Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-12-10
LEGISLATORS NOT OBLIGATED.

~ O~VERNOR-ELECT WILSON has thrown his influence TO ut
Mt election of James Z. MARITIME for the United States senator
shin. In doing so he has fallen into many errors. His con-
illusions are illogical. He misstates the doctrines of his, party,
and he ofends against the requirements of courtesy which should
direct the conduct of gentlemen. His main cry Is "a he preiei'
ehce law of 1907 must be upheld. That is not a law. IL Is only
n plan to evade the Constitution. The plan is composed of two
parts. One is the vote of the people. The other IS the oohgatlon
to be assumed by the legislative candidate. The parts ae inter
dependent. The plan requires the action OF the voters u Oh .e
candidates. In the present case, some of the people e4pFesseu a
preference. The majority did not. But the legislative candidates
refused to enter into the scheme. They would not be oouno. Inc
plan not having been adopted by all the parties, it of necessity
fails. No duty arises, for none has been assumed. The situation
is exactly as if the preference law had not been passed. why
then, does Governor-elect Wilson say that "it is clearly the duty
of every Democratic legislator who would keep faith with the law
of the State and with the ayowed principles of his party to vote
for Mr.. MARITIME" A desire to defeat a prospective candidate is one
reason, but the hope to curry favor with what he conceives to be
the popular whim is the main inducement. He is under no mis-
apprehension as to the principles of his party. He is familiar with
its doctrines. He knows that the Constitution provides how sena'
tors shall be chosen. He is aware that the incoming legislators
must take oath to uphold the Constitution, yet he misstates both
his party doctrine and the duty of the legislators. The Demo
cratic platform of 1907 declared for the election of United States
senators by popular vote. The platform of 1910 does not. The
latter document declares in favor of submitting to the citizens of
the State the question as to whether or/not the Constitution in
this regard should be amended so as to permit of election by
popular vote. One is a clear expression of preference. The other
expresses no view, except that the people should be given an oppor-
tunity to decide. The latter document received the unqualified
approval of Governor-elect Wilson before its adoption. 1t was
upon that platform he was elected. And that platform was
adopted subsequent to the primary choice. Governorelect Wilson
had a hand in its making. If his present views are sincere, why
were they not asserted then? The claw of the State" and the
"avowed principles of his party" which the Governorelect now
creates. impose no duty to be observed by the Legislators. The
Democratic members of the incoming Legislature, in effect, said to
the voters before election, 81 will not be bound by the preference
law How, then, could a duty arise hereunder or the legislators
be guilty of breaking faith where no pledge had been given? The
obligation which they must assume is to uphold the Constitution.
The duty which they must perform is to represent all the people:
The voice they should hearken to is the voice of the great body of
the people, not the false note of the latest advocate who seems to
have joined the agencies which have always sought to disrupt the
Democrat party.