Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-03-06
WOODROW
ILS0N
The Story of His Life
From the Cradle to
the White House
By WILLIAM BAYARD HALE
Copyright 1911. 1912 by Doubleday Page
By WILLIAM BAYARD HALE
Copyright. 1871. 1912. by Doubleday. Page
* Co.

and Democratic governors had consult
ed Democratic members. Wilson con
suited members Of both parties. IIt
talked to them all alike Of the good
Of the commonwealth 70 Democrats
he added arguments based on the plat,
form promises He made It clear that
he considered himself chosen party
leader. but he gave no orders he
would not be Il boss. The nearest
that he ever came to threat was IN
the suggestion to few stubborn OBJ
ponents that they debate the question
with him in public In their own dis
tricts From time to time the Cover.
nor issued public statements regarding
bis measures I'm one he expressed the
fear that he might have to name the
men who were preparing to he faith
less to the platform promises and to
betray the people.
On the opening OF the legislature,
Jan. TO- 1911, 1t was with difficulty
that Sponsors could be found to intro
duce the governors bills. Few bcllev-
ed that single one OF them could be
forced through before the end OF the
session. Every well. then; we shall
have to have n special session to do
1t" was Governor Wilson's undismay.
ed reply However let us hope that
won't be necessary
First In order came up the primary
elections bill. to which an assembly.
man from Monmouth county had at.
lowed his name to be given-the Geran
bill.
This revolutionary piece Of leglsla
ton contemplated the turning over OF
both or all political organizations to
the people Conventions, so easily mn
nipulated by nominating bosses, were
done away with. All candidates for
Office from that of constable to presi
dent We're to be nominated directly by
ballot of the people; all party officers.
committeeman. delegates to national
conventions, and the like, were to be
10 elected by popular ballot.
TO those who understand the slgnh-
canoe OF the great movement for the
resumption by the people of the direct
powers OF government 1t would have
been sufficiently astonishing that
governor of state like New Jersey
should have thought 1t worth while To
make to his legislature such IN an
dacious proposal as the direct primary.
with popular selection Of United States
senators. popular nomination of pres
Dental candidates aud popular chnn
OF party officers. This meant the kill.
Ing of the bosses; 1t meant the ex-
,tlnction of corporation controlled or
CARNATIONS; 1t meant everything that
New Jersey had never had and that
the professional 'iticians and the big
business inter, could never permit
1t TO have
James r. Nugent was In active Ill
rection of the opposition. Ex Senator
Smiths relation, he urged the lin
crate" argument; Wilson knew he
honor and would knife the men who
assisted him; state chairman, he waH
officially In command OF the party or
ganizntion and could promise and
threaten with the prestige of fifteen
long yenrs of almost unopposod party
supremacy against this new governors
Mare month OF troubled experience,
Nugent easily arranged coalition
with the Republicans. Their organi1a
ton was equally Threatened, and tnl
greater than the fall OF the minority
party bosses would be that of the
Republican board Of guardians" II
the Republican majority still In cuu
troll OF the senate stood pat the Gcral
wanted more, he wanted the nrWo
cratic lower chamber to repudiatc th,
governors plan. He was So conddcu
that this could be managed that E.
arranged for n conference on the bill
as n preliminary test
1t was n fatal error
The governor heard OF the confer
ence and gruially suggested that hi
be invited II was unprecedented fo
a governor to attend Il legislative can
Gus, but il would have been aWkWAr,
TO decline to invite him il he wanted T.
come. So he went
The gathering was in the suprem
court room, on the second floor Of th
statchouse one assemhlymau, Martin
challenged the governors intervention
He had no constitutional right to inter
fere in legislation. Had il not bee
written by them OF old time that IN
executive aud legislative branch,
must be kept sacredly apart? I'll
governor replied by drawing from III
pocket the Legislative Manual an
reading Il clause of the Constitutio
which directed the governor ~ Ne
Jersey to communicate with the logi
lature at such times as he might dee
necessary and to recommend sue
measures as he might deem expedien
He was there, he continued. in purs
ance of constitutional duty to recon