The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-03-31

years
run t
Lar
Trenton, but the system, was really a
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
icisnas connected with certain scandals
incidental to the framing of the VIII
son tariff. Ex-senator Smith is a poll
ished 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, tie great moral movement
which during the last FIVE years has
New Jersey unaware of its gathering
power The leaders of both parties
were forced to heed It, In the Repub-
Hcan party Everett Colby. George L
Record and others stirred up a dam
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
tained 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 polisical re-
form. President Wilson was student
OF public affairs of authority through
out the country. He was an accom-
plished and persuasive speaker, man
of lofty character and winning person.
atty. Indeed. from outside the state,
from the press of many cities, had come
the suggestion that the nation would
be fortunate If ii could place such a
man rs Wilson In the presidential chair
1t is easy enough to see how the idea
of rnnning Wilson for governor needed
only present itself to the imagina. ION
of shrewd boss to become imme.liate
~ congenial The Democratic leader nc
doubt naturally imagined that learn
ed collegian would be as putty in the
hands of an experienced politician.
especially II his eyes were rose spec
sacled by the premise of a nomination
For president
During the early summer of 1910
President Wilson was told by a mum
Der of his friends that he could proba-
bly, have the Democratic nomination
for governor If he desired it. These
intimatiOns begaine So Numerous anu
so pointed and were accompanied by
so many assurances of the benRrit the
party and the state would derive from
his acceptance that Mr. Wilson was
constrained to lend them a favorable
ear.
And yet the prospective nominee was
profoundly puzzled While sentiment
among the best class of voters through
out the state was strong, the practical
overtures came from Tie 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 could
such gang support him? Were they
deceiving themselves as to their man?
Did they fancy that his lifelong de-
testation of corrupt politics was simply
pose? Did Smith regard the school
master as a simple soul who would
hand out corporation favors without
knowing? Did he expect TO get Unit
ed States senatorship through the Dem
ocratie legislature which Wilson's pop
ularity was likely TO elect2
On that point Mr.. Wilson made spe
cif1c inquiry OF the gentlemen who
came to him on their puzzling errand
He required their assurance that Mr..
Smith would not seek the senatorship
Were he to do SO while l was gov
ernor," he told them. Il should have TO
oppose him. He represents everything
repugnant TO my conyictions.' They
told him categoricaIly that Smith had
no idea Of geing back TO the senate;
that he was man thought to be sick
with a dangerous constitutional all
ment and borne down By domestic be-
reaTement aud that be was definitely
out of politics.
On Tuesday. July Z. 1910. number
of gentlemen gathered in a private
room OF the Lawyers club. 40 Broad
way. New York. to inquire of Mr. VIII
son whether he would allow his name
to be presented to the New Jersey
Democratic state convention.
On July Is Mr.. Wilson issued pub
lie statement IN which he said TINT If
it were the wish ..of a decided majorI
~ OF the thoughtful Democrats OF the
state, that he should be their candi-
date for governor lie would accept the
nomination.
The announcement caused a sense
ton II vas received with enthusiasm