Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-05-29
Former Congressman An
nounces His Platform and
Stand on National Affairs
TAKES ADVANCED STAND
Favors Constitutional Con-
vention With Equal Repre-
santation from Each County
WANTS REAL JURY REFORM
For Local Self Government
and Power to Take Over
Public Utilities.
WANTS REAL JURY REFORM

Charles N. Fowler, of Elizabeth,
who represented the fifth district in
congress for a number of years, has
thrown his hat into the ring as
candidate for the Republican nomi-
nation for governor. Mr.. Fowler Is
an Independent Republican with de-
cided progressive leanings. He gain
ed nationwide reputation when In
congress he openly broke with Speak
er Cannon, who refused to reappoint
him on the finance committee Of the
House because of the pronounced
views which Mr.. Fowler had regard
Ing the currency, The congressman
was defeated for reelection, but he
has kept himself in the limelight by
the addresses he has made through
out the country on the banking and
currency reform.
In his home city of Elizabeth Mr.
Fowler is the opponent of former
Senator John Kean, the two heading
rival factions. His advent into the
gubernatorial race will probably
mean the reopening of hostilities be-
tween the two men. During the pri-
mary campaign last summer Mr..
Fowler was a Roosevelt follower and
Mr.. Kean was Taft's backer. Fol-
!. lowing the Chicago convention. how
ever, Mr.. Fowler was not SO active,
but because of his Roosevelt sympa-
thies, 1t Is thought he hopes to gain
the vote of the many Roosevelt Re-
publicans who have remained loyal
to the old party. In this respect he
may be considered as one of the pos
sible compromise candidates for the
Republican nomination. His plat
form on which he bases his candi-
dacy is as followsi
81 hold and assert that a platform
is a program for legislative action.
Il hold and assert that q platform
Is a sacred contract between a candi-
date and the people who elect him.
I hold and assert, therefore, that
the people have right to know ex-
actly the position of a candidate upon
any public question affecting their
welfare.
Believing these propositions to be
self evident truths, l desire to lay
before the people OF this state, In
plain and unequivocal language, the
platform upon which I stand as a
candidate for the nomination of Gov
ernor.
Il. l am unqualifiedly In favor of
q Constitutional Conventions
"(a) With equal representation
from each county.
"(b) With district representa-
tion from each county.
"(c) With minority representa-
tion from each county.
"2. l am unqualifedly in favor of
jury reform, true jury reform, not
a cowardly surrender, not a bastard
act. | am in favor Of the act report
ed by the commission which was Gre
ated for that specific purpose, and
was supported by the Republicans
during the recent session of the leg
islature.
"3 I am in favor Of the very high
est possible degree of local self gov
ernment on the part of all municipal
tiles, consistent with those laws that
are essential to the general welfare
Of the state.
a. Since in every grant of power
or franchise by any municipality to
any public service corporation, 1t is
for the advantage of both to create a
monopoly there is necessarily an i'm
piled obligation on the part Of the
public service corporation that all
charges shall be reasonable, just and
equitable and since there can be no
way of determining what charges n
any given case are reasonable with
out knowing what amount of capital
has been actually invested, | am In
favor of the valuation Of all the pub
lie service property in this state to
the end that all the charges for their
services may be made reasonable
iust and equitable.
ut is upon this broad ground that
all the railroads of the United States
are now to be valued.
"5. l am in favor of giving to
every municipality full and adequate
power to decide for itself whether 1t
will acquire or build any public util-
ity whatever.
SO. Believing as l do, that the
primary for the nomination OF can
Adidates is of equal, If not even great
er Importance than the election it
self, l am in favor Of taking only q
half-holiday for each and providing
that unless man votes at the prim-
airy he shall not vote at the ensuing
election, unless he had a reasonable
excuse for his failure to do so.
"If; the Government OF the people
is to be taken away from the few
who have prostituted that Govern
ment to their own selfish ends and is
to be completely restored to the peo-
pie, then the people must attend to
me Government of themselves.
az. I am not In favor os the initi-
ative in the ordinary or popular
meaning of the word, but I am in
favor Of broad constructive refer
endum which will give to the people
the power to pass any bill which the
(Cnntinued ON mage Al