Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-13
Are Exchanged by Cover
nors Wilson and O'Nea|
Over Initiation and Referendum
Question, in Discussion
On Floor OF Governors Conference
At Spring Lake, N. ].

Spring Lake, y. j., Sept. 12.-Gover
nor Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey
| and Gov. Emmett O'Neal of Alabama
measured swords over the initiative
| and referendum on the floor of the
conference of governors convention hall
this afternoon. Gov. Wilson as cham
pion of the measures. replied to Gov.
| O'Neal, who had previously denounced
them as IAN insiduous popular vagary'
and the Southern executive was on his
| feet in a moment with an imprisoned
defence of his position.
Gov. 0Neal spoke for 10 minutes.
bowed and without word walked TO
the piazza fronting the ocean, and with
his back to the convention hall stood
for two minutes or more in contempla-
ton of the view.
Whats the use of my going back
in there" he asked a reporter who
sought him while thus engaged. Il
have already spoken twice and | am
limited to two speeches. on any one
topic Besides, am warm from ex-
ertion and want TO cool off.
He did not re-enter the convention
hall for Is minutes and until discussion
on the topic was drawing to close.
II do not think Gov. Wilson was fair,
| think he was most unfair, ne sald
before he resumed his seat in the hah.
When the conference ended. however.
Gov. Wilson grasped Gov. oNeal by
the hand and remarked that he did not
wish to be misunderstood Gov. O'Neai
later said he had stepped To the piazza
Ia meet Mrs. O'Neal, who he had heard
was there.
There was no mincing Of words IN
the Alabaman's denuneiation of the
initiative. referendum and recall which
he said, tends to weaken, rather than
strengthen executive authority. The
recall of Judges, he said. would con-
cert the public officer into spineless
and servile hireling.'
New Jerseys governor did not take
the floor after Gov oNeal sat down.
amid applause. until several western
governors had spoken.
..what I would urge as against the
views of Gov. O'Neal is that there is
nothing inconsistent between the
strengthening of the powers OF the
executive and the direct power of the
people" said GOV. Wilson.
4 believe we are all Democrats II
we use small ID | wish for the
salvation of your souls that l could
use a large d also. | believe that
Gov. o'Neai feels as Gov. McGovern
feels and that we are merely at odus
as to the best method of giving eX-
preston with reference to that great
public opinion upon which all de-
rends.''
Gov. Wilson bowed and sat down.
Gov. O'Neal sprang to his feet a
a voice that carried hundred yards
away to the roaring breakers shouted
the reiteration of his belief.
I would rather stand with Mad
ison and Hamilton" he concluded,
after repeating what he believed the
menace of the measures, Than to
stand with some modern prophets and
some OF our Western statesmen"
The discuss on following Gov. o.
Meals address consumed the entire
afternoon session Gov. Cruce OF Ok
lahoma occupied the chair and those
who spoke to the text included Gov.
Gilchrist, McGovern, Aldrich. Kitchin.
Burk, Hadley, Shafroth and Hawley
At the conclusion, upon motion OF
Gov. Shafroth, the delegates voted TO
meet half an hour earlier Thursday
morning to allow DR.. Anna Shaw 10
address the meeting upon woman SUI
trage.
Twenty three governors were pres
ent when the afternoon session con-
cluded. Tonight the governors and
their wives We're guests of GOV. ana
Mrs. woodrow Wilson at the State