Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-11-01
THE DEMOCRATIC
COUNTY PLATFORM.
Read II, and II you approve its Declar-
ati0ns, vote the Democratic ticket
next Tuesday.

| The Democratic party Of the County Of
Gloucester in Convention assembled, make
the following declaration Of principles as
our platform in this campaign.
The merging of spriag with the fall
elections has proved neither economical OF
conductive to better local government. We
therefore demand that elections for muni-
oipal officers be separated from general
elections.
We favor primary election law that
laymen can understand and observe with
out the Intervention Of attorneys and the
courts.
We favor the adjustment Of the voting
N lchine and giving every voter the right
to prepare his Own ballot in the secrecy of
the voting booth and to see that ballot de-
posited in the ballot box and then counted
as cast without any doubt left in his mind
as to how he cast his vote and how it was
finally counted.
We demand the enforcement of the law
against all public servants in this county
who prostitute their Offices to personal en-
richment, and .plunder Of the public treas
ury.
We believe we are yet capable Of self
governments, we therefore demand the
right to elect our own tax officers, local
and county. We denounce the Avis law
as reflection on our ability to govern
ourselves and demand It's repeal.
The presen+ system of taxation is both
unequal and unjust. sTe favor actual
equal taxation according to the constitutis:ss;
the direct local taxation at local rates Of all
GLASSES Of property alike, and not as now
taxation according to the idea of the cor
porations on railroad property by State
board of taxation named by the Governor,
and on individual property nominalIy by
assessors, but really by county boards of
taxation also named by the Governor, and
both dominated by the same corporate in
fuences
IF our legislators are to represent the
people, they must be elected by unbought
ballots; we therefore denounce the use OF
money in our elections, and pledge our
selves to an enforcement Of anti-bribery
laws. Stop contributions for political pur-
poses by corporations, and this reproach on
our elective system will cease To this
end we demand a law compelling all con-
| tributions TO political campaigns to be made
pubic
| We favor granting only limited franchises
to corporatlo-s s and the taxation of the
same at their actual value at local rates.
We favor the elections Of United States
Senators by direct vote Of the people.
Our present State constitution was auopt-
ed more tnan sixty years ago, and we have
out-grown many Of its Limitations. The
chief officers Of the State, the Attorney
General, the Secretary Of State, Clerk Of
the Supreme Court, the Clerk in Chancery y,
the Comptroller and Treasurer, the tax
Leyying and Assessing officers, should be
elected by direct vote Of the people.
We pledge the candidates nominated the
united and earnest support Of the Demo-
cratic party in the County Of Gloucester,
aud appeal to all good citizens irrespective
Of their former party affiliations, to join US
in condemning local and State wrongs, and
aiding us in restoring governments to the
people.