Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-05-28
WOODROW
VII, S()lN

From the Cradle to i.
the White House
By WILLIAM bAYARD HALE
Copyright 1911. 1911, by Doubleday. Page
4 Co. -;
The whole legislative program fol-
lowed. Today Jersey has the most ad-
vanced and best working primary cleo
ton law in the Union. 1t has cor
rupt practices law Of the severest kind.
Betting on elections is forbidden.
Treating by candidates is forbidden.
All campaign expenses must be pub
lished. Corporations may not contrib
ute. The maximum amount allowed to
be spent by candidates for any Office is
fixed by law.
New Jersey today has public utili-
ties commission with power to APP
praise property, fix rates, forbid dis
ordinations, regulate finances, control
all sales, mortgages and leases in the
case Of all railroads, steam and cleo
trio, in the case Of express companies,
Of canal, subway. pipe line, gas, cleo
trio light, heat, power, water, oil, sew
or, telegraph, telephone companies, sys-
TENS, plants or equipments for public
use. Today New Jersey has an en-
ployers' liability law which gives an
injured employee immediate automatic
compensation paid by the employer
The workingman may, however, sue
for damages if he prefers to take his
chances before jury. The state has
today provision for the adoption by
such cities and towns as may desire it
of the commission form of government
on the Des Moines plan, with the ini-
tiative and referendum and recall. I'm
der this law Trenton, the capital, and
many other Jersey cities and towns are
trying scientific municipal government.
Governor Wilson has spoken in many
places in advocacy of the plan.
To this extraordinary record of pro-
gressive legislation must be added an
intelligent statute regulating the cold
storage Of food, legislation establishing
the indeterminate sentence in place Of
the old discredited fixed sentence and
the complete reorganization Of the pub
lie school system.
1t is worthy Of special remark that
the achievement of these surprising re-
suits over and against it's original op-
position left the legislature neverthe-
less in very friendly attitude Of
mind toward the governor. He earned
their respect, and he won, to boot,
the hearty good will of most of the
legislators. At first an atmosphere Of
diMdence hung over the executive
anterooms. Visitors were not sure
how they would be treated. But they
soonz found it delight to visit the
governors Office and began to think
up excuses for a look in. The spare
gray man with the long jaw had a
mighty taking way about him. There
was always ready smile and often a
lively story, and you seldom failed to
60 away with glow around your
heart.
The senators found him out in due
course of the session one night at a
little dinner given him and them by
she adjutant general, Mr.. Sadler, at
the Country club. There were some
darby music makers on hand, and
presently the high tenor voice that had
led two college glee clubs was carol
ing in darby dialect, and before long
| Ut was in the confidential privacy OF
group Of sympathetic senators) the
rather lengthy legs and other members
Of governor were engaged in a duet
cakewalk with one Of the older sena.
tors.
No retaliation was ever visited upon
adversaries of the governor. Assem-
blyman Martin Of Hudson county, 70,
instance, was prominent in the fight
against MARITIME, and he was a leader
in opposition to the Geran elections
bill. his opposition being doubtless sin
cerely based on his belief that it would
destroy the party organization. Martin
was much interested in bridge bill
affecting Hoboken and the north enc
Of his county. AS the time drew neal
for action upon the bridge bill he grew
very uneasy and was observed to b'
much in the vicinage Of the governor.
room, inquiring of all and sundry VIII,
were In communication with the ex
ecutive whether they thought he would
let 1t go through. 1t was difficult t.
persuade a man used to the customs
of the old days that there was a new
kind Of politician in the governor
chair, a politician who dealt with pro
posed legislation on it's merits and no
in the harboring Of vindictiveness no
the remembrance of promised reward
Mr.. Martins bill was a just and de
sirable measure, and he got it.
Ex-senator Smith, Wilson's bitter en-
envy, owns great deal of real es
! tate in Newark. His relative and chic
lieutenant, James r. Nugent, control
the city SO absolutely that lahore
can't get job on the street withou
his consent. However, there are som
i things which New Jersey city coun
Gil has to ask the legislature for pei
mission to do. This session there wa
to come up at Trenton a bill ALLOWING
the Newark common council in its dis
erection to widen certain streets. Th
improvement would enhance the valu