Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-11-08

ments from the very beginning OF his
tory.
The trustees of Princeton finding
the chair of Jurisprudence and poll.
tics vacant in the autumn OF 1890, at
once turned to- the now distinguish
ed alumnus of Old Nassau and offer
ed him the chair. He accepted with
pride and joy.
! For the next II years, 1890 to 1902,
DR.. Wilson lectured to his classes at
Princeton, worked on his history, "A
History of the American People and
added daily to his reputation at home
and abroad. Princeton had never be-
/ fore seen anything like his classes.
! His lectures were so popular that
nearly every student wanted to take
| his course. 1t was a daily occurance
! for the members of his class to rise
to their feet at the conclusion of his
/ lecture and cheer him TO the echo UNI
til he had passed out of hearing.
I In 1902 DR.. Wilson was elected pres
| ident of Princeton. A change was
/ sadly needed in the administrative af-
| fairs of the university and the trus-
! tees recognized DR.. Wilson as the man
to effect them.
! But he had hardly assumed his new
office before he found himself CON
/ fronted with situation that was
most trying to him.
/ Princeton has been called a country
club for rich mems sons. However,
much or little it deserves this appel
lation the fact remains that it pos
! sesses more exclusive clubs than any
/ other great institution in the country.
There is a whole street of them and
yet their total membership is CON
fined to $50. These clubs are compos-
cd exclusively of the two upper class
men. This caddish aristocracy, abhor-
rent to the American spirit and equal
ly abhorrent to President Wilson, had
| flourished at Princeton for years until
that institution was little more than
lounging place for the gilded sons
! of the rich. DR.. Wilson went into
change the whole thing. He propos-
ed the establishing of the students on
quadrangles and ''quads," each one to
be composed of a certain number of
students from each class together
with preceptors. In other words he
tried to inject democratic spirit into
the university life.
/ Immediately he was denounced as
a "leveler," socialist" a man who
wanted TO make a gentleman chum
with a mucker" At first the trus-
]
by vote, but when this storm of pro-
test and abuse broke they were fright
ened into withdrawing their approval.
Then there was a long ght over the
graduate college in which instance
donor wanted to dictate to the trus-
tees how his money was to be used.
/ DR.. Wilson caused the trustees to re-
fuse the donation, and then another
storm broke over his head for daring
to refuse money for Old Nassau.
But his efforts went for naught. An
old graduate of Princeton died and left
the college 100000 for a graduate
college to be built away fro mthe main
/ buildings, just as the other donor had
wished, and because the man was dead
his wishes had to be obeyed and
! President Wilson was defeated.
But his splendid stand for democra-
cy and work at Princeton was not
overlooked by the people of New Jer-
/ sey, and so they called him away from
/ the irksome affairs at the university
| to be their governor and thus launch
him upon a political career which for
brilliancy and rapidity of fine active
ment is unparalleled in this country.
Mr.. Wilson was elected governor of
| New Jersey by a plurality of about
| $4,000 The platform on which he ran
contained much that is called radical,
and up to this time the governor had
I been regarded as conservative. But
I he stood square on the platform, and
dedicated all his energies and abili-
ties to the carrying out of every
pledge contained in that platform.
AS a natural consequence he at
once found himself opposed by the re-
dictionaries in the legislature, men,
! bers of his party as well as others.
But the masterful manner which
/ the new governor held the legislators
! to the party pledges IN spite OF every
thing they could do affords one of the
most interesting chapters in Ameri-
can politics.
He had already notified the people
/ not to vote for him unless they want
| ed him to be the leader of the Demo-
cratic party in New Jersey, for such he
surely intended to be if elected
The bosses paid little attention to
this They had heard something like
it before, perhaps. But the Governor
had scarcely taken his seat before it
was born in on them that he not only
intended to be the leader of the party,
but was the leader absolutely
Those who have kept an eye on
New Jersey politics will recall the
dramatic although quiet entrance of
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