The Penn's Grove record., 1908-08-07

pie have a right to decide this question.
If he does not so believe, no matter by
what name he may be called, he is no
true Democrat-one who believes in
the rule Of the people. How can the
party secure the confidence |
of the people unless it deserves it? How
can it deserve it, if it is false to its own
basic p~rinciple-belief in the Justice and
beneticence of government by the peo-
pie, in municipalities and counties, as |
ell as in states and the nation, upon the
license question as we'll as on the voting |
machine. The platform should there |
fore declare in favor of Local Option"
as a matter of principle. Also as a mat
ter Of policy it should so declare.
He does not have to be very far seeing
who realizes that at last the issues of the
the civil war are dead and buried, and
that the Nation is about to give its at |
to economic questions. 1t is evil
dence that there is a rising wave.social re-
form that will result in such a political
housekeeping, as the Nation has never
yet under gone. The evils of the saloon,
direct and subsidiary, will be first to be
corrected. Many states already, in part
or ID whole, have declared that it must
go. Who can doubt the ultimate result?
Is the Democratic party SO blind as to as
sumo that side of this important question
which is opposed to the progress of hui
manity and is therefore doomed to defeat?
Let us not believe that the advocacy of
needed national reforms will insure local
success, if we are wrong on important
state issues.
The Republicans are apt pupils in
politics. Mr.. Bryan's great campaigns in
1896 and 1900, in which so many millions
of dollars were required to defeat him
have been taken to heart, under the
shrew d leadership OF that profound poll
tician, Theodore Roosevelt, who has gain
ed popul arity, and it should be cordially
admitted, done his country eminent SER
vice, by his advocacy and adoption OF
important planks of the Democratic plat
forms of those years, When the Demo-
Gratis in 1908 reiterate the principles of
1896 and 1900, the Republican journals
cunningly accuse them Of plagiarism
The Republicans can always be depended
upon to keep sufficiently neal to popular
Democratic reforms to prevent any large
desertion of their membership, except
when they are surprised by a
sudden panic, as of late, causing a
condition, more piteous because more in
elusive, extending higher in the social
scale and including among the necessities
a class, in all previous panics Independent
of public help charity societies declare,
that presages Democratic vistory.
1t would seem that in state politics the
Democrats should place themselves in
the van of all efforts which will conduce
to the welfare of the community as a
whole. Among other essential planks:
We should demand equal and just tax
alton of bank: stock and other personal
property now escaping assessment, as
we'll as of railroads.
We should denounce the Republican
party in this state fostering political brib-
cry by reducing the penalty of vote buy
ing, for a first ~offense, to a trivial two
years disfranchisement, and we should
not only pledge ourselves not to buy
votes and to prevent the Republicans,
but should advocate the state offering a
liberal reward for evidence that will con-
vict the guilty.
We should demand the elimination of
useless offices, and an able and economical
administration of public affairs in the
state, and in all its political subdivision.
We should declare for the real Aus
tralian ballot and for such other legisla-
ton, though as drastic as that of Great
Brita in, that would insure us, at the polls,
al unbought verdict.
We should favor the Initiative and Re-
ferendum, not only upon the liquor ques-
ton, but upon other political questions,
and should nominate candidates whose
character world be a guarantee that
our pledges would be. honestly redeemed.
W hat would be wise for the state would
be wise for the county, Independently,
if the state refuses the lead.
While Democrats should favor "Local
Option" which is the Referendum appli-
ed to the license question, and is there
fore strictly Democratic, would not an
act prohibiting treating to drink in licens-
ed houses, except at real meals, and
which would prevent men, refused in
toxicants by licensed sellers, from getting
them through other parties, be more cas-.
lily secured and would it not prevent the
acquisition of drinking habits and lessen
the evils OF intemperance in New Jersey,
more than Local Option?" because it
would apply to the whole state. The
prohibition OF treating, to be fair, should
apply only after license n ow granted
should expire.
Let us discard what an able local lead
er has called Jockey politics." which
wins but seldom; and constantly degrade
the party in the esteem of the community
and fight the campaigns of the future on
important issues already alive, or vital
lied by the party's action thereon. If we
do this, men of character and OF cali bre
car always be secured to lead enthusiasts
ism followers, and in this county, even
incur coming battle this fall, there would
be a fighting chance to win. As the
years proved our sincerity and demon
strated our devotion to real Democracy,
we would secure confidence OF the major
ity of our citizens, because we would be
worthy, and the party would be come
the vehicle through which majority
could most easily voice its demands and