Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-05-24
WILSON MAKES FORMAL APPEAL TO THE VOTERS
Continued from page ~

more freely to find that laws and party obligations meant some
thing. 1t was a death blow to both machines. The most noticeable
champions of Mr.. Smiths candidacy had been the newspapers own
ed by Mr.. David Baird, of Camden, one of the Republican guardians.
What followed was easy. The power in both parties, that had
held the legislation back from doing what the opinion of the state
demanded, was broken, and the Legislature moved forward with
zet. Elections were freed from machine control by the Geran act,
and from corrupt manipulation by he corrupt practices act. Power
to control the great public service corporations which had con-
trolled Mr.. Smith and the Board of Guardians was conferred upon
the public utilities commission, and law put above private interest.
The Walsh act was passed, which gave the urban municipalities of
the state the right to put their governments in the hands Of respon-
slble commissions, when they chose, and so do away with the hide
and-seek of their present complicated town and city government,
by which political machines and favored contractors had o much
profted. Such measures had been often promised, but as often de-
teated by the managers between election.
The employers liability and working mems compensation act
was passed and the act obrging the railroads to pay their en-
ployes twice a month instead of only once, so that justice might be
secured for those who did not contribute to campaign funds and had
only the law to depend upon for their defence. No disinterested
person doubted the justice of these acts, but dismterested persons
had not often been allowed to determine what the legislation of the
state should be. An act empowering justices of the Supreme Court
en- mpanel special grand juries and call upon the Attorney Gen
eral of the state to undertake prosecutions whenever the sheriff of
the county had brought himself under suspicion of illegal practices,
was another measure in the series intended to bring about a political
emancipation.
I will not long proong the list. 1t i. familiar to you. These
acts passed the Legislature with surprising, with refreshing ease,
though one House was Democratic and the other Republican. The
power Of both machines was broken with the downfall of one of the
partners. But it was a great shock to those who had been accus-
toned to dictate what should and what should not be done at
Trenton.
The President of the Public Service Corporation is said to have
shown angry surprise when he found that legislative action had es-
capped his dictation, and to have scolded an independent Republi-
can Senator very roundly for 81 far forgetting the many obligations
of his party Guardians to that great corporation IS to vote for a
measure which placed public authority in a position to restrain pl-
vate interest in behalf of an equitable and adequate service.
This is the whole ground of my offending. insisted that the
party should keep faith with the people, in the matter OF the Sena-
torship as in all others. Senator Smith wanted its obligations ig-
nored in order that he might be returned to the Senate. He seeks
revenge, as do the Guardians and all others who have been deprived
of their private control. Their purpose is to regain their power and
rule again as they please. l stand in their way, because l kept my
own promises, every one, public and private and insisted that the
promises of the party should be kept as well.
What, therefore, is the present situation7 What Is happening
now7 What is happening within the Republican party is obvious to
the whole country, and a very modifying spectacle it Is. But what
is happening in this state within the Democratic party is not so OBJ
vious. 1t is, indeed, being done very quietly and very secretly, De-
cause it is being done by Mr.. James Smith, Jr, who knows no other
way of acting in politics and who has no suggestion to make to the
voters of the state which he can quite venture to make in public.
He does not, l understand, avow himself as in favor of any partlc-
uar candidate for the Democratic nomination; he is only opposed
to me; and the men he has induced to offer themselves as candidates
to represent New Jersey in the National Democratic Convention
wish to be sent without instructions"
It is interesting to note how large a proportion OF them re men
who were candidates for appointment to office, and whom 1 did not
appoint. There are one or two very conspicuous instances and a
great many minor ones Of petty spite and disappointment. But that
is not the important side of the matters that is cause for contempt
rather than for concern. What concerns us and makes the matter
very much larger and more serious than the mere incidental ques-
ton of whether am to be nominated at baltimore o r not, Is the
fact that this is Mr.. Smiths attempt to re-estabish his control over
the Democratic party, and put himself once more IN a position TO
make the Democratic machine IN adjunct and partner OF tn OLE
Republican machine in serving the special interests in New Jersey
1t is the last desperate attempt of the discredited old regime to de
stroy and supplant the new.
Shall the Democrats of New Jersey send delegates to Baltimore
who are free men. O r are the special interests again to name men to
renresent themY The representatives of special interests will be IN
q HELPLESS. intriguing minority at Baltimore, Is the progressive
Democracy of New Jersey to contribute to that mlnortyf
We are speaking of very practical matters now and ought not
TO mince words. The question is, do you wish to sustain the new
regime; do you wish to support government conducted by pubic
oninion rather than by private understanding and management,
or do O wish to slip back into the slough of the old despair and
~ -o uu;a Sc oueHiont f. he asked n N both sides of the house,
-bv m en who are going into the Republican primaries a well as
NV those who are going into the Democratic primaries. 1t nVolves
the repntation and the freedom of the state we love. On the Demo
cratic side its affects my personal fortunes, but only because L nap
nen to have been given the opportunity by the people Il the state
IN renresent the great ideas and principles which every man ought
To represent. My heart is in them; the heart of every patriotic man
in New Jersey is in them; and they are involved n tins contest. we
are now to decide whether the state shall 60 forward Or return to
Lasxaisahs ord dehased Ter Ihe VOTING on the 18TH