Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-12-19
UNCLE JOE STEPS
ON WILSON'S NECK
OVER NEW POLICY
GOvernOr-elect's Plan for Estate
Leadership" Is Criticised by
Speaker OF House.
Especial to the Newark start


PHILADELPHIA. Dec. 19.-"Uncle
Joe" Cannon. speaker Of the national
House, no doubt, noticed the threat Of
Governor-elect Woodrow Wilson that
he intended to Jump on some peoples
neck" for at the fourth annual dinner
Of the New Jersey Society Of Penn
sylvania here Saturday night he made
q critical and sarcastic attack upon
New Jerseys chief executive-elect.
Criticises state Leadership.
The speaker lambasted DR.. Wilson
because of his new policy of State
leadership and his efforts to whip the
Legislature into selecting James e.
MARITIME for United States senator.
The particular feature of Governor
elect Wilson's policy which aroused
Speaker Cannon was his assumption
of the leadership of his party and of
the Legislature, In opposing the return
of former United States Senator James
Smith, jr, to the United States Senate.
He deplored the action of those who
would usurp, without constitutional au-
thority, the rights of the Legislature,
to choose whom they saw fit to repre-
sent the State in the national Congress.
With ironical references to the mad
scramble for primary reform. the ten
dency born of the present revolutionary
spirit, to look to Governors and Presi-
dents for action which should be taken
by the ~law-making bodies, he assailed
the stand taken by DR.. Wilson in the
S~enatorship fight.
Cannon Reviews Statement.
Here we have a man." he said, who
declares in a public statement to the
electors that he would oppose to the
extent of his power and influence the
election of a former United States Sem
ator to the same office this year, and
would insist (mark the world upon the
election of a man who, practically
alone, submitted his claims to the MEM
bers of his party at the primary, and
who received less thar one-fourth the
votes of the party as recorded at the
next election. Remember that he says
this, in spite of the fact that only n
member of the Legislature Is pledged
to follow the result of that primary,
which in itself is not compulsory, but
only optional with the Legislature"
Mr.. Wilson'S Interpretation of the
constitution that would allow the Gov
ernor not only to recommend leg1sla-
ton, but to frame 1t and to use all the
influence and power of his office 10
force It unchanged through the Legis-
lature. came in for a hard rap from
the Speaker.
whats the use of having a House Of
Representatives and a Senate at all"
he asked, IF their functions be to yield
to the will of the Governor, whose
voice, he we'll realizes. is equal to more
than half the Legislature. through the
veto power? Such a doctrine may be
perfectly suitable for Mexico, but
there a large part of the population is
only good for revolution, unless con-
trolled by force; but 1t will not find ia
vor In a country of intelligent. peace
loving citizens, each of whom feels
himself equal to deciding for himself
upon public questions.
"I do not impute improper motives to
Governor-elect Wilson. the cultured.
honorable College president, who has
been transferred to executive duties OF
a great State, but in all ages men who
have believed in the policies they advo-
cate have believed In using all the pow
ers at their command in forcing their
adoption. The new Governor will n
it is far less popular to assume the
responsibility for legislation, as we'll as
administration. than 1t is to talk about
it."
Speaker Cannon forecasted the trou-
bles which would beset the Democratic
party If they tried to reconcile the
leadership of President Wilson n the
,daos of their elder statesmen.