Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-01-27

Of the state and now suggested him
as a 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
out the country. He was an accom-
plished and persuasive speaker. a 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 II 1t could place such a
man az Wilson in the presidential chair.
1t IL 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 az putty in the
hands Of an experienced politician,
especially II his eyes were rose spec.
tacled by the promise Of q nomination
for president.
During the early summer 81 1910
President Wilson was told BY q num-
Ter Of his friends that he could proba-
bly, have the Democratic nomination
for governor II he desired It. These
limitations became 80 numerous and
so pointed and were accompanied by
so many assurances Of the benefit the
party and the state would derive from
his acceptance that Mr.. Wilson was
constrained to lend them a favorable
earl
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 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 could
such gang support him1 Were they
deceiving themselves as to their mani
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
ocratic legislature which Wilson's pop
ularity was likely to elect?
On that point Mr.. Wilson made spe-
cific inquiry Of the gentlemen who
came to him on their puzzling Grand
He required their assurance that Mr..
Smith would not seek the senatorship.
"Were he to do 50 while l was gov
ernor," he told them, II should have to
oppose him. He represents everything
repugnant to my convictions" They
told him categorically that Smith had
no idea Of going back to the senate:
that he was a man thought to be sick
with a dangerous constitutional all
ment and borne down by domestic be-
reavement and that he was definitely
out Of politics.
On Tuesday. July IL. 1910. number
Of gentlemen gathered in a private
room Of the Lawyers club, 100 Broad
way, New York. to inquire Of Mr.. Will
son whether he would allow his name
to be presented to the New jersey
Democratic state convention.
On July 10 Mr.. Wilson issued a pub
lie statement in which he said that II
It were the wish "of q decided majori-
ty Of the thoughtful Democrats Of the
state" that he should be their candi.
date for governor he would accept the
nomination.
The announcement caused sensa-
ton. 1t was received with enthusiasm
by many men Of both parties. Yet
there were not lacking those who
were 80 suspicious Of Smith and bis
associate bosses that they could not
believe the nomination was to be CIV
en- Mr.. Wilson without pledges from
him. Again. some Of the best and
most intelligent men Of the Democrat
ic party, while they did not doubt the
integrity Of the proposed nominee, did
fear that his inexperience in practical
politics would make him an easy in
strument of the gang. Mr. Wilson had
been assured that only his consent
was necessary for his unchallenged
nomination. but in fact opposition to
It at once arose and continued until
the convention balloted. Three other
Democrats - Frank 8. Katzenbach.
George 8. Silzer and Fl. Otto Wittpen
| Immediately entered the ring.
After issuing his statement Mr.. VII.
son went to the little town Of Lyme,
Conn.,, where he has been in the habit
Of spending his summers. and-spent
his summer. He moved not one Of his
ten fingers in behalf Of the nomina-
ton. Certain other people. however.
were moving everything movable to
that end The fact that the Smith
crowd was advocating him puzzled
many who otherwise would have been
his foremost supporters. 1t was only
las Mr.. Wilson afterward learned to
bis amazement by sharp dragooning
that a majority sufficient to make him
the choice was seated In the Trenton
convention on Sept. Is.
| The speech made in that body by
Clarence Cole. formally putting Prince
toms president in nomination, was in
terrupted by jeers. catcalls and sarcas-
by Mr.. Smith were. however. closely
listened to. The big boss said that he
had no personal acquaintance with
Mr.. Wilson. Mr.. Wilson and he did
not move in the same world. He had
never converted with him. Had con-
ditions been different he should have
preferred a candidate identified with
the organization. But 1t was neces-
sary to find a man who could be
elected.
These were sagacious sentences and