Gloucester County Democrat., 1911-10-12
@WHAT is GOING TO BE GLOUCES-
TER'S YERDICT?v


The above question was the closing
sentence of Governor Wilson's MASTER
ly address in Green's Opera House
last Thursday night, printed in full in
this issue, and it seems to us to offer
food for serious consideration by
every citizen who places high value
on things that make for the best in
government.
Governor Wilson is anxious about
the result of the election of Senators
and members of Assembly this fall,
else he would not subject himself to
the great labor of State campaign.
A year ago, in response to what he
considered to be cali from the peo-
pie, Governor Wilson laid aside pleas
ant employment to serve the people
of the State He enlisted in that SER
vice ten months ago and even his
enemies marvel at the success of his
first sessions accomplishment.
For the first time in years, the
primary election of September 26, 1911,
was unmarried by acts that were a
disgrace to our entire elective system.
For the first time in our history the
people are in a position to exact fair
treatment from public utilities cor
porations. The benefieient features of
this legislation are not realized in
this section as in the more populous
sections, where it has long been de-
manded, without success, heretofore.
The Employers Liability Act, is a
new idea in legislation in New Jer-
sey, but old in some states, and in
Europe. The Jersey law combines
the best features of all these acts.
Many employers complain of its harsh
ness, but let us look at one phase of
the law as it appears to us.
Without labor there can be no in
dustry; labor is the life blood of the
nation. Labors only capital is a per-
feet, healthy body and strong or skill
ed hand. Take either of these away,
and labor's capital, it's power to sus-
tain itself and family, is swept away.
His family and himself are pauperized.
Yet capital goes on earning money;
the machine that shipped off the la
bOrers hand, or blinded his eyes, or
took his life, goes on earning money
under other laborers. But that par
ticular laborer has lost all his capi-
tai. Has the employer no liability
We have taken this question home
to our own plant. Has the skilled
printer in our office, who has given
years to training his mind and eyes
and hands no redress if one of his
hands is crushed in printing press i?
Has the proprietor of this plant no
liability if this workman becomes dis
abled through no fault of his own.
We are sure he has, and the proprietor
has adjusted himself to the new idea,
engrafted into law, by the most po-
tential though modest friend labor has
ever had in the Gubernatorial chair
of New Jersey The employers liza
bility act is the most advanced. yet
equitable step in the direction of
protection to New Jersey working
men ever devised.
For these three acts alone, the
Democratic party deserves SUPPORT,
not to mention these promises of the
State platform to which each legisla-
tive candidate stands pledged:
1st., The successful administration
of the criminal law.
I'd. Satisfactory means of assess
ing taxes.
Sd. A revision of the corporation
laws.
4th. Reorganization of the State
benevolent and correctional institu-
tions.
9Th Conservation of judicial pro-
cedure
7th. The election of Assemblymen
by districts.
Sth. To revise the rules of the As
sembly to render law making more
conformable to the Constitution, and
responsive to the public welfare.
9Th. Square deal automobile legis-
lation.
10th. The elimination of grade
crossings.
18th. Improved workshop inspec-
ton.
18th. Financial retrenchment.
18th. Safeguarding public travel.
The complete State platform will
be found on another page.
This is a program worthy our great
State, and our great Governor.
What will Gloucester's verdict be in
giving him legislature to sustain
what has been gained, and carry out
the New Program? II
- * * -
The Editor of the Democrat opened
his usual campaign of mud-slinging
and abuse last week Constitution.
We have searched the columns of
the Democrat to discover some basis
for the above statement from our
neighbor, but fail to locate single
line that might be construed as abuse
or mud-slinging.
In previous issues we have referred
to Mr.. Browning as the fiim-fiamer's
candidate for Congress, but the facts
leading up to his nomination warrant
that statement Let us review them
briefly There was full-de-
veloped movement throughout the
district by Progressive Republicans
to have Primary candidate repre-
sentative of their ideas as onnosed to