New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-10-26
WOODROW WILSON REPLIES
New Jersey Candidate Answers
G. |. Records Questions.
DEN0UNCES BOSS SYSTEM
His Letter a Shock to Machine
Democrats-For Direct
Primary Extension.


The reply of DR.. Woodrow Wilson, the
Democratic nominee for Governor of New
Jersey. to George L. Record, of Jersey City.
in their letter writing debate, was made
public yesterday. 1t pleased the Progress
sives and shocked the machine Democrats,
as IL was an emphatic denunciation of the
boss system
The boss system" Mr.. Wilson wrots.
| constitutes the most dangerous condition
| in the public life of our state and nation
to-day. / should deem myself forever dis
| graced should l. in even the slightest de-
gree, cooperate in any such system or any
such transaction as you describe in your
characterization of the boss system"
DR.. Wilson favors a public utilities COM
mission. with full power to fix just and
reasonable rates. that the physical property
of each public utility corporation devoted
to public use should be valued by the state,
but the tax should be paid locally; that he
wishes a better primary law, and that it
| should be extended to the selection of can
didates for party nominations for Gov
ernor, Congressman and delegates to ne
tional conventions, election of United States
Senators by popular vote, distribution of
ballots at the polling places. appointment
4 OF election officers b. the court or an i'm
partial agency. drastic corrupt practices
act, an employers liability act and repeal
of the Hillery maximum tax law.
DR.. Wilson in his letter repeated the ques-
tons asked by Mr.. Record and answered
each Those relating to the boss system
follow:
Boss System Notorious"
DO you admit that the boss system ex-
lists as l have described Ii? If SO. how do
you propose TO abolish it?'' OF course, l
admit IT, Its existence is notorious. l have
! made it my business for many years to
| observe and understand that system. and
| hate It as thoroughly I understand it.
| tenn is bipartisan that it constitutes the
most dangerous condition in the public life
| of our state and nation to-day" and that
| II has virtually, for the time being, de
| stroyed representative government and in
| its place set up government of privilege
would propose to abolish it by the above
| reforms. by the election TO office of men
| who will refuse to submit to it and bend
| all their energies to break it up, and by
| pitiless publicity.
I'm referring to the board of guardians
| do you mean such Republican leaders as
! do the relations to the special interests OF
! such leaders differ from the relations to
the same interests of such DemocratiG
refer to the men you name. They differ
from the others in this, that they are in
| control of the government of the state
while the others are not and cannot be II
| the present Democratic ticket is elected:
Il join you in condemning the Repubi-
can board Of guardians. 1 have been fight
| ing them for years. and shall continue TO
fight them. VIII you JON me in denounc-
the same political system? If not, why
! not?'' Certainly Will join you or any one
! every one. of either party. who attempts
such Outrages against the government ana
| public morality.
/ You say the Democratic party has been
! reCrganized and the Republican party has
not Can political party be reorganized
without changing either its leaders or It's
| and their political character? VIII you
claim that either of these events has taken
place in the Democratic party? If yes,
! upon what do you base that concuson|
/ l do not remember saying that the Demo-
cratic party has been reorganized L re-
member saying that it was seeking re
| organization, and therefore at the
threshold of new era said this because
it is seeking to change it's Leaders, and will
obviously change them If successful In
this election. If I am elected l shall under-
stand that I am chosen leader of my party
and the direct representative OF the whole
people in the conduct of the government
All Of this was distinctly understood at the
proposed, AMI there has never been the
slightest intimation from any quarter 10
the contrary since. The RepubIcan party
is not seeking to change its leaders, ana
therefore, is not even seeking reorganlza-
ton.
democrats for Progress"
is there any organized movement in the
Democratic party in this state which cor
responds to the Progressive RepuphGan
movement OF which you have faVoraoly
sDoken?'' 7 understand the present plat
form and the present principal nomlhdlloiis
of the Democratic party in this state to be
such an organized movement 1t Will De
more fully organized II those nominees ar
elected This IS as l interpret 1t, the spirit
of the whole remarkable Democratic revival
which we are witnessing not only IN Ne"
Jersey, but in many other states. ii,
Before l pass TO the next queSJiGni ~l,.
you not permit me to frame one which you
have not asked, but which | am sure mes
implied in those I have just answered?
Won wish to know what my relations Would
he with the Democrats whose power ana
Influence YOU fear should be elected Gov
ernor. particularly in such important mat
hills and | am very glad to tell you. II
elected. ! shall not. either in the matter OF
appointments to office or assent 10 lesIS,La-
ton or in shaping any part OF me poltCS
of my administration. submit TO the dlcia-
ton Of any person or persons, speclal IN
terest or organization ] Will always WEI
come advice and suggestions from any cltl-
zen whether boss, leader, organization
man or plain citizen. and ! shan constantly
seek the advice of influential and dlslnter-
ested men representative of their com
munitieS and disconnected from pontCai
tions and all advice will be considered on
their merits. and no additional weight VIII
be given to any mans advice or suggestion
hecaCse of his exercising or suppos1nS that
he exercises some sort of political influence
or control I should deem myself forever
disgraced should I. even In the slightest
degree. cooperate in any such system or
any such transactions as yop describe ,.seo, IN
your chara cterization OF the boss system
regard myself as pledged TO the reEenera-
ton of the Democratic party which ! have
forecast above.
viii you agree publicly to call upon
the ReulIbIican and Democratic candidates
for the LEGISLATURE to pledge themselves
in writing prior to election In favor OF such
Of The foregoing reforms az You personally
favor If not why not?" will not. be
cause I think ii would be most unbecoming
I'm me to do so. That is the function Of the
voters in the several counties. Let them
test and judge the men and choose those
who are sincere.
PRINCETON JUNIORS WIN