Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-10-02
DEMOCRATS IN
fine SHAPE
Adopt Platform and Select
Electors at Convention.

Trenton, Oct. 2:-The following
presidential electors were chosen al
the Democratic state convention yes
terday:
At-large-John w. Wescott, Cam
den, and Robert S. Hudspeth, Hud-
son. o.
First district, Joseph r. Newton,
Gloucester; Second, Thomas II,
Birch, Burlington; Third, Henry S.
Terhune, Monmouth; Fourth,
George M. La Monte, Somerset;
Fifth, Lucius T. Russell, Union;
Sixth, John B. Cavaganaro, Bergen;
Seventh, John Hinchliffe, Passaic;
Eighth, Matthew It. Cronin, Hudson;
Ninth, Edward M. Waldron, Essex;
Tenth, Edwin A. Bradley, Essex;
Eleventh, John Ryan, Hudson;
Twelfth, Ernest j. Heppenheimer,
Hudson.
The following platform was adopt
ed:
"In seeking again the suffrage
and support of our fellow-citizens of
New Jersey it is proper that we
should briefly indicate the policies
underlying our party platform, to-
| l. VII a VI AOW ~
past pledges have been kept. The
test of future conduct is never bet
ter measured than by past perform
ances, and in setting forth the rec
ord of the Democrats of New Jersey.
We are confident in the declaration
that never before in the history of
the State has so large a number OF
progressive and beneficial legislative
enactments been passed as have
been passed during the last two
years under the administration OF
the Democratic party. The efforts
of the Democratic party for the past
two years, in effecting reforms OBJ
viously necessary and long desired,
upon which opinion in the State had
for many years been centered, con-
stitutes a record of achievements
without parallel in the political his
tory of the State"
After calling attention to the pro-
gressive legislation of the past two
years, the platform says:
Under the progressive policy of
the Democratic party the govern
ment of New Jersey has been made
responsive to the win of the people
of the State, and the gates of politi-
cal opportunity have been opened
wide to the humblest Of our citizens;
the c~orrupting and blighting inf1u-
ence of money in connection with
elections has been greatly lessened;
the relation between employers and
employees have been improved by
humane legislation, and laws safe
guarding the lives of workmen have
been enacted.
1.-THE Democratic party, in owen
ton assembled, pledges itself to the
continuance of these policies, and to
that end we propose during the
coming year to set ourselves to the
accomplishment of the following OBJ
jects:
81. We believe in unfolding in
all its vigor the fundamental prinei-
pie Of the direct primary act, better
known as the Geran law, and we
pledge ourselves to oppose, and il
possible to prevent, the passage of
any act which shall in any way tend
to impair its efficiency in operation.
"2. We favor the election of Unit
| ed States senators by a direct vote of
the people, and we pledge ourselves
to the support of the pending amend
ments TO the federal Constitution to
that effect.
80 We believe in the speedy adj
ministration Of the criminal laws of
the state, and the separation from
| politics Of the instrumentalities for
drawing petit and grand ~juries, 30
that the possibility of political and
other improper influence shall be
| speedily eliminated.
~ Whara nnrtojn vary i'm nnTtQnt
reforms advocated by earnest bodies
of citizens cannot be effected in this
state without constitutional amend
ment, therefore we favor the cleo
ton. by popular vote. under such
regulations as may be provided by
the legislature, of a convention for
the consideration Of all needful
amendments to the constitution of
the state.
So. The corrupt practices act.
passed during the first year of Gov
ernor Wilson's term, designed to
eliminate the purchasing power of
money in politics. we intend to
maintain in all it's vigor, believing
that the freedom of the voter in ex-
ercising his suffrage should be a
matter of careful regulation, and
tAdt liz III PublASiLJ Linz
campaign expenses, together with a
speedy and accurate accounting after
all primaries and elections, will tend
to minimize the possibility of cor
rupting influences and render the
contest for office as free as possible
under existing political conditions"
Three planks pledge efforts to
throw open public school buildings
as social centres; for the home rule
for municipalities and the simplifica-
ton of court practice.
"We pledge our party to the es-
Establishment and extension of the ag-
ricultural and forestry schools in
rural sections and to the continu-
ance of the industrial and vocational
schools in the cities.
80. We believe in the immedi-.
ate reimbursement of our system of
taxation, and to that end favor such
changes in our laws in regard to this
matter as will provide a nor salts
factory means OF assessing and
equalizing taxes"
The next two planks favor re-
vision of the corporation laws and
the conservation of natural re-
| sources.
"13. We pledge our party to the
continued support of our Public
| Utilities Commission. tOpether with