Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-12-21
WHY COLBY MEN
BOLIED The CAUCUS.
Reasons for Division in the RepubTi-
can Party.

|
On Tuesday, the 18th inst, the caucus
Of the Republican ssemblymen-elect was
held at the State House, Trenton, all the
members being present except one. Early in
the session those members who were elected
on what is term the Colby platform, but
which is simply re-affirmation of the
Democrat Gubernatorial platform Of 1904,
demanding equal taxation and limited
| franchises, presented an ultimation to the
caucus, on the refusal of which the persons
who signed it marched out and repaired to
their own bailiwicks. The paper was read
/ by VIM. P. Martin, as follows:-
THE undersigned, members-elect OF the
New Jersey house of assembly, have decid-
ed that it is our duty to state our position
with regard to our relations to the other
membes elected upon the Republican ticket
in reference to the organization of the house
and action upon bills which may be intro-
duced therein.
1--WE decline to be bound by any caucus
upon any matter which would adversely
affect the passage Of the bills popularly
known as the equal taxation limited fran
chlse measures, to which we were pledged
in the recent campaign. We are always
ready to confer with the other members
elected on the Republican ticket in refer
ence to these or other measurers relating
to matters Of party policy.
ssOur desire is to have a speaker elected
who is committed to the principles of equal
taxation and limited franchises as under
stood by our constituents. There is no
necessity in this legislature for caucus.,
for the reason that the Democrats only
haye three members OF the house aud the
Republicans do not need to caucus in order
to secure the organization Of the house by
Republicans.
s'Our action, therefore, ia declining to be
bound by any choice of the caucus for
speaker does not imperil the election Of a
Republican as speaker, but our main reason
for declining to be bound By a caucus in
the matter Of choice for speaker is this
We were elected upon specific nnder
standing or pledge to the people to do every
! thing in our power to bring about the tax
alton Of railroad main stem at local rates,
the taxation of franchises and the limitation
of franchises, aud the repeal or modification
Of the Hillery tax act. These principles
have a definite and positive meaning among
our constituents By pledging us to these
principles they laid down standard and
test OF Republicanism which is accepted by
more than one-half Of the population Of the
state of New Jersey.
ssIn the past the fav0Tite weapon for the
defeat Of equal taxation measures has been
the appointment by the speaker to leading
committees Of members who were subject
to the influence OF men who represented the
corporations Bills sincerely aimed at the
securing of equal taxation haYe been buried
in committees and no popular pressure has
been sufficient to secure their report. What
the enemies of our equal tax principles have
done in the past it is fair to presume they
will try to do in the future and that they
expect to do it by the election of the candi-
date for speaker whom they are earnestly
supporting.
This leading candidate for speaker is
Mr.. Robbins, who has been respectfully
requsted by us to indicate his position up
on these questions. His replies haye been
unsatisfactory. He declines TO commits
himself to this standard of Republicanism
If, after all the agitation that has taken
place upon this subject, he is not yet clear
that our equal taxation and limited fran
chise principles are sound, it is fair to
reason that he will continue in this state Of
mind during the session. In addition to-
this, almost every influence in the state Of
New Jersey, which has hitherto labored to
defeat equal taxation and limited franchises
is actively and vigorously supporting Mr..
Robbins candidacy.
1T is fair TO presume that these people
are at present against equal taxation as the
same is understood by our constituents and
that they see in the election OF Mr.. Rob-
bins distinct advantage to them and to
the corporations which they represent.
stUnder the circumstances, therefore, Is
is fair to assume that the agents Of the
corporations who are so vigorously backing
Mr.. Robbins expect that he will appoint
committees to which equal tax bills will be
referred, composed of majority of men
whom the political representatives of these
corporations believe they can control. II,
therefore, we vote for Mr.. Robbins, we join
with the ayowed enemies OF our equal tax
principles in bringing about conditions
which will seriously impair, il they do not
entirely destroy all chance OF securing the
passage of these measures in the coming
session.
sit seems to ms, therefore, clear that our
duty required us TO vote for a candidate for
speaker WHO puUlicty dqu6FeS 10 our pFlucl-a
pies as understood by our constituents and
to the definition Of Republicanism as it has
been defined in these measures and in our
platforms. Any other course, it seems to
us, will be a violation Of the solemn pledges
which we have made to the people and up-
| on the faith of which we were elected
The statement was signed ais follows:
/ William f. Martin Russell NJ Everett,
George f. Scribe, Gustav a.. Kayser, Austin
| Colgate, Henry G. Hines, William Fellowes
| Morgan, Gustavtss f. Sommer, Philip c.
| Walsh, Jr., Charles r Underwood, G. w
! Roeber, Theodore Il. Bierek, Euse1rus w.
! Arrowsmith. Jr., Edward K. Patterson,
/ Herman 4. Berg, William a .Joerg. james
/ A. Wooley, Edward e. Tucker. John ]
Coyle, Of Hudson, agrees, bus is absent.