Of the Journal Of
the Senate a resolution presented by Sena-
tor Minch, Of Cumberland county, and
adopted.
sResOlped, That as leader Of the minor
ity, Hon. Thomas NJ. Ferrell has acquitted
himself in manner that has challenged the
admiration and confidence Of his fellow
members, and the congratulations Of the
Senate are hereby extended to him for the
able and courteous manner in which he has
performed the responsible duties deyoiving
upon him.