Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-06-07

Lewis would make no comment to Mr..
Martins letters, copies of which fol-
low:
Newark, N. j., June Z, 1910.
Hon. Vivian M. Lewis:
My Dear Sir-You are the recognized
candidate of the regular organiza-
ton Republicans for the party nomi-
nation for Governor. 1 have been
asked by Progressive Republicans to
represent them in the contest for this
nomination.
You, in the course of your canvass,
have asserted that the regular Re
publican organizations of the State
and county were not generally domi-
! mated by the special interests and
benefciaries of special privilege.
We, on the other hand, have asserted
the existence of such control.
You have asserted that the majority
of the regular" Republicans in Senate
and Assembly were not dominated by
the regular Republican," organization
so controlled.
We have asserted the contrary to be
true.
An occasion has arisen which affords
another opportunity to put one phase
of the issue between us to the test.
You are therefore requested to CO.
operate with me In a request to the
Governor, which, if granted, will pre-
sent the issue ~squarely and which will
have the additional advantage of CIV
ing to the Regular Republican or
ganizations, which, it is understood,
you represent in your candidacy, n
more opportunity to redeem the
pledges made by the last Republican
State convention.
For over three years 1, supported by
those Republicans who believe In the
policies laid down by Theodore Roose-
welt for the regulation and control of
the public utility corporations engaged
in interstate commerce., n in the
policies of Charles E.. Hughes, Gov
ernor of New York. for the regulation
and control of such corporations en-
gagged in business wholly confined to a
single State, appealed to successive
Legislatures of this State for the
enactment of a law to govern such cor
porations similar to that now in opera
ton in the State of New York and in
Guiding the creation of a commission
with real power to fix just and reason
able rates.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
last State convention of u party
pledged the party and it's nominees to
such regulative legislation; notwith-
standing thai it's candidate for Gov
ernor in his canvass publicly construed
it's declaration to include creating a
commission with rate-making power;
Notwithstanding his messages demand
ing such legislation; successive legis-
latures having a Regular Republican
majority have failed to keep the party
pledge to the people n have now
given them a Public Utility Commits
sion without such power, a commits
sion that is a mere shadow and without
the substance of what was promised.
Time and again 1t was asserted in
the discussion of this question before
the Legislature and it's committees thai
no complaint concerning rates In thi:
State existed and that, therefore, there
was no occasion for the vesting in the
proposed commission Of rate-makine
power.
then denounced, and now again con
denim, this as a mere pretext.
/ Their declared, and now again de-
clare that the failure to create a com
mission with ~rate-making power was
due to the influence of the public util-
ity corporations in our Regular Re-
publican organizations and over REG
ular Republican" legislators.
The storm of protest now going ovei
the State at the general increase il
railroad rates sweeps away whatever
foundation there may have been fol
the statement lthat there is no com
plant of rates.
If we were and are wrong In our dec
lwaration hat such statement was 6
mere pretense, and If it was mad II
, good faith then, an opportunity now ex
lists to demonstrate that fact.
l offer you that opportunity, by this
!, request to the Governor to V tn
Legislature in extraordinary session t
, act on the subject.
If for any reason you will not 1oli
with me in this request, l trust that yo'
will publicly state your position on thi
|, question, which seriously affects all 0
the people of our State, a fact which
r has been asserted over and over again
1 and which has now been forcibl.
, brought home to them.
That there may be no misunderstood