Rock Island Argus., 1913-03-01

plurality OF 1880. Two years before
rality Of $1,000. Wilson had changed
the political mind of 66,OO0 out of
4S3 900 voters.
On the same day the majority of
those Democrats who took the trouble
to mark their ballots in this particular
selected James E. MARITIME as their
choice for United States senator. The
total Democratic vote for senator was
only 10000. MARITIME received $4,000.
Nobody voted for James Smith. Jr
James Z. MARITIME was an honest and
faithful Democrat with radical views,
as genial and good hearted a man as
ever breathed. but scarcely a man that
would have been chosen deliberately
for the dignities of membership in the
august body that sits in the northern
end OF the national capitol. Regularly
for years he had been put up as candi-
date for an old Office to which there
was no hope Of election. 1t was a
well established rule that MARITIME was
always to run-never to reach any.
thing.
Ten days after the election James
Smith, Jr., called on Governor Elect
Wilson at his home in Princeton. The
ex-senator is a gentleman of taste. of
Chesterfeldian manner and delightful
conversation. and his congratulations,
we may depend upon 1t. were graceful
ly phrased. Equally graceful was his
ho l. 4,
health now greatly bettesed and his in
timation that he now indeed felt Justi-
fed in taking into serious considera-
ton the idea OF asking reelection to
the United States senate.
Governor Elect Wilson. when he had
satisfied himself that he had heard
Alright, expressed the very great aston
ishmeut which he felt. He then said
to Mr.. Smith that he regarded the idea
as impossible. and he begged him to
abandon 1t forthwith. The ex-senator
turned the talk on Marines qualifica-
tons or lack of them, which Mr.. VIII
son refused to discuss. The issue was
not MARITIME. but the party's faith The
primary had elected MARITIME, and there
was nothing for the legislature to do
9It ratify that election.
The primary was a joke" said
Smith.
st was very far from a joke" re-
Joined the governor elect. But assume
that It was; then the way to save 1t
from being joke hereafter is to take
it seriously now. 1t Is going to be
taken seriously. and there will be no
more jokes. The question who IL to
enjoy one term in the senate Is or small
consequence compared with the ques-
ton whether the people OF New Jersey
are to gain the right to choose their
own senators forever"
Smiths candidacy was now made
publicly known, and the party sharply
divided, the organization declaring its
purpose and its ability to carry the
legislature for him and the decent
rank and file denouncing the attempt
to steal a senatorship for a discredited
politician who dared not run in the
primary.
AS last effort to save Mr. Smith
from the humiliation he was deter
ONNl tdht llllil II lF pei
sisted Mr.. Wilson called on Mr.. Smith
by appointment at his house in New
ark. 1t was in the late afternoon Of
Tuesday, Dec. G. The governor elect
said he had come to say that, although
he had as yet taken no public stand. il
was his intention unless Mr.. Smith
withdrew from the senatorial contest
to announce his opposition to him.
will you be content in having thus
publicly announced your opposition -
asked the aspirant
NO. | shall actively oppose you
with every honorable means in my
power" replied the governor elect
Does that mean that you will en-
ploy the state patronage against me:
inquired Nr. Smith.