Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-04-26
4 LIVING ISSUE.
From Patterson Guardian,l

"What issue is left for Democracy in
New Jersey
# the party Of the people will shake of
the leaders who have betrayed Democracy
into the hands of the enemy, there is one
living issue upon which it can wage sue
oessful campaign and regain the prestige
which has been lost, and that issue is best
expressed in the following plank, which
should be inserted in every county plat
form in the state next fall:
1--WE demand that the power Of local
government shall be restored TO the people
Of New Jersey. We denounce the present
Republican policy Of Capitalization Of the
power of government in state officials; we
demand municipal home rule, which will
permit the people to choose their own Off
cials to administer local government.
On that platform alone Democracy can
wage brave battle against the railways and
corporations, which are now supreme in
their control of the policy of the Republi-
can party in nation and state. 1t repre-
sents in concrete form the cause for the
present political unrest all over the coun-
try.
For years we have been drifting toward
the Capitalization Of the power OF govern
ment in the hands Of few men, who are
controlled by the corporations, railways and
trusts which contribute the money to keep
the Republican party in power and secure
legislation favorable to corporate interests.
While in other states governors have been
writing messages in imitation of Roosevelt,
our legislature, spurred on by the corpor-
ations which control it, has been passing
laws which have for their principal object
the Capitalization of power in the state
government Little by little power has
been taken away from municipalities, until
now every city in the state is absolutely at
the mercy Of the legislature. Municipal
home rule, under general laws, has become
thing of the past; if a city wants to do
anything now, special law is necessary,
or a resolution is passed for the governor to
appoint commission,
We cannot do anything in New Jersey
any more without commission. II the
politicians desire to pull off trick for
PARTISAN advantage in any municipality
the governor appoints commission. If the
political machine needs bolstering up the
governor provides more jobs by appointing
a commission. If the people demand some-
thing the corporations do not want, polit-
ical pressure is put on the governor and he
appoints a commission, which heads off
more drastic action. If a municipality de-
mands local reform, or power Of control
over some public utility the corporations
get busy and the governor appoints COM
missions
The people of New Jersey asked for equal
taxation. Instead they have received a
scheme which meets with entire approval
of the railways and corporations in absolute
control Of the state boards which will ad
minister the new taxation laws. Even the
power Of valuation Of property is taken out
Of the hands of local assessors and vested in
the state government, through the creation
of county commissions under the Avis bill.
The object of it all is plain. 1t is some
times troublesome for the railways and COR
poratlons to deal with the people, especially
when citizens become insistent for their
rights. The corporate interests, which con-:
tribute the money to keep the Republican
party in power, find it much easier to deal
with few men. To make their control
supreme all they have to do is 10 elect the
governor, who appoints all the state boards
and commissions, and send few puppets
to fill the seats in the legislatuls.
Democracy's opportunity is found in the
desire Of the people to regain the rights and
powers which are being taken from them
every year. The Republican policy is to
centralize power until the people have no
rights left. The insurance investigation
and exposure Of, the manner in which Mark
Hanna compelled the banks of the country
to contribute to the Republican campaign
fund shows how the people are being robbed
Of their rights. and the tide Of public senti-
ment is going to turn before long.