The Emmett index., 1912-03-07
Only Enemies Alienated.


The average, everyday man has no
cause to get excited. Wilson has not
hurt any friend of his, nor is any friend
of his joining in the hubbub against
Wilson. Just as well be calm. So far
as anybody can see the only people
alienated from the New Jersey COVER
nor by these incidents were those who
were not for him in the first place.
Most of the real Wilson men said he
had been strengthened.
So much for the Carnegie pension.
the cooked hat and "Marse Henry"
These bombs have been exploded, and
the net result is that the Woodrow
Wilson boom for the presidency has
been given n vast deal of publicity:
also that there is no smell of Wall
street anywhere about it. Some peo-
pie had their doubts before.
One feature of the psychology of
Governor Wilson must be realized be-
fore an accurate measure of the man
and his principles can be taken. Per
haps as clearly as any man now prom
inent he differentiates between public
and private With his logical mind
and his thorough training in political
economy he sees the danger of patron
age, special privilege and partiality in
government He is not the sort of
man who would permit private friend
ship to stand in the way of public
duty The president of the United
States as president should have no
friends to reward. no enemies to pun
ish. Favoritism has a brood of evil
following after. Any special interest
in public affairs smacks of treason.
Woodrow Wilson believes that big
business should get out of politics.
That is the reason big business is at
tacking him. He thinks the only legit-
innate function of a tax is to raise
revenue He is convinced that the
system of patronage and favoritism
has alienated the government of the
republic from the people. and through
the initiative. referendum. recall. di
rect primaries. election reforms, pop
ular election of senators and similar
measures he would restore it to them.
When He Beat Jim Smith.
Wilson's position in the Democratic
camp is not far different from that of
Senator La Toilette in the Republican
camp Perhaps the strongest thing
about him is the one for which he has
been most CriticiSed-viZ. that he will
not permit private friendship or even
what is called private gratitude to
swerve him one hairs breadth in his
action as public official. When James
Smith. Jr.. came out as candidate for
United States senator in face of the
fact that the Democrats had declared |
for James Z. MARITIME in a state pri-
mary Governor Wilson forced the elec- |
ton of MARITIME. although Smith had |
supported Wilson's nomination. That |
action exemplifies the distinction of |
public from private. Wilson the man |
owed a debt of gratitude to Mr.. Smith, |
but Wilson the governor and leader of |
his party owed his duty alone to the |
public That action required courage.
just as telling the truth to Colonel
George Harvey required courage.
Governor Wilson has put through a
direct primary law in New Jersey. a
commission government act for cities
and many other reforms. He has
clear vision of what the new condi-
tons mean. He is historian. schol-
lr. an orator and an incorruptible pub
lie official. He has shown the power
Of self restraint in trying places. As
president of Princeton university he
stood for democracy as against aristoc-
-acy in college life. He holds the same
attitude today. only that his sympathy
With the people has been quickened by
contact with the people.
After the hue and cry are done it
nay be that the American people will
zee Woodrow Wilson as the Thomas
Jefferson of this era.