Rock Island Argus., 1913-03-01

son went 10 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 uomina-
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
(as Mr.. Wilson afterward learned to
his amazemeno by sharp dragooning
that q majority sufficient TO make him
the choice was seated in the Trenton
convention on Sept 15.
The speech made IN that body by
Clarence Cole. formally putting Prince
tons president in nomination, was in
terrupted by jeers, catcails and sarcas-
dc questions A few remarks made
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 conversed with him. Had con-
ditions been different he should have
preferred candidate identified with
the organization. But it was neces-
sary to fiud a man who could be
elected.
These were sagacious sentences and
had the incidental merit of telling the
truth
On the first ballot. 709 votes being
necessary TO a choice. Woodrow vii.
son receiFed 74e and was declared the
nominee for governor. Hastily sum-
moned from Princeton, eleven miles
away, he appeared on the platform and
made speech OF acceptance so ring
ing in its assertion of independence
and so trumpet toned in it's utterance
Of the principles Of progressive de-
mocracy that the convention was fair
/ ly carried of its feet. Few of the dele
gates had ever seen or heard Mr.. Will
son. Had he made that speech before
the ballot there would have been ne
ballot. Having made IT. he became the
candidate of a united and enthusiastic
party.
Now, this story Of MI Wilson's nomi-
nation is worth telling in some detail
because, in the first place, il is a fun
ny story. in the light of it's sequel
and because, in the second place. 1t has
to do with the charge Of "inGratitude"
/ the gravest brought against New
Jerseys governor.
After few speeches in which Ii was
apparent that the nominee had a little
difficulty in bringing himself TO ask
( anybody TO vote for him Mr.. Wilson
developed unusual power as a cam
paiSner This candidate had things to
say on which his convictions were so
strong and his sense of their impor-
tance so great that he soon learned
language that caught the ear and won
the warm attention OF the great body
of the plain voters of New Jersey. He
talked TO them of the need of drag
ginG public business out of private
rooms. where secret Interests and pro-
fessional political jobbers conspire. into
the open air where all might see what
is being done: OF the need of new po-
litiCal machinery that the people
might resume the control of their own
industrial changes OF the past twenty
years. making necessary the renova-
I ton Of all orr old social and indus
. trial ideas; of the need OF new rela-
tons between workingmen and their
employers. now that these are days of
great corporations; Of the need of reg
ulating strictly those corporations;
talked simply. strnightforwardly. of
all manner of specific public things in
hot IN
Individual voter with n new sense Of
his own personal concern in them and
awakened in him a new EealiZation of
his duty. his power and his opportu-
nifty. He not only did thiS-he lifted
political discussion to a new plane till
at every meeting the audience was
thrilled with the consciousness that
the problems of today are gigantic,
critical, big with the purposes of Prov
idence. as they heard this man picture
them on the broad background OF his
tory in the inspiration or d soul afiame
with love of common humanity and
faith in its progress toward splendid
futures.
One incident OF the campaign was
the candidates reply to a list of ques-
tions, presumed TO be embarrassing.
asked him in an open letter by Pro
gresslve Republican. Mr.. George L.
Record. Mfr. Record put into careful
form nineteen queries, requiring Mr..
Wilson to declare himself on such sub.
jects as a public service commission
with power to fix rates. the physical
valuation Of public service corpora
tion properties. direct primaries. pop
ular election OF United States sena-
tors, ballot reform. corrupt practices
legislation, employers liability for
workingmen's injuries and finally his
own opinion of the Democratic bosses
namely, Smith. Hugent and Davis.
With instant readiness, with auda-
cious glee, Mr. Wilson gave his an
swers. He accepted the whole Progress
sive Republican program and asked
for more; no Republican could satisfy
a progressive Democrats appetite for
reform. As for Smith, Nugent and
Davis. he would join anybody In de-
nouncing them: they differed from
Baird, Kean. Stokes and Murphy In
this-that the latter ARE in control Of
the government Of the state. while the
others are not and cannot be II TIE
. DrpSenf Democratic ticket iS eIacfod .