Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-10-03
Both Big Parties in State
Convention Discuss PlankS
in Drafting New Platform
Democrats May Call for Special
Session of Legislature
After Election.
IRON . slnn corresponaenl.1

-
ATRENToN. Oct. Following a long
hbnference In the office of Governor
Wilson at the capitol the Democratte
State convention was called to order IN
the Masonic Temple by Edward u.
Grosscup, state chairman, at 1890
o'clock this afternoon. The conference
f~oreshadowed a long discussion in he
committee Of resolutions on the build
ing of the platform upon which the
Democratic candidates will go before the
people. 1t will probably be late this
afternoon before the platform viii be
brought before the convention for
adoption. Here are some of the plat
form planks proposed, and in some
cases earnestly advocated at the pre-
convention conference in the Governors
office:
For a constitutional convention,
especially with the view of creating
senatorial and assembly districts.
For approval of the oregon plan Of
electing United States senators.
For the initiative, referendum and
recall.
For a declaration on the proposed
abandonment OF the Morris canal.
For q special session of the Legisla-
ture after election to %reapportion the
Congressional districts.
For automobile reciprocity.
For grand jury reform.
For abolition of grade crossings,
For general equal taxation as be-
tween railroad corporations n indi-
vidual taxpayers.
For s~tricter supervision of the char
tering of corporations.
For further amalgamation of State
Offices and the abolition OF useless
Offices.
A general rei,eration OF the platform
of last year and an unqualified indorse-
ment of the work of the last Legis-
lature.
1t is not likely that all these planks
will get into tn platform. The con-
ference was a happy o-lucky affair,
where everybody unburdened himself Of
his ideas and pet hobbies,
Charles o'Connor H~ennessy, Assem-
bly, candidate from Bergen county, was
the particular champion of the initia-
tive, referendum and recall. Mr.. Hen
messy said that the people s-.ould have
the power to get rid of their constitu-
tjonai shackles so thai they might
participate more effectively, as he put
IL, In their own government.
II think you have made a strong ar
gument," said Governor Wilson when
Hennessey concluded.
The convention got Town to its pre-
1iminary work promptly after Mr..
Grosscup thumped for order. on motion.
of Senator Gebhardt. of Hunterdon,
and seconded by Senator Fielder, Of
Hudson, Senator Harry V. Osborne
was elected temporary chairman, and
William X. DevereuX, Of Asbury Park.
Temporary secretary. On motion of
Senator Fielder again. the chair was
authorized to name a committee on
descriptions. consisting of the Governor
and one representative from each
tn, to be designated by the county
delegations.
On motion Of Assemblyman John J..
Bracken, of Essex, the chair was au-
thorized to name a committee of ten
on rules and credentials. The conven-
ftion at 1910 adjourned for ten min
l1tes to give the various counties time
10 make their committee selections.
CredentiaI Committee Of I'll.
On re%convening at 1850 o'clock a
committee on credentials of twenty
one members was named. Assembly
mar Egan then moved that the Brack-
en- resolution for a committee of ten
on rules be Nreconsidered, so that a
committee OF twenty-one might be
named, one from each county. George
Lamonte, senatorial candidate from
Somerset, offered an amendment to
make the committee on rules also the
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