Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-09-20

sought to benefit. Naturally the now
ers Of such a commission were core-
fully limited until the success of the
experiment could be determined I
believe the public utility commission
has justified its creation and met with
popular approval and that It's powers
can be safely increased without retard-
ing further development Of public sery-
Ing corporations which are necessities
Of the day.
Upon this subject and In favor of In
trusting to the com mission already Gre
hted power to supervise and pass upon
rates proposed to be charged to the
public by this class of corporations
and empowering the commission to ap-
prove or reject them ! do not believe
such a commission would unjustiy ha-
rass the corporations or allow itself to
be made by corporate influence an In.
strument through which excessive
rates may be derived from the public.
of course the legislature-that is, elect
ed representatives of the peoplsenow
possess the rats controlling power, and
many thoughtful persons have ques-
toned the wisdom of the delegation of
that power to a commission; but, as l
have said, I do not personally fear
such 4 course.
The experiment Of the direct primary
nominations for all local and county
der provisions enacted by Republican
legislatures. l believe that 1t has been
a success and am in favor of Its con-
%ttnuance. The question Of the extern
sion of this system Of direct primaries
to the nomination of candidates for
congress and governor is being agi-
lated, and the success of the law in the
cases Of those offices already covered
by 1t Is an argument in favor of its ex-
tension. l believe 1t is entirely a ques-
ton of what the people desire, and If
the representatives Of the people In the
legislature favor such extension @
measure to that end will receive my
approval in the event of my election rs
governor.
/ have endeavored, so far as the lin
itations of this occasion will permit, to
acquaint you with my opinions upon
those subjects in which 1 thought you
might be especially interested. l have
meant to be frank and sincere. If /
find, as the campaign progresses, that
there is any misunderstanding of my
position upon any public question l
shall strive to clear away any such
doubt. l am a candidate for governor
and am soliciting the support of the
people OF this state in d way that I in
tend to be honorable and manly; that,
! well understand, demands the fullest
in&ormS ton tc those who have a right
to it.
The Trend Of Thought.
I do not remember in my own expert
ence or in my study of the history Of
u country a period when such wide
spread interest in political affairs ex-
listed among the people. Seasons of in
tense financial activity have been fire.
quent; it is not difficult to find In our
national story years when the con-
! struction of railroads and other lines
Of transportation has been especially
rapid; religious interest and literary
advancement has distinguished certain
eras, and agricultural extension and in
dustrial expansion others.
But today there is easily detected a
tendency among the people to devote
more attention to the manner In which
the government is administered, to the
legislation of their lawmaking bodies
and to the character of their public Of
fcials.
This is, Of course, a condition that
every thoughtful person approves and
every patriotic political party and ey-