Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-09-20
6. or CANDIDATES
ADOPT PLATFORM
URGING REFORMS
Will Work for Elimination of All
Grade Crossings in
County.

tiers, with Austen Colgate, candidate
for State senator, a platform was
drafted. 1t is as follows;
THE provisions of the new election
law, which postpone until after the
primary the formulating of party plat
forms, make 1t impossible for legis-
lative candidates, before the primary,
to promulgate a platform which Will
not be subject to change at the State
convention to be held on october 3,
1911, at Trenton.
1.-The Regular Republican legislative
candidates believe, however, that the
Republican voters are entitled to fhave
a statement of their views on matters
of public interest and beg to submit
the following;
The Republican organization has al
ways advocated the election of State
Senators and Assemblymen by districts
and has repeatedly urged the adoption
of constitutional amendments to put
this into effect and in the meantime
mas recognized the principle by adher-
ing strictly to imaginary Assembly dis
trict lines in selecting Assembly candt-
dates. We favor the adoption of such
an amendment to the Constitution.
we believe that all dangerous grade
crossings in the county of Essex
should be eliminated at the earliest
possible moment, without expense to
the taxpayers and in accordance with
the charter obligations of the railroad
companies.
at is desirable that the people of
the State of New Jersey should care
fully consider the conditions which ex-
list at the present time. During this
last session of the Legislature a mum
Der of so-called reform measures were
Enacted into law. These measures
We're heralded from one end of the
State to the other as a panacea for
many, if not all, political ills.
The new public utilities law has
given to the Public Utilities Commits
sion all the power which the Legis-
lature can lawfully delegate, including
that of making rates and of fixing,
after investigation, the prices which
may be charged by all public utility
corporations for gas, electric light,
telephone and telegraph service, n
also Pullman and railroad rates n
trolley fares. This commission, a ma
jority of whom are Republicans, is
making a thorough investigation of all
existing conditions for the purpose of
fixing such rates and charges as may
be found to be fair. equitable and just
to the public.
THE initiative, referendum and re-
call has been given an opportunity for
practical demonstration in the Walsh
commission government act, which
said act has been adopted by the voters
- - 1na,A 1n- In~oo it,, a-l "a a@xr
eral smaller municipalities.
Chapter 1926 of the Laws of 1911 au-
thorizes any municipality, if a major
ity of the voters thereof decide to ac-
cept the provisions of the act, to build
and operate a light, heat and power
plant in their own municipality, and
also to sell heat, light and power to all
other municipalities in the State.
THE present election law provides
that all Legislative candidates must
take one of two pledges, the first of
which binds such candidate arbitrarily
and without the exercise of any option
or his part to vote for the candidate
for United States Senator who shal re-
ceive the largest vote of his party in
the State at the primary. All of the
Republican candidates for Legislative
office have signed the above pledge,
and the same is a public record on file
with the county clerk of Essex county.
1.-THE direct primary law has been ex-
tended to include nominations for ev-
cry office within the gift of the people,
including Congressman, Governor, dele
gates to national conventions and the
direct vote of the people at the primary
for their choice of candidates for Pres
ident of the United States. i.
These measures nave all been passed
in the name of reform and it remains
to be seen by a practical demonstra-
ton whether or not they are in fact
reform measures and of benefit to the
people.
If the aforementioned measures or
any other laws are found, after a fair
test to be valuable and beneficial, we
shall insist upon their retention on the
statute books. If these or any other
laws need strengthening we shall en-
deavor to strengthen them. If. after a
fair trial, any laws require amendment
or alteration we shall fearlessly advo-
cate such amendment, and IL any laws
are found, after a full and fair trial,
to be impracticable or detrimental to
the welfare of the people we shall with
equal fearlessness vote for their repeal.
we no Iol ltSl that any HIui
man can with confidence pledge him
self in advance to the retention of any
new and untried legislative enactment
until it has been given a thorough
test.
I'VE believe in representative gov
m and in the rule of the ma
inrity; and if nominated and elected.
we will endeavor 70 serve the best in
terests of the people of the county to
the utmost of our ability"
The platform is signed by Austen Col
gate, candidate for State Senator;
Henry F. Holloway, Frank ]. Murray.
William E. Stage, William NJ, Beard,
Fred Prout, Thomas ]. Smith, Robert
T.. Mitchell. Fred G.. Stickel, jr.: Will
liam G. Weigel, Charles G. LINEN
kohl, Mortimer Lowry and Henry ].
THEM.
CHARLES QUINN OUTING.