Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-10-04
REPUBLICANS
TO STAND PAT
Old Leaders in Absolute
Control of the State Con-
vention Held Yesterday.
PROGREssIvEs DOWNED
keynotes Are Progress With
out Hysteria and Reform
Without Destruction.
fFrons the NEWS corespon.lent.)

| fFronp the NEWS CorrespopIent.j
Trenton, Oct 4:-Progress with
out hysteria and reform without de-
struction, are keynotes OF the Re-
publican state platform adopted here
the Republican Club. The assem-
blage was in marked contrast with
years past when the hundreds OF
delegates came to Trenton with fly
1 ing banners and martial music
With less than one hundred present
the session yesterday was more OF
the nature of a business conference
United States Senator Briggs call
ed the meeting to order as the state
chairman OF the party and had Ed
ward Gray, the state secretary. read
the Geran law which governs con-
| ventions now and requested those
! not entitled to attend to leave the
convention floor. He, himself, re-
| tired as soon as the convention
chairman was named. Assemblyman
| McCran, of Passaic, nominated SEN
ator Prince, also of Passaic, as chair
| man and Senator Leayitt, of Mercer
named Assembly Candidate Gill, of
Mercer as secretary. The nomina-
tions were made permanent.
Work On Platform.
The entire night had been spent
In the preparation Of the platform,
but 1t was not whipped into proper
shape until the afternoon and the
delegates took d recess until 1t was
ready.
There were no contests for seats
In the assemblage and everything
went along rapidly until Assembly
Candidate Ransom, of Hudson coun-
ty, urged that the third section of
the rules be amended to allow a
single candidate to demand roll
call on a question instead OF requir-
| ing ten members to make the re-
quest Ransom is q progressive
Republican" from Hudson. His
motion was lost by Sc to 6 votes.
Platform Is Read.
The platform was then taken up
any read by Senator Leavitt. Sena-
tor Nichols, when the applause that
followed the reading of the docu-
ment had ceased, had a resolution
adopted for insertion in the platform
which places the party on record as
! tfs Iawav pension bill or some
oSflcr h r1erfforfutfs act. Assenpfy
sg5fsffrg rysss ~, s ffzrrscn sprogres-
manding eight cent gas for munich
palities from the Public Utility Conn
mission and the reduction Of rail-
road commutation rates to where
they were before recent increase.
Assembly Candidate Watson, of
Passaic county, opposed the Ives
proposition on the ground that the
Utility Commission is a court and
should hear evidence from both
sides. He said he was in favor of a
reduction for gas but said 1t should
be accomplished In an orderly way.
The Ives proposal was defeated by
viva yoce vote.
Some Phrases Criticised.
Mr.. Ransom objected to the last
paragraph of the platform, which
refers to 'tdemogogic attack" on
business and men who are ''in poll
tics for politics sake" The para
graph also states: 1--WE need real
craftsmanship, less talk and more
Intelligent action" Mr.. Ransom
branded the paragraph as typical of
the men who wrote it. Mr.. Leavftt
said the paragraph meant just what
1t said and on the vote of the meet
ing was allowed to remain as 1t was.
irresponsible Political Machines.
The platform also pledged legis-
latfon ais will enable the people to
rule .without the Intervention of ir-
responsible political machines. The
irresponsible" part brought Mr..
Ransom to his feet He declared
that he was member of machine
that had been called irresponsible"
but that he was a Republican and
wanted the word eliminated He
was finally successful In his attempt,
but precipitated the longest debate
of the afternoon. Mr.. Leavitt OPP
posed any change as he said 1t was
not directed against any one In par
tieular. Mr. ives thought the plat
form too sarcastic. Everybody
knows at whom 1t was aimed" he
declared. He referred to the stand
patters'' as men who have been fill
ing their pockets and said, I'VE must
get back where we serve the people
and not the trusts" Mr. Nichols
said he was inclined at first to OBJ
ject to the word, but later believed
that it referred to the Democratic
party, the remark getting laugh
from the delegates. Assembly Can
didates Murray, Of Essex, and Gill,
OF Mercer, urged that the word be
omitted and this was done.
Constitutional Convention Plank.
The plank calling for a constitu-
tional convention offered by Mr..
Ransom was defeated. Senators
Nichols, Edge and Leayitt opposed.
Mr.. Nichols said a change In the sem
atortal representation would throw
control to the populous counties. Mr.
Ransom also wanted to make sure
that there would be no change In
the Geran method or registration
and the form of ballot made by the
next House, but he was not sustain-
ed.
Other Amendments Lost.
Planks by Assembly Candidate
James. a Hudson progressive, to en-
able communities TO change form of
government and give tax exemption
without the intervention of the legis-
|Iature, home rule measure: giving
fContinued on page y