Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-09-09
Wilson Declares
War on Smith.

Sea Grit, y. j., Sept. S.-Gov. Will
| son, Democratic Presidential nominee,
| today, declared war on James Smith,
| Jr.. Democratic candidate for Unit
ed States senator from New Jersey,
an office which he held during Presi-
dent Cleveland's second administra
| ton.
Gov. Wilson~expressed himself in
statement addressed to the voters of
| New Jersey. issued. tonight. He point
ed out that the return of Mr.. Smith II
power would mean a Restoration Of
| machine rule" TWO years ago, Gov.
| Wilson opposed Mr.. Smiths candidacy
for United States senator, but on the
/ issue that James E. MARITIME was the
| legal choice of the Democratic pri-
| maries. The Governor was sustained
| by the Legislature in his contention
that the primary choice should be rat
| ifiec.
| Today. the Governor went step
further in his opposition to Mr.. Smith
| by charging him with utterly defeat
Ling the program of the Democratic
i party once Before when the tariff is
sue was pre- eminent and at time
| when the Democrats had. for once in
a generation. an opportunity to relieve
the people Of intolerable burdens and
the industry of the country of the
trammels which bound ii like 4
| straight jacket
( The Governors statement says:
/ Mr.. Smith has, of course, perfect
right to offer himself at the primaries
as "a candidate for the Democratic
nomination Tor senator of the United
/ States. He is acting frankly and in
! the spirit of the new law and if he is
| preferred at the primaries. it will be
the duty of every Democratic mem
| Der of the next Legislature to vote
for him wien a senator is chosen. But
feel | ought to speak very frankly
about the significance of his candi-
daey."
The Governor recalls his pledge made
| during his campaign for governor to
| act as spokesman for the people OF
the state If elected, and says his po-
sition as ieader OF his party in the
| nation makes his sduty as regards
Smith still more imperative. He con-
| tinues:
Mr.. Smiths election as the Demo-
| cratic candidate for the Senate would
.pe the most fatal step backward tho
Democrats of the state could possibly.
| take. It would mean his restoration
i 10 political leadership in New Jersey
the moment NJ services as Governor
| ended and, with his restoration, re-
turn to the machine rule which 50
long kept every active Democrat in
the state in subordination to him and
prevented every Progressive program
conceived in the interest of the peo-
pie. | speak with knowledge in this
matter because at every turn of my
| administration, since / became gov
ernor, / have found his hand against
the new plans of the party-his in
| fluence working steadily but cevertlY
against everything that has substitut-
ed hope and pride for discOurag cement
and shame in the politics of New Jer-
sey during The 20 months during which
II have been permitted to serve the
peops of the state.
| at is Of particularly sinister i'm
port that Mr.. Smith should seek to
return to the Senate of the United
States at this time. He was sent to
the Senate once before when the tariff
i had been the chief issue of the ma
i tlOfaI campaign anu when Inc Demo-
Il Gratis had. for once in n generation,
au opportunity to relieve the people
of intolerable burdens and the indus
try of the country of the trammels
which board IL like straight jacket.
lif the tariff could fave been wisely
: lreyisod then, we might have been
spared some part at least Of the crop
Of trusts and combinations which now
rulc ana crieumscribe our markets.
Mr Smith was one of a small
groun Of senators. calling themselves
] Democrats, who. at that critical and
hopeful iunctare in our politics. ut
tcrly defeated the program Of the
mrty. His lection now might hiring
the party face 10 face with similar
situation ana would unquesticnably
render the s. tisfaction administration
of THO federal functions in New Jer-
ssy. all but impossible for a Demo-
cratic President
If the democratic party does not
keep its promises now, IL will never
have another opportunity to do So
Mr.. Smith could not and would not
. | lend himself to any program of gem
uinely progressive legislation. My
/, first allegiance is to the progressive
policies 10 which ! have openly and
solemnly dedicated every power
possess Everything else must stand