Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1913-07-08
lone MAN KILLED AND ANOTHER
SERIOUSLY HURT BY EXPLOSION
AT BAKEL|TE COMPANYS PLANT
OSBORNE HOT
AFTER COLBY
Issues Challenge for Joint
Debate Throughout State,

Edmund B. Osborne, who is a
candidate for the Progressive nomi-
nation for governor, upon his return
yesterday from q weeks motoring
trip, sent letter to Everett Colby,
the only other Progressive candidate
for governor, challenging him to a
series of Joint debates. Mr.. Osborne
proposes that they campaign togeth-
er, address all meetings Jointly.
dividing the time and each paying
half of the necessary expenses. Mr..
Osbornes letter to Mr.. Colby follows:
July Z. 1913.
Hon. Everett Colby,
Newark, N. j.
My Dear Mr.. Colby
AS you have announced yourself a
candidate for the Progressive nomi-
nation for governor of New Jersey, |
propose that you and l campaign the
state together, addressing all meet
ings Jointly. in order to give the
Progressive voters the best possible
opportunity to judge between the
policies you propose for the party,
and the policies / propose, and to
determine which of uB they prefer
for their standard bearer In the
forthcoming campaign.
While you have not announced
your platform, I assume that 1t will
be opposed to mine in important
essentials. A few weeks previous to
my announcement you were quoted
in the newspapers as saying that you
would not, under any circumstances,
"be candidate;;" and in the Newark
News, of May 6, you describe a con-
versation with me as follows: "Only
last Friday / lunched with Mr.. Os-
borne. He told me he wanted
to be candidate for governor and
assured him that | would support
him with the greatest pleasure.
told him | did not want to be a can
didate and would not be, unless the
leaders are practically unanimous In
the belief that | should run" | do
not regard this as putting you under
any obligation to support me-you
had a perfect right to change your
mind, but, as you did not decide to
become a candidate until after | an
nounced my platform, | assume that
you have now become a candidate,
not because you are opposed to me
personally, but because you are op-
posed to important features of the
platform l stand on. l accept that
issue. I invite you to debate it with
mo Jointly throughout the state. and
let the Progressive voters decide
which platform the party shall adopt.
The platform l have proposed for
the Progressive party is not mere
vote-catching, win-quick device, but
Is an effort to translate our up-to-
date experience with governmental
problems into political action that
will definitely promote the general
welfare. If the statesmanshlp OF the
Progressive party is TO avail, 1t must
address itself to curing, not merely
palliating, the evils which flow from
the inequitable distribution OF wealth
In this country. In the program l
present for the consideration OF the
Progressive voters, privilege is In
dicted as wholly responsible on the
one hand for the dangers in the
swollen, unearned fortunes, and on
the other, for the disgrace OF the
widespread, undeserved and hopeless
poverty among the people who do the
work of this country; and this pro
gram proposes not to palter with the
regulation of privilege but to destroy
every form of privilege, whereby the
few take toll from the earnings of
the many.
maintain that two propositions
in this program will lay the axe at
the very root of the tree OF privilege.
To abolish taxes on buildings and
personal property will do more to-
restore equality of opportunity and
destroy privilege than can be accom-
plished by any other single means.
1t will break the power of every trust
that depends upon the monopoly of
natural resources and will make land
easily available to millions to whom
1t is now impossible. The public
ownership of public utilities will stop
the mulcting Of many millions an
nually from the people to pay divi-
dends on watered stock and bonds, |
will wipe out the most prolific source
of political corruption. and Will end
the power of great trusts to ln1ure
and ruin their smaller competitors
through secret advantages In trans
portation. i
AS you are aware the remedies
propose for the trust evil are notl
original with me; the proposition to
permit municipalities, after refer i
endum, to exempt personal property
and buildings from taxation, and tol
acquire and operate public utilities |
was included In the declaration OF
principles which was adopted prac-
tically unanimously after series OF
several of which you
attended, in which many representa-
tive Progressive leaders of the state
propose that you and I campaign
together In every county, addressing
all meetings Jointly, dividing the
time at each meeting, and dividing
equally the necessary expenses.
AS this is matter of public inter-
est, am giving copies OF this letter
TO the press.
I await your reply and will defer
further plans for my campaign.
Sincerely yours,
EDMUND B. OSBORNE.
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