Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-01-11

lie attention to the fact that the CRATER who
thus betrayed this movement, afterward
Joined the Watson organization, then at
tempted to sell the latter out to the Demo-
caatie "machine;' and finally, before the
campaign was over, he 'double-cr0ssed' 9
his former bargains with Republican
1 money. After these acrobatic feats, this
man moved outn Heis now in Wash
i ington promoting fake mining schemes
and delivering lectures on ethical culture.
While the movement for reform did not
come to fruition, yet the 1904 elections
Il indicated that the Democratic principles
we're not dead among the people. The
nomination Of Mr.. Black was brought about
blythe preponderating public sentiment in
| favor of equal taxation, and in spite OF the
real wishes OF the bosses and traitors. The
/ State vote, in which Mr.. Black ran so far
ahead Of the weak and fiabby Parker, indi-
Gated the real condition of public senti-
ment. At fhe same time the growing split
in the Republican ranks, which this year
eliminated in the overthrow of the Repub-
! lican bosses in Hudson and Essex counties
and the overwhelming election OF Pagan
and Colby, shows the actual condition OF
public sentiment to-day. The Democratic
party, haying been betrayed, smothered
and discredited, is no longer taken serI-
0usly, and those citizens who really wish
for reform for the enactment Of fundamen-
| tally democratic legislation, are looking,
not to the broken-down Democratic organ
/ ization, but TO the Colby Pagan faction Of
the Republican party. To-day the two
factions of the latter party are dividing
everything between them, and the Demo-
Gratis are of no more actual influence or I'M
portance in the State affairs than are the
Prohibitionists.
These structures on the Democratic party
are, Of course, applicable primarily to State
politics. The party organizations III some
of the counties are in much purer and
more hopeful condition. In Union county,
for instance, although we have recently
suffered defeat, the organization is chiefly
in the hands of men of honest purposes
and fair Judgment. The blight of the State
situation is upon us, however, and we can
not hope for permanent success IN the
county as long as the State remains unre-
deemed.
What then is to be done Either pew
party will be formed representing Demo-
cratic thought or the Democratic party it
self must be reiuvenated. One-half Of the
voters OF the State are not Republicans, and
wilt not ally themselves with either Of the
two factions of the Republican party. Thus
with no State party Of their own, the Dem-
Gratis are practically DISTINGUISHED. And as
matters stand to-day they have no party at
all to turn TO and no means at all OF ex-
pressing at the polls their wishes or politl-
cal belief.
1t should be in order then, not to spend
time in lamentations, and regrets, but for
all Democrats who really wish to see some
thing done, to take some concrete action
without delay Actions, not theories; exc
cution, not promise, are now IN order.
Therefore as a first step | would suggest
that provisional committee of Democrats
be at once formed, consisting OF men OF
sincerity and standing from all parts Of the
State; shat this committee, when formed,
meet together and discuss ways and means
for reviving Democratic faith; that a con-
yention then be called, delegates being
sent from all the counties of the State, and
that this convention choose a genuine State
committee: this committee when organized,
so 20 back to the counties and initiate q
movements to organize real county COM
mittees where none now exist; to cooper
ate with present county committees where
such do already exist, provided they agree
TO endorse the actions and the program OF
the new State committee, or TO go it alone
and without them if they will not. /
would suggest also that such a movement
should involve cooperation as far as con-
sisuent and possible with any other organi-
cation. political or otherwise, which stand
for the ideas and principles which are
fundamentally Democratic such for in
stance as equal taxation, restriction Of fran
chises, public ownership, etc. The funda-
mentai idea of the whole movement would
be not merely to organize a new Demo-
cratic party in the State, but to bring to
the front those economic principles and
ideas which modern Democracy must stand
for, or not stand at all The 1907 State
campaign IS coming on apace. and the rank
and file Of our party do not wish to again be
Obliged to vote either for a machine made
ticket and platform, or stand for Repub-
lican program, the greater part Of which
they do not and cannot endorse They wish
an opportunity to freely exercise their suf-
frage, and plan should be worked out TO
give it to them.
propose this movement, not secretly,
but in the open, for the reason that the
grating ring can lie fought openly only,
and not behind closed doors; and if this
movement is seriously begun, for one,
shall favor that the voters of this State
know every step taken, and that every
thing shall be done in the clear light Of day.
Ii is believed that some such plan as
proposed will find support. The writer
personally knows shat a large number Of
men OF standing and influence in the party
and representing nearly every county in
the State are ready and willing to cooper
ate in such step. These men are not
dreamers, nor are they obscure In their seY-
eral communities, but many Of them are
the best local leaders in their party and all
are tried and true.
! The writer would like to hear from
others who would join in such movement,
or in some movement looking TO the same
end. He would be only too glad to CORES
pond with any who are willing to step to
the front in this manner, and if they can
suggest more practical and effective plan
! than that proposed, to cooperate with them
/ * AZ. e., Hast l,,r.oa1Js1o oxrtof,f