Evening star., 1912-07-03
GOV. WOODROW WILSON

Il
the democratic column for the first time
since 1862 His election at once made
of him presidential possibility. as It was
considered by politicians that demo-
crat who could carry New Jersey in an
off year probably could do 30 in pres
Iidential year.
| Mr.. Wilson said during the campaign
lfor governor that the bosses would have
an uphill experience ii he were chosen II
fiji the governors chair. He asked fol
the votes of New Jersey on the explicit
issue of his personal leadership He de-
elared that If the people did not desire
him to assume personal direction OF gov
ernmental affairs they should not vote
for him.
The fight between Gov. Wilson and the
machine soon after his election as gov
ernor brought him into national promi-
nence and for weeks the eyes or the ma
ton were on New Jersey. where hght
was on for the United States senatorship
Wins in Senatorship Fight.
| The legislature of New Jersey was DEM
ocratic on joint ballot. 1t had been agreed
there should be a democratic primary for
the seratorship. James f. MARITIME was
named by the democrats. When the legis-
lature was elected James Smith. ~.
| formerly democratic senator from the
state aspired to the Senate.
| Smith had been considered the demo-
| cratic boss Of New Jersey. In the years
| from 1886 on he had not been in entire
accord with the policies of the party, Dat
retained control of the organization
Smith declared himself candidate.
| Wilson insisted the democratic voters
had spoken through their primary, ana
| ,cf hay ND
tine 1t was the first application of the
direct or even instructive primary In the
| east and the eyes of the country were
on the fight. Wilson won and MARITIME
| is senator from New Jersey.
Under the primary law passed by GOV.
Wilson's direction he won all the dele
gates to the Baltimore convention save
two Congress districts. The friends or
Senator Smith carried these The gov
ernor also was successful in his fight for
delegates in many western states, ana
even battled with Harmon In Ohio.
Changes Attitude on Recall.
Gov. Wilson lately changed his atti-
tude toward the initiative. referendum
and recall. For twenty years said he
in discussing the matter. Il preached to
the students of Princeton that the refer
endum and recall were. bosh. | have
since investigated, and I want to apologize
to those students. They are the safe
guards of politics They take the power
from the bosses and place 1t In the hands
of the people l want to say with all my
power that I favor them
1t was as an author that Mr.. Wilson
first achieved fame outside of Princeton.
HIS largest literary achievement Is his
five-volume History of the American
People
A course OF lectures delivered at Co
lumbia University in 1908 contained the
substance of his first book, CONGRESSIONAL
Government" and they were brought up
to date by his attempt to show In the
years between 1855 and 1903 responsibility
gravltated toward the President OF the
United States
Mr.. Wilson's second book, 1.-The State"
is used as a text book In many schools
books ana essays. Then came George
Washington and THE History OF the
American People"
Mr.. Wilson has made countless edu-
cational addresses. and has written a
great number Of ESSAYS on political, edu-
cational and economic topics which nave
never been put into book form. His style
In writing is clear andvigorous and his
diction. both in writing and speaking, is
noteworthy for its choiceness.
Son Of Presbyterian Minister.
DR.. Wilson was born at Staunton. Va.
December -, 1855. He Is a son OF
Dr. Joseph r. Wilson, Presbyterian
minister. and the grandson OF Judge
James Wilson. an Irishman of Scotch
descent who came from County Down to
Philadelphia in 1907. James Wilson pros
pered and became manager OF the aurora.
a leading democratic journal. Philadelphia
then being the national capital.
Wjtgnn father 900.
row Wilson, was born February y.
1890. in Steubenville, Ohio. He was the
scholar of James Wilson's family. JefTer-
son College graduated him as valedlc-
school and prepared for the Presbyterian
| ministry at the Western Theological Semi
nary and Princeton Seminary.
In ls4a Joseph r. Wilson married
Janet Woodrow, daughter Of Thomas
Woodrow. a famous Presbyterian minis
ter OF the day, who was a descendant
from ancient English stock. The !.eV.
Mr. Wilson became the father OF two
daughters before he was called az pastor
to Staunton. Va, where third child.
son, was born and christened Thomas
Woodrow.
When Thomas Woodrow Wilson was two
years old his father took pastorate IN
| Augusta Ga, and soon became one OF the
most noted ministers of the south:
Thoroughly equipped as a theologian. and
| a pulpit orator Of power. he early reach
| ed and long maintained position OF
much influence in his church. When the
civil war broke out he embraced the Con-
federate cause.
Parents Called Him Tommy"
| Like Grover Cleveland, who was chris
tened Stephen Grover Cleveland. MIR.
Wilson dropped his first given name. He
was entered as a student at Princeton as
| Thomas Woodrow Wilson, and Tommy
he was always called by his parents.
Tommy Wilson. the Augusta school
| boy. is described by Prof. John T. Der
| by. one of his teachers. as quiet and
exceptionally studious. The most i'm
portant instructor Of young Wilson.
] however, was his father. a man OF wide
;informa ton on the affairs Of the world.
His father believed that nobody had
grasped a thought until he could put it
quickly and definitely into words. This
| he did himself, and this he taught his
son to do. As result, as Tommy came
| TO learn the written symbols in which
| speech is set down. he was learning only
method of recording and transmitting
| a language which he was already well
able TO handle.
The wilson's moved from Augusta to
Columbia, S. c.. In 1870, DR.. Wilson re-
signing his pastorate to take the chair
of pastoral and evangelistic theology in
the Southern. Presbyterian Theological
Seminary at Columbia. The son attend
ed Charles Barnwelrs private school.
At the age Of seventeen he entered
Davidson College at Davidson, n. c.