The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-10-08
Democratic Convention,

Democratic Convention.
There have been times when it was /
teresting to attend gathering under Il
auspices of the Democratic party of Blu
lington county. That was in the da,
when there was chance for that party
make showing at the polls and whe
nominations meant something. but that
all past now, and place on the ticket {
that party is merely willingness, on th
part of the nominee, to be led like lam
to the slaughter.
The convention on Saturday was adver
tised for one o'clock, and for the first tim
on record, the gavel of the chairman fel
at that hour. There was nothing much t,
do, and the delegates wanted to do tina
quickly.
Richard P. Hughes, OF Bordentown
was made chairman, and William M. Ell
der, of Burlington, and John B. Val
Baum, of Palmyra, were named for secre
taries. The roll was called and showed
that less than half of the townships wer,
represented. The total number of persons
In the court house, including spectators
was 40.
The chairman got down to business anc
appointed the following committees:
Credentials-Thomas Rafferty,, Bordentown
Charles Heisler, Evesham; George B. Wills
RuIes-Benjamin r. Powell. Pemberton: Pa
trick j. Byrnes, Burlington; Richard R. Lip
pincott, Pemberton.
! Permssnsnt organtsation Edward schwa
ton; John r. Loveland, Bass River,
ResotaaiOns-PearsOn Taylor, North Hano.
yer; charles Stokes, Beverly; Henry III. Saw.
age, Northampton
A recess was taken and after short
wait one of the delegates began to get i'm
patient and called for the chairman to
get busy" But the committee on reso-
buttons had not finished its work, regard
less of the fact than friend Stokes had the
platform already prepared. Still, there
must be some show of deliberation. and
after messenger had gone twice to ask
the committee to hurry. the latter came In
with very grave and important look!
The permanent organization was con.
tinued, and the chairman of the commit
tee on credentials reported 'no contests
and full delegation" No rules were
needed; SO that was passed. Then came.
to at least one man, the event of the day.
Proceeding to the platform, Charles Stokes
performed duty that has been his for the
past ten years. He read the resolutions,
as follows:
The Democracy of the county of Burlington,
in convention assembled, re-affirms the time,
honored principles of its party.
Inc principles OF the Democratic party,
when allowed to govern, always have and al
ways will safeguard the interests of the whole
people, enacting laws consistent and in har-
mony with the general welfare and pros
perity of all, insuring equal opporti nfty. dis
eliminating against neither capital nor labor
but assuring encouragement and protection
alike to the rich, the middle class and the
poor.
We endorse and ratify the platform of the
last Democratic state convention and we
promise an earnest and determined effort to
poll as many votes as possible for the nominee
the Hon. Frank s. Katzenbach, of Trenton,
In addition to the state platform, we further
declare in favor of the reappeal of any and
all laws which had their conception in weak
ness and were enacted by mistaken in
huence known as the "Blue Laws" vestinp
any person or persons with legal power to
infringe upon the personal liberty of the
and moral public by deter
own standard just what is allowable for the
whole people to do on the Sabbath day.
The Democratic party always has and al
ways Will oppose the Capitalization of power
made very evident by the Republican Legis-
lature OF the past ten years, that is resulting
In the removal of the functions of govern
lnent further and further from the people.
We are opposed to the Republican method
Of government that has done away with Orr
local Commissioners of Appeals in matters OF
taxation and has imposed upon our people
The un-American and un-Democratic County
Board of Taxation, composed of men not
chosen by the people of our county, but APP
pointed by an outside power without the
consent or approval of our people; a Board
lnacquainted with property valuations in
whose hands is given the all-important power
If deciding the amount of taxes our people
must pay This is taxation without represen-
alton in an aggravated form.
We oppose the Republican theory of govern
ment by appointive Boards and Commissions
md urge return to the Democratic method
among the people.
We are opposed to the voting machine-a
Republican instrument that has done away
With the secrecy of the ballot; an instrument
hat has made independent voting impossi-
Die and that prevents the voter from know
ng now MS ballot has been counted, permit
ing only 10 hope that the machine recorded
his ballot as he intended casting it.
We condemn the Republican Board of
sgement of county affairs. which made it
necessary to bond the county to pay its in
iebtedness, and we condemn the actions of
body which can make the expenditure of
county funds dependent upon the result of a
wager.
On these principles and those which have
the Democratic party from its in
;eption we rest our hopes of success, and
pledge our earnest support to our party's
for Governor, Frank s. Katzen-
bach, and those to be nominated at the CON
yent1on.
This concluded, the roll was called for
nominations. Only two names were Of
'ered for Assembly, those of James H.
Birch, Jr., of Burlington, and DIR. ]. G.
Brown. of Southampton. They were de-
,lared the nominees.
The next business was the nomination
Of candidate for Auditor. Judge Wills,
Of Northampton, said he considered the
present Auditor man perfectly fitted for
the position, and one who looked after the
finances of the county in way that
merited his continuance in office. Judge
Wills moved that the position of Auditor
be left vacant on the ticket. This created
the first and only ripple of interest, and
when the vote was taken there were sew
eral voices in the negative. The chair de-
cided to call the roll, but it had not gone
far before one of the delegates objected to
the proceeding. He claimed that the
chair was compelling those present to vote
whether the place should be left vacant
when the proper method was to go down
the list and see If any township had q
candidate. Judge Wills Withdrew his
motion, the roll was called, but no nomin-
alton was made.
Lewis Gray, Of Florence, was named as
the candidate for Coroner
Edward Schwabenland offered resolu.
ton that the chair appoint compa;;ss-sso -
three to I'll pQssthh.s vacancies on the
s Ss.ssHssSssShd the following were named:
Edward Schwabenland, Riverside; Ben
ajah P. Wills, Northampton; Charles
Stokes. Beverly.
This concluded the business, and as
none Of those who had been honored with
place on the ticket were where they
could be invited to the court house, the
convention adjourned to the grand jury
room to effect the organization of the
county committee.
Political Notes.