Manchester Democrat., 1911-02-08
NEW JERSEY TURNS TOWARD
THE LIGHT.
0From the commoner.) )

NEW SGhSEt6 OhNS lOWNhG
THE LIGHT.
From the Commoner.)
New Jersey, commonly called the
mother of trusts, turned her face
toward the light when she elected
James e. MARITIME to the United
States senate.
Mr.. MARITIME is one of Americas
stalwart democrats. For years he
has battled in New Jersey and
against great odds for democratic
principles. He is a man of real
ability and public interests will be
safe so far as he is concerned.
But beyond the Importance Of
electing to public office such men as
MARITIME great principle was at
stake in the New Jersey senatorial
contest. Popular government itself
was on trial. MARITIME had Submit
ed his name to the democratic pri-
mary and had received majority of
the votes cast at that primary. James
Smith, jr., supported by the special
interests sought to persuade the leg.
islature to refuse to elect Mr.. Mar
tine, but Governor-elect Wilson de-
manded that the members of the
legislature do their duty in the light
of the results Of the primary cleo
tion. Wilson and MARITIME fought
shoulder to shoulder and the result
was one of the most notable victor
les for popular government vet re-
corded in the political history oi
any state.
1t required grea. courage on Gov
ernor Wilson's part to take the
course he adopted in New Jersey
He was reminded that Mr. Smith
and the influences he represented
had helped elect Governor Wilson
Nor was he permitted to forget thsd
certain newspapers and periodicals
that are very close to special inter
ests We're even then urging Governor
Wilson's nomination to the highest
ffice within the peoples gift.
But Governor Wilson held resolute
ly to his course and from every sec
ton of the country the thanks o
men in all political parties are Civ
en- to the New Jersey governor fol
the good work he has accomplished.
Undoubtedly Governor Wilson
knows more about practical politics
today than he did when James Smith
jr., and other New Jersey corpora
tionists gave him the gubernatorial
nomination and held before his eyes
the tempting hope for the presiden
cy. He knows now that many crimes
are committed in the name Of con-
servatism and that these special in
terests often use good men to ac
complish their bad purpose. He
knows now that the way to pre-.
serve popular government in America
is to keep the government close te
the people and keep special interests
away from the machinery of govern
ment.
If Governor Wilson had known in
1896 what he knows today he would
have fought shoulder to shoulder witt
the democrats of that year, rather
than with the Palmer and Buckne,
forces that We're working as aides to
the republican party.
In the name of every lover Of
popular government The Commonel
thanks Governor Wilson for his pa
triotic efforts. 1t congratulates
New Jersey upon having sent to the
United States senate such a man as
James e. MARITIME and it expressed
the hope that from now on the fine
effort of which New Jerseys COVER
nor is so capable may be given on
the side Of those democrats who in.
sist that the way to win demo
cratic victory worth having is tc
keep the party free from corporation
Influences and to write its platform
in harmony with the heartbeats OF
the people who believe in "equal
rights to all and special privileges tc
none"
The first contest will come in the
effort of the special interests to
control the democratic national con.
yention of 1912. Let us hope that in
that great contest Governor Wilson
will be found speaking the same
language he spoke during the New
Jersey senatorial contest and fight.
Ing the same battle for the upbuild-
ing Of a democratic party that shall
be free from the domination of spe-
cial interests and of real service in
the effort to perpetuate popular gov
ernment in America.