Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-15
The sl,u.,len IN New ,sr,sx.

Charles w. Bryan, publisher The
CSmmoner: In response to the reques 81
that | should make some statement
concerning the late election held in
New Jersey, and the result of that
election, and its effect upon Governor
Wilson's administration, and the pro-
gressive legislation for which he stood,
and which was enacted during the last
legislative session, would say:
That the late election was what may
be called by-election at W hich local
officials, County officers and propori-
tion OF the state senate and the mem.
Der" of the house OF assembly we're bal
Ioted fer.
T-ere were no prominent or absorb
ing state Issues involved.
The dem ocratic party In this cam
paign pledged Itself TO further iegisla-
ton In tn. interest OF the people, and
where necessary, TO enlarge the legisla-
ton Of 1911; the republican party
pointed TO the legislation Of 1911 and
Its support Of the same.
The great measures In the interest Of
the people and for the re-establishment
Of representative government in the
state and almost at the destruction Of
the "machine" and the elimins ton Of
the especial interests" Ms an influence
ing factor in the public affairs of this
state, were enacted At the last Iegisla-
iure and were written upon the statute
books, by the persistent fight Of the
dem ocratic legislators under the lead
ship Of Governor Wilson.
l now refer particularly to the ex-
tension Of the disect and open primary
the Safeguarding Of the ballot; the
enactment Of a corrupt practice and
anti-bribery act; the com mission gov
srnment act; the appointment Of COM
missioners for the regulation and con-
troll Of public utilities In the state with
rate making powders; the working
mems indem nity and. compensation
act.
All of this legislation had been Sc
cured.
Furthermore, the right Of the people
to express their choice for United
States senators was firmly established
by the election of James j. MARITIME,
through the insistment of Governor
Wilson.
Al the late election, from the figures
OF the vote in the state OH The leglsla
ture, they show a falling off of s5,2s4
votes compared with 1910, when
Woodrow Wilson was candidate for
governor, and of 81, 54s compared with
1909.
Notwithstanding this great falling
of OF the vote, the democrats carried
the state by popular vote Of up.
wards Of 100.
BY the county system Of electing q
legislature, existing in the state Of
New Jersey, a political party that il
In minority of the popular vote, can
elect legislative majority while los.
ing the state.
This is a remarkable showing fol
the democratic party when 1t is con.
sidered that the state is normally re-
publican.
since 1896 down to the election Of
Governor Wilson last year, the chisi
executives of the state have been re-
publicans.
The candidates for governor Of the
republican party have received as high
as the following pluralities: 26,9oO the
plurality Of Governor Murphy in 1901,
and 81, 644 the plurality of Governor
Stokes in 1904.
During these administration the
political complexion of the legislature
from 1895 TO and including 1910, has
been strongly republican, except on
one occasion. which was in 1907, when
the house consisted Of thirty-one DEM
ocrats and twenty-nine republicans.
In the days when the democrats con-
trolled the state, the highest majority
ever received ty democratic capei-
date WAS that of Governor Abbott IN
1889, when his plurality was 1926 the
same candidates plurality in 1883 WAS
$500, and in 1886, when Vice Cham
,ellor Green was elected governor, his
plurality was 5000.
The election of Governor Wilson in
1910, and the carrying out OF his poll
cies, have undoubtedly resulted in
maintaining the state of New Jersey
In the democratic column by MAORI
~ Of the popular vote.
There is no question, that had the
issues been the same at the las; cleo
ton as they were in 1910. the stale
would have gone US strongly demo-
cratic this year as last.
Of = he rot, .