Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-03-07
EASY OF ACCESS AT ALL
TIMES AND TO ALL MEN
Governor Gave to Poltician-Ridden
New Jersey an Administration
That Astonished and Delighted the
Voters of the State-ResponsibIe
Head of Party.
BY OLIVER p. NEWMAN.

oONC lIOI III TIE CuilCl oldtSS, W"
politely to his private secretary and
say:
I'D like to see Governor Soandso."
If you are a big politician you are
ushered in with ceremony. If you
are John Hobbs or Bill Jones you get
this:
The governor is busy today. He
cannot see you"
But in New Jersey, when Woodrow
Wilson became governor, a different
system was put into operation. The
first thing Wilson did was to prop
open the door to the governors pri-
vate office.
Today any citizen of New Jersey
who wants to see the governor can
see him. That private office door has
never been closed.
When Wilson became governor,
New Jersey was in about as hopeless
a political condition as state could
be. A crowd of Republican and DEM
ocratic bosses had been running it in
the interests of corrupt corporations
for years. The Democratic bosses
had even ordered Wilson's nomina-
ton, in the belief that a school teach
er theorist would be easy to handle.
And Wilson proceeded to beat the
boss candidate, Jim Smith, for the
senate!
You see, there had been senate
rial primary in New Jersey, and
James E. MARITIME had been Endorsed
by the people. Wilson took the posi-
tion-unheard of in New Jersey I'M
til then-that Legislators ought to
obey the peoples orders.
The MISUNDERSTANDING the
old power of Smith-trembled, and
Wilson took the case into Smiths
home town, Newark, where he spoke
against the election of Smith. Then
he argued personally with members
of the legislature, converted many by
his frank appeal for execution of the
peoples orders, and when he found
man he couldn't move, he said:
Very well; 1 shall have to take
this before your people. 1 shall go
into your district and tell the whole
story-and then let your constituents
deal with you as they see fit"
The day for electing United
States senator arrived-and MARITIME
was the overwhelming choice of the
legislature.
Wilson went into office pledged to
reforms that would have staggered an
old stager in politics. Mind, he had
not Apromised to get them-only 10
try to get them But he secretly
hoped he would succeed. The senate
was Republican and the house Demo
cratic. Wilson undertook to put
through this program:
A real direct primary law, includ-
ing United States senator and presi-
dent.
A corrupt practices act, to prevent
vote buying.
public utilities commission, en-
powered to make rates.
A workingmen's compensation law,
by which fixed amounts would be
paid automatically in cases of en-
ployes killed or injured in industrial
concerns.
The regulation of cold storage es-
adjustments.
Equalization of taxation, especially
to require railroads to pay their just
share of public expenses.
First off, the Democratic legislators
called a caucus on his corr apt prac-
tees bill. He attended. When spOkes-
men for the bosses said it was un
constitutional for a governor to mix
in the legislatures business, Wilson
said:
1T isn't, but if you want to think
so, I'll be an unconstitutional COVER
nor"
Then he flashed the constitution on
them and showed he was empowered
to recommend legislation "at such
times as he deemed expedient"
Il deem this time eXpedient," he
declared
The governor stood on his feet for
three hours and frankly. fairly ex-
planned the provisions of a pending
bill AS an Introductory, Wilson
said:
Il have been made the head OF the
Democratic party in New Jersey by
the people. They can and will hold
me responsible for what the party
does. They cannot and will not hold
you responsible. for you are each
elected by a small group of voters.
while l am elected by the whole
state. Being the elected leader-and
the responsible head demand voice
in deciding what the party does"
After his three hours speech he
stood for an hour and a half more
and answered questions. Then he de-
clared If the bill were defeated he
would carry the fight to the people
At the end of four hours and a half
a vote was taken and the caucus.
originally antagonistic. declares
unanimously for the bill