Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-12-27

peared in the political arena, some untried man. Stating that the
recent primary was a farce and that 1T would be a disgrace to the
State to send James E. MARITIME to the Senate, he asked me to sit down
with him and agree upon a candidate who would be acceptable to him
and to me.
How it will scar the doctors soul to have his real view as to the
primary and of the man whom he now lauds for Senatorial honors
brought home to him with such painful accuracy! He will try to
disavow it but it is true, and in his heart he knows it to be true.
Dr. Wilson'S position is this: He is unalterably committed to Mr..
MARITIME. The States interest, our business necessities, the welfare
of our wage-earners, the sacredness of our Constitutional must be
sacrificed in order that the feeble primary vote may be held to be the
peoples voice. He says IT Is the duty of the legislators n Wouio
keep faith with the laws of the State and with the avowed principles
of their party to vote for Mr.. MARITIME. The law of the State tic which
he refers is the preference act of 1907. There is no other law in THIS
regard. The legislators to whom he now sends appeals and threats
refused to be bound by the act. The people by their votes on election
Gov Summarized them Yet the Governor-elect now seeks to create a
duty for them under this act greater than the duty which they must
assume under the Constitution. He knows that the act in question
is binding upon no one. 1t merely allows certain things to De done.
He knows also that the Legislators made no pledges under this law
He has knowledge of the fact that only 48, 449 voters expressed a PREF
erence for Mr.. MARITIME and that 2l3,275 voters gave their support to
the legislators who refused to be bound. Knowing ali this DR.. Wilson
assumes his present attitude. The conclusion is inevitable. He is not
unfolding the law. He is misstating it.
Upon what ground does he base his sweeping assertion that any
member of the Legislature who fails to vote for Mr.. MARITIME Will
"hazard shame and utter discredit?' Every candidate had an oppor-
tunity to register a promise TO vote for Mr.. MARITIME. The great mum
Der of those who deliberately refused to vote for Mr.. MARITIME and
withheld for themselves complete freedom in the choice of a senator
received the voters support and now constitute the Democraus ma
jority on joint ballot.
How "a any fair-minded man truthfuIy. or honorab1y impute
shame and utter discredit' to a member elected under such croum-
stances BY WnaI OHCelNdDIS lOSiS vi NOAS VI hoi"S
full threatening of the legislators be justified? Is it right? Is it fair :
Is it honorable? take the position that it is an aFront which should
be resented, and submit my position to the intelligence, honest )uag
ment and sense of fair play of the American people.
DR.. Wilson speaks of the "avowed principles of the party with
respect to the election of Senators. Such principles are stated IN the
platform upon which DR.. Wilson ran and which he explicitly approved
That platform provides as follows: I'VE insist n : that our
citizens should be given an opportunity forthwith to pass upon a con-
situtional amendment providing for the election OF united o'a'es
Senators by popular vote"
If this platform enunciated any principle, it was that the people
should decide whether a change should be made in the method OF
selecting Senators. DR.. Wilson approved of this principle before It's
adoption. He ratified it when he appeared before the convention.
He upheld it during a long campaign. He now seeks to dscaro IT,
The Democratic convention was held subsequent to the primary. Its
result as known by the delegates and by Candidate Wilson. Not a
voice was then raised TO state that such result committed the party
TO ANYTHING. On the contrary a principle was adopted, with VI. VIII
sons aid, which rejected the primary act
Again, what justification is there for the insult to the legislators
contained in the statement that a departure from the avoWeo prn-
cples of the party hazarded shame and utter discredit?
The issue here is not leadership. 1t is not the political supremacy
of one man.. 1t is an issue which should rally to its support every
man who has the interests of his party at heart and every citizen who
would safeguard our countrys government. The real issue is that the
sacredness of our Federal Constitution may be upheld. The duty OF
the legislators as TO the choice of a Senator is there defined. Until
amended by the people the Constitution must be respected. Washing
ton, in his farewell address, gave us this warning, which seems to hit
the present case with prophetic accuracy:
THE basis of our political systems is the right of the
people to make and alter their constitutions of government
but the Constitution which shall at any time exist, till changed
by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacred
w obligatory upon all. 4 = = If in the opinion of the po-
pie the distribution or modification of the constitutional pow.
err be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an
amendment in the way which the Constitution desgnates. But
let there be n change by usurpahon, for though this in one
instance may be the instrument of good it is the customary
weapon by which free governments are destroyed"