The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-24

the time being could stand on the Demo-
cratic plank and you could stand on Mr.
have Mr.. Wright debate the question with
himself. as he stands on both the planks
of your movement, and of the Democratic
platform, one for lifting the lid n the
He could be Mr.. Hyde the first half
OF the evening, standing OH MS rlsnL
leg; advancing the Democratic docarlne;
be DR.. Jekyll, standing ON his left leg
on the other plank.
Il am very much surprised at your mis-
statement OF the position OF the Repupn-
can candidates of Essex County, and also
of the position of the Democratic candl-
dates of Essex County. The Democratic
candidates and campaign orators, notwith-
standing the failure of their ~gubernatorial
candidate to take any position. promise the
voters that If the Democratic ticket is
elected that the lid will be off on Sunday.
and strongly Intimate tina the Bishops
law will be repealed.
'T'hi they should know is a false
promise. as the rural communities, at all
events, ave shown by the failure of the
Democratic House last year to pass the
bill repeating the Bishops law, that they
will not permit any law to pass through
either the Senate or General Assembly re-
pealing the existing excise regulations.
The Republican candidates in Essex
County, however, recognize that the con-
ditions are such that the Bishops law is
not repealable, and irrespective of whether
fAA1 1oEhN u IIoEGA &Ohlitl oil AAiC AaN
repealed or not, all must recognize that
the Bishops law is on the books to stay.
Some of the Assembly candidates.
previous to the primary election, an
nounced in their platform the principles
upon which the primary campaign was
conducted, as follows:
Believing in and asserting the twin
principles of majority rule and home rule,
we demand laws that will give to the
voters of each municipality the right to
regulate. the liquor traffic, including. Sun
day selling, the method of local regulation
to be decided by a majority vote taken at
a special election
The platform of the Republican con-
vention of Essex County states as follows:
Realizing that the question of the regu-
lation of the sale of liquor is a troublesome
one, and one upon which public sentiment
in some parts of the State differs widely
from that in other parts of the State, we
recommend legislation which will permit
the people in the various municipalities to
direct by their votes at the polls how the
question shall be regulated by their re-
spectiYe excise authorities
1T seems to me that this commits the
Republican candidates to the doctrine OF
home rule; that is to say, that the people
of each municipality have the right to de-
termine for themselves the method OF
regulating local affairs within reasonable
limits.
"I do not understand how you can re-
pudiate the doctrine of home rule in part
and support it In other respects. What
ever differences there may be between
Tie NEW IuCd pldlIOfn III lne primary
campaign and the Republican county plat
form of the Essex County convention OF
the one hand, and the Independent Citi-
zens' platform on the other hand, are VI
to you to explain.
you no doubt will recall that you earn
estly and heartily supported, during the
last primary campaign, the New Idef
candidates, including the home rule prin'
ciple.
You also no doubt will recall that as
a delegate from East Orange to the Re
publican State convention you voted fol
the adoption of the home rule plank of the
Essex County Republican convention in the
Republican State platform.
IF you have now changed your views
because your former principles were ir
religious or immoral, 1t is up to you tC
explain your somersault to the people AM
not for me to debate with Mr.. Burke thu
propriety or improperly Of your politica.
acrobatics, gyrations and pyrotechnics t.
placate you offending conscience.
There is nothing in the nome rule doc
trine to debate because the constitution Of
the State of New Jersey says, Article 1.
section 2, referring to the rights and priv
ileges of citizens: All political power il
stituted for the protection, security ant
benefit Of the people and they have thu
right at all times to alter or reform the
same whenever the public good may re
quire.'
The sovereign people who create gov
eminent, establish constitutions and cleo
legislatures, have a right to enact fol
themselves all law and therefore 1t II
clear that the people of each municipality
have the right to determine for them
selves how they will regulate the liquo
traffic. This is the principle OF the ref
erendum which 1 understand you hav,
supported for several years. 1t is also tn,
principle on which local option is based.