Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-12-09
WOODROW WILSON
ON SENATORSH|P
OF new JERSEY
Tells Legislature 1t Must Adopt
the Governors Personal
Candidate.

PRINCETON, Dec. y. - Governor
elect woodrow Wilson gave out last
night a statement in regard 10 the
Deh1ooratic United States Senatorship.
1t takes the ground that James z.
Martfne, tho Governor elects choice for
the SenataTship, must be elected by
the Legislat1fa. and can have no other
choice The stktepaent declares that
the Governor -elect fs@epposed, as Gov
ernor. to former United States Sena-
tor James Smith, jr. Ths letter fol-
lows.
THE question who should be Chosen
by the incoming Legislature of this
State to occupy the seat In the Senate
of the United States which will pres
emily be made vacant by the expiration
of the term OF Mr.. Kean is of such
vital Importance TO the people of the
State. both as q question of political
good faith and as question of genuine
representation in the Senate, that
feel constrained. to express my own
opinion with regard to it in terms
which cannot be misunderstood.
s'I had hoped that it would not be
necessary for me TO speak, but 1t ID.
! realize the delicacy OF taking any
part In the discussion Of the matter.
AS Governor of New Jersey / shall
have no part in the choice of Sen
stor. Legally speaking 1t is not my
duty even TO give advice with regard
TO the choice, but there are other du-
ties besides legal duties. The recent
campaign has put me in an unusual
position. I offered, If elected, to be
Il. ND od Of
the people. / even asked those who
did not care 70 make their choice OF
Governor upon that understanding not
to vote for me. ] believe that the
choice was made upon that understand
ing and 1 cannot escape the respon-
sibility involved 1 have no desire to
escape it, 1t is my duty to say, with
a full sense OF the peculiar. response
bility of my position, what / deem IT
to be the obligation Of the Legislature
to do in this gravely important matter.
IT know that the people of New Jer-
sey do not desire Mr. James Smith. jr.,
to be sent again TO the Senate. If he
should be he will not go as their repre-
sentative The only means l have of
knowing WHOM they do desire to repre-
sent them is the vote at the recent
primaries where $4,000 Democratic
voters, a majority of the whole num-
ber who voted at the primaries, de-
clared their preference for Mr.. Mar
tine, of Union County. For f11e that
vote is conclusive. / think it should
be for every member Of the LegislA-
ture. Absolute good faith in dealing
with the people. an unhesitating fidelity
to every principle avowed. is the high
est law of political morality under q
constitutional government.
"The Democratic party has been
given majority in the Legislature;
the Democratic voters of the State
have expressed their preference under
a law advocated and supported by the
opinion OF their party, declared alike in
platforms and in enacted law. 1t is
clearly the duty of every Democratic
legislator who would keep faith with
the law OF the State and with the
avowed principles OF his party 10 vote
for Mr.. MARITIME. 1t is my duty to
advocate his election, TO urge 1t by
every honorable means at my COM
mand. WOODROW WILSON"