The Washington herald., 1910-12-09

GOvernOr-elect Declares Him
to Be Unfit.
WILL SUPPORT MARITIME
Statement by PrincetOnian Will
Precipitate Big Break.

4ttulOus N - DeC. h.-AJOV--ttcct
Woodrow Wilson crossed the Rubicon in
politics tonight by declaring that James
+. MARITIME should be elected 10 succeed
John Kean in the United States Senate
and that If James Smith. jr., were elected
he would not go 10 Washington as the
representative OF the people of New Jer-
sey. His declaration was in the form Of
at his home in Princeton after its con-
tents had been carefully considered. The
statement follows:
THE question who should be chosen
by the incoming legislature OF the State
to occupy the seat in the Senate Of the
United States which viii presently be
made vacant at the expiration of the
term of Mr. Kean is OF such vital inn
portance 10 the people OF the State both
as a question of political good faith and
as a question of genuine representation
in the Senate. that I feel constrained to
express my own opinion with regard to
it in terms which cannot be misunder-
stood. had hoped that it would not be
necessary for me to speak. but it is
In Delicate Position.
'I realize the deIicacy of taking any
part in the discussion Of the matter. AS
governor of New Jersey, l shall have no
part in the choice Of a Senator. Legally
speaking, it is not my duty even 10 give
advice with regard TO the choice. But
there are other duties besides legal
duties The recent campaign has put me
in an unusual position. l offered, If
elected. 10 be the political spokesman and
adviser of the people.
.. Il even asked the voters who did not
care TO make their choice OF governor
upon that understanding not to vote for
me. / believe that the choice was made
upon that understanding. and / cannot
escape the responsibility involved
have no desire 10 escape it, II is my
duty TO say, with a full sense of the
peculiar responsibility of my position
what I deem it 10 be the obligation of
the legislature 10 do in this gravely i'm
p0rtant matter.
Il even asked the voters who did not
sey do not desire Mr.. James Smith. jr.
10 be sent again to the Senate. If he
should be, he will not go as their repre-
sentative. The only means I have of
knowing whom they desire 10 represent
them is the vote al the recent primaries
where 1000 Democratic voters, a major
ity of the whole number who voted at
the primaries, declared their preference
for Mr.. MARITIME, of Union County For
me that vote is conclusive. l think il
should be for every member of the leg
islature. Absolute good faith in dealing
with the people. an unhesitating fidelity
to every principle avowed. is the highest
law OF political morality under a consti-
tutional government
Must Keep Faith.
THE Democratic party has been given
a majority in the legislature; the Dem
ocratic voters of the State have express
ed their preference under a law advocat-
ed and supported by the opinion of their
party, declared alike in platforms and in
enacted law. 1t is clearly the eCty of
every Democratic legislator who would
keep faith with the law of the State and
with the avOwed principles of his party
to vote for Mr.. MARITIME 1t is my duty
to advocate his election, to, urge it by
every honorable means at my COM
mand. WOODROW WILSON"
Mr.. Wilson's unqualified declaration
for MARITIME followed a conference he had
with Mr.. Smith at the latter's home in
Newark on Tuesday evening, at which
the governor elect urged Mr.. Smith to
remove himself from the contest and
to come out in support of MARITIME. when
argument and persuasion failed 10 move
Mr. Smith, Mr.. Wilson informed him
that unless he retired as a candidate
within forty-eight hours he would come
out publicly for the election Of MARITIME.
Statement "A Surprise.
Even though the attitude OF the COVER
nor-elect was known, it was scarcely an
ticlpated that he would go so far as TO
say that the people of New Jersey did
NOT wish Mr. Smith to represent them in
the Senate, bat that they did wish Mar
tine. IL had been generally recognized
that the primaries, in so far as the Dem
ocratic candidates for the United States
Senate were involved, were a farce.
That the Wilson statement means a
final break between the governor-elect
and the wing of the Democratic party
represented by Mr.. Smith SEEM. appar-
ent Mr.. Wilson viii have the adyan-
tage OF being governor. with all the
power and prestige Of that office. on
the other hand, he lacks experience in
practical politics, in which Mr. Smith is
an expert without a peer in the State.
In addition, there is not a county in
which the Democratic organization does
not owe debt TO ex-senator Smith. who
was the supporter of his party in its
darkest years.