Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-06-21
W|TTPENN ISSUES
STATEMENT AND
j PLEA TO VOTERS
Jersey City Mayor Declares He
Is Free to Fulfil Party
Pledges if Elected.
Especial to the Newark star.l

Especial to the Newark Star.l
JERSEY CITY, June 21.-Mayor H.
Otto Wittpenn, who. as stated in the
EVENING STAR yesterday. has an
nounced himself a candidate for the
| gubernatorial nomination on the Demo-
cratic ticket, today issued the follow
ing plea to the voters:
I'm the belief that the Democratic
party of this State Is willing to nom
mate. for the office of Governor, a man
who, in the event of his election, will
be free to fulfil his platform pledges;
with a determination to bring the con-
troll of our public affairs back into the
hands of the people, and thus reestab-
fish the principle of equal rights to all,
special privileges to none,' I have de
| cided to avail myself of the right of a
citizen and Democrat and announce
myself as a candidate of my party for
the nomination for this Office.
For years New Jersey has suffered
from a corrupt State House ring. fos-
tered and dominated by special cor
porate interests, which have subjugated
the rights and will of the people to
their W selfish purposes. This in
iquitous domination has resulted in
reckless extravaganza in the admin
~istration of the State government; in
the creation of expensive and useless
| commissions; In the enactment of
fatuous and impotent statutes, which
pretend to correct. evils while actually
continuing them; in the refusal to pass
remedial laws widely demanded, and in
the escape of the great railroad cor
porations from bearing their just share
Of the burdens of taxation, and of pub
| lie utilities companies from reasonable
regulation. Thus AVE the interests of
the people beer betrayed through
broken party pledges, the inevitable
consequence of which is the oppression
of the people by the high cost Of liv-
ing and the eye-r-increasing exactions
of these special interests.
BY a c%unningly devised system of
House and Senate rules they have
made 1t possible to smother desirable
bills when it suited their purpose to
do SO.
"They have given to subway COM
panies the right of way under any
street, avenue or road in any munich
| patty of the State, without asking the
consent of the municipal authorities or
paying one cent for the. privilege, while
in other States these companies u
first obtain the consent of h cities and
then pay for every foot of earth exca-
waited. Is 1t not time that the people
had something to say in these matters?
Can they expect redress from the same
party that took away their rights.
Fearful of the result upon it's or
ganization, the Republican party has
persistenly refused to turn the light of
publicity upon its campaign funds by
passing a corrupt pr~actises act.
Thousands of Cur fellow-citizens are
pleading in vain for relief from an I'M
just increase in railroad rates. only to
fined themselves utterly at the mercy
of these corporations.
"They depended upon the Republican
party to keep their solemn and binding
platform promise to establish an ef-
fective public utilities commission, and
the result Is the present miserable
makeshift. passed merely to deceive
the public, in the hope that its efficacy
would not be tested. = a
I'm view of the enormous net earn
| irgs OF these railroads, / 10 not believe
that there could be any increase in
their passenger and freight tariffs If
the people exacted proof of the reason
ableness of such advances before they
i CUulu DeCoIne tnSCliNt. r..
st demand a genuine ate-regulating
law, to apply to all public utilities cor
porations, under which adequate serv-
ice can be compelled nnd reasonable
rates secured.
II believe in economy and a strict ap-
p~lication of business methods In the
conduct of the financial affairs of the
State and In the adjustment OF all
useless boards and commissions.
81 am in favor of a prompt distribu-
tion of school funds to the municfpali-
ties, and am opposed to diverting them
to cover deficiencies caused by wanton-
ness or extravaganza.
Business enterprises should be en-
%couraged. but not without due regard
to the rights of labor, and Therefore, I
am in favor of a proper employers
liability act and such other avs as
will provide sanitary conditions and
safeguard the health OF those who
labor.
1.-The fight for equal taxation must be
continued until railroad property shall
be assessed at It's true value and be
subjected to it's fair share of taxation.
Where adopted, civil service, in my
opinion, has proved beneficial, and I
believe should be extended to all the
municipalities of the State.
"As in our form of government the
popular will is best expressed through
the ballot, I believe that nominations
of candidates for all offices should be
made directly by the people at the pri-
maries, and / also favor the distribu-
ton of election ballots at public ex-
pense.
Wearing no mans collar, If nomin-
ated and elected, / shall use all the
power of the Office to accomplish the
foregoing reforms. / shall nominate to
office only men who will keep the faith
and can be depended upon to aid me In
carrying out this program. l shall en-
deavor to discharge the duties of the
high office in accordance with the prin-
ciples of true Democracy for the well
fare of the people of the State" &