Bridgeton pioneer., 1913-10-09


work and attend to the business of the
state rather than spend my time on
the Chautauqua or political circuit.
Perhaps, a personal word is called
for on this occasion. l cannot fully
express my appreciation of the trust
imposed upon me in this hour by the
Republican voters ] have no illu-
sions as to the situation. / am not en-
tering upon an easy pathway, but the
fact that in this crisis / have been
chosen to do battle is an inspiration
which awakens my best energies and
stimulates me to dedicate them faith
fully and earnestly to the cause. l
have had a fortunate experience in
public life in an age when success is
considered a virtue and when failure
is regarded almost as a disgrace. |
do not deny that have been urged
not to jeopardize that record by going
again to the front. 1t is a good thing
to be on the winning side; it is some
times unpleasant to be on the losing
side, but it is cowardly thing not to
on one side or the other. One can
not always be a fair weather" sol
dier. One cannot always be in the
front when the cheers of victory are
heard and retire to a place of safety
when the battle lines are hard pressed.
The party with which l was affiliated,
honored me in the days of its pros
perity, | cannot honorably desert it
now when it needs champions who are
not afraid to fight its battles.
The Peoples Fight.
The present situation appeals to the
best that is in me. 1t is not my fight
alone; it is yours. 1t is not ours alone;
1t is the peoples. If in this campaign
we are able to perfect a party organ
zation which stands for the highest
ideals, that typifies the progressive
and constructive spirit, that avoids
selfish reaction on the one hand and
unwise radicalism on the other, we
shall have established party of safety
and of progress and shall have brought
new hope to nation that is menaced
with quack nostrums and anarchistic
doctrines. If we hesitate in this cam
paign because of timid doubt, demorai-
Eation and rout will ensue and make
the fulfllment of our hopes all the
more difficult, if not impossible. What
ever Is accomplished this year will be
a benefit to the candidates Of success
sive years.
There are some battles that are
worth fighting because of the great is
sues involved. If the Republican par
ty should carry New Jersey this fall
it will be the turn of the tide. 1t will
attract the attention of the nation, and
New Jersey will be the Little Round
Top in the Gettysburg of Republican
ism. Just as in the Revolutionary
war, with its Princeton and its Red
Bank and its Trenton. New Jersey
was the central battle-ground that
turned the tide, the. battle of this
state this year may be as decisive
in the settlement of the political for
tunes Of the nation. While l am
making no boast, the trend is I'M
mistakably in our direction. The large
Republican vote in the primary cleo
tion in this state, the result in Michi-
gan, in st. Louis, in Maine, are all in
dicative that the country is turning
again to a new Republicanism to settle
the problems with which the nation
has been struggling.
A Program of Reform.
We have had a long period of agita-
ton, and the country is tired of con-
tinued strife and accusation. Agita-
ton has done its work. Now is the
time for remedy. Let us offer to the
people program of achievement rath-
er than an entertainment of political
quarrels-a program of reform rather
than mere talk-a plan of remedy rath-
er than a prospectus of speculative is
sues. The tariff question is still in
the throes Of politics, and the Demo-
cratic party has made its adjustment
dependent upon caucus with partisan
instead of scientific adjustment as
promised. New Jersey is an Industrial
state Her wage earners are a source
of her prosperity. We are willing to
accept fair tariff but not a tariff
based upon the principle that protec-
ton is unconstitutional
Corporation Problem.
The corporation problem also is still
unsettled and will remain unsettled so
long as 1t is made the football of poll
tics and so long as political caucuses
take the place of open deIiberation and
debate A corporation is simply an
other name for the joint energy OF
1000 or 5000 or any other number of
partners In an enterprise whose stock
and bonds are simply evidence of their
partnership interest There are mil
lions of such stockholders and bond
holders in this country, part of the
rank and file of the people, and they
have right to have their property
protected by constructive legislation
against corporate abuse and misman-
agement. Industry and enterprise are