Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-10-05
THE TWO PLATFORMS

The usual amount of hot air and surplus verbiage is 20
be found in the platforms of both political parties adopted at
the conventions held in Trenton Tuesday. Just why the
party leaders take SO much time to draw up such preten-
tious documents filled with promises and pledges half of
which they do not pretend to keep, is hard to understand
except that they still hope to fool the people in the same
old way. But they must realize that the people are getting
wiser every year. 1t is doubtful if one-tenth of the voters
will bother reading the platforms as adopted.
However, custom requires some form of a declaration
of principles whether the people believe what is said or not
and the pointing with pride at the achievements of their own
party and the condemnation of everything done by the OPP
ponents are taken as a matter of course. Getting down to
concrete facts, both parties prove inconsistent. However,
there is much to be praised, if one could be assured that the
pledges would be fulfilled after election.
The Democrats, after they get through with their long
recital of the sins of commission and sins of omission on
the part of the Republican party, which can be put aside as
so much blabber, present an idea for the control of public
utilities that is worthy of serious consideration. In fact,
the Democrats are on more certain grounds than the Repub-
Iicans in this respect as the Republicans look to federal legis-
lation to remedy the condition that now deprives the Public
Utility Commission of its rate-making power, whereas the.
Democrats propose state legislation. They get down to the
very foundation of the matter when they would make the
terms of a franchise absolutely binding regardless of subse-
quent legislation.
At the same time, the Democrats invite ridicule when
thy declare that "the first and most important thing is that
the commission Public Utility Commission) shall be COM
posed of men of high character, men competent to grasp
the problems and courageous enough to decide them justly
With the proper kind Of commission, such as we now have
settled, rules for valuations can easily be applied and prompt
and just decision reached"
But the credit for the proper kind of a Public Utility
Commission "such as we now have" is due rather to the
present Republican legislature than to Governor Edwards
whose administration the Democrats have got to stand be-
hind. 1t is well known that the governor, after ousting the.
old Public Utility Commission, attempted to appoint a lot of
UHaird rate politicians to fill the vacancies. The men whose
names were sent to the Republican senate for confirmation
were VIGOROUSLY incompetent. The Republicans rejected
them and the governor was compelled to name the present
board to which the Democrats now point with pride.
Again. the Democratic declaration sin favor of the just
and honest enforcement of the provisions of our constitu-
ton and of our laws so long as they are upon the statute
\books' in the matter of prohibition, is a Joke. The consdtu-
kion now forbids the manufacture or sale OF intoxicating
ouors. The federal and state laws now fix anything over
Ne -half of one per cent. alcohol as intoxicating. Yet the
esent Democratic governor instead of doing anything to
orce these provisions of the constitution and laws mas
the source of greatest encouragement to bootleggersI
aw violators. Not the slightest evidence can the Demo-
Rnroduce to show that they, as a party, have done any
ito Justly and honestly enforce the prohibition laws
in their platform they say should be done.
s ON the matter of the state highways where both
re weak. The Republicans pledge themselves to
ifcations and competition for all road paving. But
licans have promised this for the past two years,
bill was introduced in the legislature modelled
WIS in states where the greatest progress is being
khwav Improvement. This bill was opposed by
ayement interest and it died in committee in
hTorts of Senator Parry of Essex county, to gel
kepublicans cannot escape the responsibility
\bilIA And if they have broken their promise
be pas years in this regard, what ground is there
elieyind t they mean what they say this time? The
blicans \ have a hard time convincing the people a
time.
But the DeRocrats also promise open specifications
competition and, at the same time, praise the present
yay commission which was named by Governor Ed
n after ousting the old commission, and which is packed
I'm men subservient to the patent pavement ring. If the
bmocrats believe that competition is so good, why does not
nresent commission secure competition or, at least, re-
ase TO paw the excessive prices demanded by the patent
avement people in New Jersey when just across the Della
are river in Pennsylvania the same material is being fur
shed at a much lower price?
After all, the fulfilling of pledges made by the respec-
We parties will depend largely ON the calibre of men sent to
8 legislature. AS far as Middlesex. is concerned, both par
b have nominated high class candidates. Much will de-
md on their independence after they reach Trenton, how
yer, where legislation is pretty much cut and dried by the
Psa behind before it re ahs' the floor Of the legislature.