Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-05-26
PROGRESS IVES TO
STICK To FORMER
DECLARATIONS
Platform Adopted Reiterates
Fundamental Issues Agreed
on Year Ago.

The Progressive Republicans Stat
platform, upon which the reformer
will stand in contestlng for the nomi
nation for the governorship, which fol
lows, was agreed upon late yesterda
afternoon at a conference he at III
headquarters of the Essex Progres siv
League, in Bank street.
Representatives from Essex, Hudson
Passaic, Bergen, Middlesex and Unto
counties were present. The platlorI
r%eiterates the position taken a year ag
fundamental issues. The full tx
follows:
The existence OF high prices, the diff
Guilty in making both ends meet, the per-
iouic p%aIiies, with thC resulting distress
and loss of employment, Tile rIl.lig up OF
huge unearlled fortunes, and the VIDE
spread corruption o. our politics are que
largely TO the existence of Unjust p1lvl-
leges or advantages enjoyed by certain
privileges ure secured by State aud Ma
tionnl laws, and partly by the failure OF
public officials to enforce existing laWs.
These privileges are maintained mainly
through what is known as the boss sys--
tenn Ia politics; that is. the powerful
special interests of the country have an
understanding, With SONG OF the men VINO
largely control the political organizations
of both political parties, and III re-
turn for money, Office and opporu-
nifty for money-making these po-
litlcal bosses procure the noml-
nation and election to important public
Offices of those who cun be depended
upon to do nothing to abolish or lessen
the privileges of these corporate inter-
ests. This boss system in Its turn Is
made possible by the fact that our exist
Ing primary and election laws are 50 de-
tectlVe tnat fraud can be practised at
primaries and elections II. the interest
OF these bosses, their political machines
aud these special privileges.
To overthrow this system, first must
be secured primary mud election laws
that will prevent fraud and the corrupt
use of money, and max 1t possible for a
poor man to run for u nomination or be
elected to public office without mortgas-
ing himself to any boss OF machine or
special interests
Primary and Election Law Reforms.
We, therefore, favor Il State law pro-
viding: ID For the choice OF party can
didates Tor Cover nor and congressman
and election of Delegates to national
conventions by the direct vote system;
t2) for the appointment Of impartial pri-
mary and election officers by the court
or some impartial agency. whenever
there Is II contest at the primaries for
party nominations, Instead of the APP
puintment of these officers by the chair
llen VI DtTty toIlillltltts HS 1T pltbtHL,
90 for The distribution of primary and
election ballots at public expense. by
mall: tD lui the Massachusetts or blan-
ket ballot, containing the names of all
candidates with party designations ar
Hanged. not in party columns. but under
the title of the appropriate office: () for
personal registration, at least In large
cities, with the %voter'6 signature under
n proper description of the voter; go for
the adoption OF a plan for actual popular
choice OF United States Senator.
Publicity of Campaign Contributions
aud Expenditures.
4 secret campaign fluid, secretly CON
tributed and secretly expended, is the
moss prolific source OF political corrnp-
ton. We, therefore, favor u State law
providing for publicity OF all campaign
contributions and expenditures by amy
candidate. person or committee, and
prohibiting contributions by any corpora
ton. or the hiring OF vehicles to convey
workers Mt the polls. Oh primary or cleo
ton day.
Regulation and Taxation of Public
Utilities.
We favor n statute giving tho Public
Utility Commission the power, upon
complaint or OH its own motion, to fix
Uniform, just and reasonable rates; III
Guiding an appropriation tor the Yalua-
ton of all physical property devoted to
public services; to enforce adequate SER
WIZ, Uilu W tih DhDllIlNA VI II III
fairs of public utility companies, includ-
ing $ cam and trolley railroads, electric
light, pipeline. gas, Nnter. telegraph and
telephone companies, together with AIDE
such commission: q National law giving
the same power to the Interstate Com
nlerce Commission In reference to NIL
such companies doing ali Interstate bush
ness' annual assessment and taxation of
franchises of all publir utility corpora
tons and taXltion of average value of
rolling stock used for interstate railroad
transportation repeal of the HUlery lim-
tied tax rate act; repeal OF the county
board OF taxation act and payment OF
taxes by the railroads and canals nj the
same time that all other taxes are paid,
and PROMPT distribution of school funds
to municipalities.
Employers Liability Act.
We believe IN the principle that an in
dustry ought to bear the cost of personal
injuries sustained in the business, aud to
that end We favor Il State inv providing
that where an employee who, without
ular course of his employment by the
negligence of another employee OF the
same master, the employer shall be re-
sponsible for reasonable damages for the
ment OF proper sanitary md health rom
ditionS In factories.
Home Rule.
We favor !: State law providing for
complete local self-eovernment In all
municipal matters. including, ID the
power of each municipality to alter its
own charter without legislative action
by submission of charter amendments to
the vote OF the people of the municipal
tty: t) the power to establish any mu-
nicipal pubic service
Releasing nils from Committees.
In order to prevent the suppression of
desirable legislation. the adoption of a
rule whereby Assembly Committees shall
be required 10 report my bill or matter
upon the request of fifteen members and
a rule whereby Senate committees shall
lie required to report npon request OF
any five Sen ltors.
Conservation.
We favor national Law for the conser-
walton OF our national natural resources
on the lines laid down by President
Roosevelt.
The TcriT.
We %denounoe the Payne Aidrich tariff
law as enacted In the interest OF trusts
and m%onopo,ies and demand the emmett
ment of II tariff law IN conformity with
the national Republican platform so that
the duty on imported articles shall not
exceed the difference hetW cen the cost
Of production of such articles here and
abroad, aud such difference to be nscer-
tanned by q commission OF exoer;s. More
thhn this Is nilus; to the consumer; less
than this Il unjust to the labor and
capital employed In onh industries.
II these reforms can be written into
machines VIII be largely broken. the con-
troll of money over our politics will be
abolished and we will have a govern
mept Of men selected by the actual
choice of the people md free to approach
the study OF. nnhlic questions. from the