Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-08


statehouse. One assemblymau. Martin
challenged the governors intervention.
He had no constitutional right to inter
fere in legislation. Had it not been
written by them Of old time that the
executive and legislative branches
must be kept sacredly apart2 The
governor replied by drawing from his
pocket the Legislative Manual and
reading a clause Of the constitution
which directed the governor Of New .
jersey TO communicate with the IeCis-
lature At such times as he might deem
necessary and TO recommend such .
measures as he might deem ezTedieHt. .
He was there, he continued. in purSu-
ance Of constitutional dgty to recon .
mend q measure Of that character
In noble fashion did he recommend .
It. That conference lasted four and q
half hours. For three hours of il Mr.
Wilson was on his feet, frs exQound-
ing the bill clause by clause: answer
ing all queries and replying 10 ali OBJ
jections out Of a knowledge not only
Of the experience Of other states. hut
Of the practical workings of politics.
that greatly surprised his audience.
One by one he met and Sile1ced all
critics. Then, looking about upon
them, he began what will always re
main one of the notable speeches Of
his career, a speech which no man
who was present will ever forget.
They were Democrats. and he spoke to
them as such. This, be told them. was
no attempt to destroy the party. 1t
was a plan to revitalize IL and arm ii
for the war to which the swelling voice
OF q people called it in an hour Of pal
pitant expectancy. With an Onrush Of
words white hot with speed and sup
pressed emotion he displayed before
them the higher view Of political duty
and expanded the ground Of his hope
for the future Of the Democratic party
as a servant Of the people.
One repeats only what the attend
ants at this remarkable meeting unite
in testifying when he says that they
came downstairs not knowing whether
/ more amazed by the force Of logic that
had fairly won them over or moved by
/ the inspiring appeal to which they had
| listened. The conference. called r.
refuse the Geran bill, voted TO make
d party measure.
A Republican caucus was proposed
TO insure party unauimity against the
bill. but so many Republican mem ocr-
refused in advance TO he bound that
the plan was abandoned The opuu~I-
ton had hoped that the senate com
port the bin ont, hut 10 this Senator
Bradley. Republican. chairlan of the
committee. declined 10 lie q party.
The senate elections Committee d.l
hold public hearing arranged 10y Inc
opposition. 1t was a melancholy al
fair. from their standpoint. The speak
ers who were 10 demoi~a the l.I
never came. while a batter of aisle
and by now enthusiastic e. gouCerS
riddied the preteDsicns Il lie onyIaE.
Among the expected lights who failed
20 come and scintillate Tor the senate
committee and the public was Mr..
John William Grig"S. McKiIley's at
torney general and governor OF The
state during the palElc~t days Of IN
rebuked mis~Ule. Governor Wilson in
formed the senators that if IT. GricgS
appeared he wovli come himself and
make few remarks su-go t.i by
the former ATTORNEY generals speech
1t would have been great AgHa-p had
it ever come of The governor va..a3
in his Office. hut Mir. GriE-s never
came. The total of the opposition was
represented 10y James Smith. Jr'S. phi
waite secretary. who. after some dgsu.-
tory vaporiugS, sent word &, his chief
that open opposition 10 the Geggn bill
was futile
So now was secret opposition. VA
gent sill hung about Trenton One
day he went into the governors office
at the governors request TO talk
things over"
Nugent very quickly lost his temper.
Il know you think you've got the
votes he exclaimed. 4 don't know
how you got them"
What do you mean:" qUerioa the
~vernOr sharply
Its the sGlk Of the Ststehou,e that
or Thorn Nv ~ t-..rr.. srg.