Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-10-29
Compliments Character OF Both
Candidates for Governor
in Camden Speech.
REAFFlRMS HIS ATTITUDE
ON CORPORATION CONTROL
Declares q. O. P. Has Made
Good Record in Handling
Affairs of the State.
From a stan Correspondent. ]

cornpanied by Governor Fort, who
made his first public appearance If
the campaign and incidentally his long
awaited defense of the present admin
istration, is today touring the adjoin-
ing county of Salem, where he will
conclude another week of work with a
Inass~meeting in Salem.
Governor Fort made two speeches
for Mr.. Lewis yesterday. In the after
noon he spoke in Gloucester, but the
main meeting was held in the Temple
Theatre las night. Mr.. Lewis also
spoke at Collingswood, but added little
TO the literature of the campaign.
In his address in this city Gov
Fort gave a brief review of
what has been accomplished in this
State under his administration He sai6
that, the Democrats have Incorporated
in their platform the reforms he has
been urging for the past three years.
In speaking of the corporations. Gov
ernor Fort aid thai the State gaze
them the right to do business and that
the State could crush them, if need be.
Every corporation is a creature OF
the State, just an agent, that is ALL" he
said.
Governor Fort said that it vas a
matter of, supreme satisfaction for hin
to see both candidates for Governor
standing %squarely for complete regula-
ton of corporate affairs. He further
said hat it was gratifying to him to
hear Mr.. Wilson, the Democratic candi-
date, and Mr.. Lewis declare that boss
rule must end.
Wilson VS.. Wilson.
Attorney-General Wilson spoke first
in the theatre. His speech was made
up of his familiar criticism Of the Dem
ocratic candidate and the party Lead
ers. There was nothing in 1t which
materially differed from his speeches
heretofore given except that he al
luded to Woodrow Wilson as a 'hand-
made machine candidate" When the
encouragement had talked fifteen
minutes tho men in the parade arrived.
The few vacant seats in the gallery of
the theatre We're quickly filled n
more han a thousand people We're un-
able to gain admission.
After some delay the encouragement
proceeded with his speech. i~nsinuating
that DIR. Wilson lived in a glass house
and that he was disingenuous in sew
eral OF his speeches. The attorney
general was for the second time inter-
rrpted by the arrival of Governor Fort,
who was mildly %applauded. Retreating
from his attacks upon MIR. Wilson the
encouragement closed his speech by
lauding Mr.. Lewis.
Governor Fort spoke next, and said,
in part:
The campaign in which we now are. both
national and State, not only involves the
election of a Governor of the State, but a
seat in the United States Senate and ten
seats In the House of Representatives. No
election could be more important except
that for President of the Republic.
1t is seldom that national and State
Issues are so similar as In this campaign.
fore the people; they are. First: How
shall W. regulate corporations and pre-
vent the special interests dominating legls-
latioD? Second: Which party can be the
best trusted to do it?
The Question of Corporations.
Before we answer these questions 1t
would be we'll to get the exact relation
| which a corporation bears to the State.
Those who dominate these great eom-
panies seem to have Impressions
OH the subject. Every corporation is a
creature OF the State. just an agency that
Is all.
The State grants to the railways. troll
legs, gas, electric and other similar COM
panies the right to. use the States power
In carrying on their business. The state
could do itself all that they do If it saw
tit. and they are simply acting for tho
State, They have no power save that
| which the State gives them, That which
the State gave it can at any moment take
away and it may, If 1t wishes, at any
time repeal their grant of authority TO do
Within this power It may do the, lesser
things, namely. regulate the way they, do
business, 1t may put them under absolute
control and even fix a limit of pront q
company may make, or rate of dividend i
may pay, or, as New York has done Win
its great insurance companies, say that
they shall not do in any year more than
a certain amount of business.
The managers of corporations seem 10
have the impression that they are TO con-
view of profit to the stockholders. Moth
ing could be farther from the fact. either
legally or morally. Their relation Is one q
stockholders. IT needs to be impressed
and remembered that their first duty Is to
the public. They must, give good service
and every necessary dollar OF their money
must go for that purpose before profits OF
dividends should be considered.
To me 1t is a matter of supreme salts
faction TO see both the candidates for GOV
ernor of this State standing squarely fol-
The true legal rule as to their manage.
ment is that they must serve the people
first and that the State has the right t.
regulate them SO that they shall be re-
quired TO so do before they can neap W
profits or declare dividends.
EubIiC Gthtttkt9 law
During the three years of my term
have urged In official messages and upor
every public occasion when opportunity
AFFORDED that the State should enact 9
public utilities bill with full power to reg
| ulate every act Of public serving corpora
| lions, whether IL related to the rates the,
might charge or the dividends they, nigh
pay or the stocks or bonds which theS
could issue.
The curse of the past few years has beer
the exploitation of corporate enterprises
as IL they were. private property. BONG
and stock have been issued without public
control and on any basis the officers saw
1T, and, In many cases, to the extent g
millions of dollars to the personal ad
vantage Of the promoters of such enter
We zeal much in this dax-abont Zfboss
ism So far as L have heen able Y hav'
hit that wherever and whenever l coult
during the past three years. 1t Is gratify
declaring that 1t must end, and that the,
will do all in their power to. crush II
What we need to establish. and to estab
fish firmly. Is that Presidents. Governors
congressman and Legislators are elected Z
represent the people and not some specla
Interest that furnishes funds for canpafgl
purposes. The boss system, so called
would die speedily If public service cor
j porations would stop contributing none!
Nor primary and general elections and tax
their lobby creatures away from legis
liative halls.
Election Reforms.
The members OF the Legislature do no
need coaching and they are competent 7
| legislate for the people without outsid,
advice. especially of the interested kind
What Is demanded is a public sentimen