Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-05-14
By WILLIAM BAYARD HALE
CHAPTER X.
Out Of Princeton Into Politics.

OOt OF princeton unIo ToittIcSs
f~ HE state of New Jersey at the
beginning Of the year 1910
R="SI was in the case of many an
t4ESs1gj other commonwealth in this
Union of States. 1t was in the grip of
the politicians and the corporations,
and the good people resident within its
borders had about as much voice in the
management Of their public affairs as
they had in deciding the weather or de-
termining the phases of the moon. For
years the. state government had been
run by agents of 1.-The interests"
Latterly it was the Republican Or
ganization that had been in power at
Trenton, but the system was really
bipartisan one. The Republican boss
es had come to be known as the "board
Of guardians" in which the public serv-
ice, railroad, insurance and other cor
poration interests were duly represent
ed. The Democratic organization was
the private property Of James Smith,
Jr., a politician who had made his way
into the United States senate and who
had retired from that body under crit
icisms connected with certain scandals
incidental to the framing of the Will
son tariff. Ex-senator Smith is pol
1shed man Of affairs whose business in
terests are identical with those Of his
friends on the Republican ''board OF
guardians" His chief lieutenant was
James r. Nugent, typical representa-
tive Of the old style strong arm meth
DDS in politics.
However, the great moral movement
which during the last five years has
been abroad in the land had not left
New Jersey unaware Of its gathering
power. The leaders of both parties
were forced to heed it. In the Repub-
lican party Everett Colby. George L.
Record and others stirred up dan
gerous enthusiasm among new idea
Republicans. Somehow, somewhere,
by some one, there was suggested to
Mr.. Smiths organization a plan Of
getting aboard the reform wagon and
riding on it into power. The fight
against privilege and the champion
ship Of democracy in college life cap
tanned by the president of Princeton
university had attracted the attention
of the state and now suggested him
as man who could lead party to vic
tory under the banner Of political re-
form. President Wilson was a student
Of public affairs of authority through
In ~frv1
plished and persuasive speaker, a man
of lofty character and winning person
ality. Indeed, from outside the state,
from the press of many cities, had come
the suggestion that the nation would
be fortunate If it could place such a
man as Wilson in the presidential chair:
It Is easy enough to see how the idea
Of running Wilson for governor needed
only present itself to the imagination
of a shrewd boss to become Immediate
~ congenial. The Democratic leader no
doubt naturally imagined that a learn
ed collegian would be as putty in the
hands Of an experienced politician,
especially II his eyes were rose spec
tacled by the promise Of a nomination
for president. -
During the early summer of 1910
President Wilson was told by mum.
Der Of his friends that he could proba.
bly, have the Democratic nomination
for governor If he desired it. These
limitations became so numerous and
so pointed and were accompanied by
so many assurances Of the benent the
party and the state would derive from
his acceptance that Mr.. Wilson was
constrained to lend them favorable
ear.
And yet the prospective nominee wa:
profoundly puzzled. While sentiment
among the best class of voters through
out the state was strong, the practica
overtures came from the organization
headed by Smith. Mr. Wilson was per
fectly aware Of ex-senator Smiths po
litical character and history. He knew
what the organization was. How coult
such gang support him? Were they
deceivlng themselves as to their man
Did they fancy that his lifelong de
testation Of corrupt politics was simpl.
pose? Did Smith regard the school
| master as a simple soul who woul(
! hand out corporation favors withou
knowing? Did he expect to get Unit
ed States senatorsh1p through the Dem
ocratic legislature which Wilson's pop
ularity was likely to elect? 49,.
| On that point Mr.. Wilson made spe
ciflc inquiry of the gentlemen VIII
came to him on their puzzling errand
He required their assurance that MI
Smith would not seek the senatorship
Were he to do so while was gov
ernor," he told them, II should have t
oppose him. He represents everything
repugnant to my convictions" The,
told him categorically that Smith ha,
no idea Of going back to the senate
that he was man thought to be sicl
with dangerous constitutional all
ment and borne down by domestic be
reavement and that he was defnitel.
out Of politics. .s-.@.:.. 4, !. -,s:-ss.: >
On Tuesday, July IL, 1910, a humble
of gentlemen gathered in privat
room Of the Lawyers club, 120 Broad
way, New York, to inquire Of Mr.. VIII
son whether he would allow his nam
to be presented to the New Jerse,
Democratic state convention. 4
! On July Is Mr.. Wilson issued put
lie statement in which be said that /
It were the wish '.of a decided maJorl
ty Of the thoughtful Democrats OF tn
state that he should be their candI