The Penn's Grove record., 1913-01-17

one Of the most profitable and enc OF
The most permanent sources of wealth.,
a permanent crop devoted to a thou
sand uses.
1t is by such means that the people
come to understand themselves and
their own interests and assume their
real sovereignty. Discussion of public
questions becomes a very vital thing
for them when the functions OF gov
eminent touch their daily lives and
there is something of immediate con-
sequence to them to discuss. Discus
sions must constantly clear the air
and drive everything hidden from it's
covert. We ought, therefore, to afford
the people every facility for discus
sion. Convenient and inexpensive meet
ing places ought to be supplied at the
public expense. 1t ought not to be
necessary to hire a hall whenever it
is desired to have a public meeting.
The owners of halls charge high
prices when they can and are often
partisans and will not let their halls
at all to those whom they wish to de-
feat or embarrass. Every community
has its sc~hoolhouses. They should be
available for every kind of proper
neighborhood meeting out of school
hours. If local school boards are illib-
eral or partisan or unreasonable, they
ought to be commanded in their duty
in this matter by statute. / recommend
such legislation to you very heartily.
A great movement has sprung up
in this country in recent years which
centres around the schoolhouse as a
place of neighborhood conference in
all matters affecting the public or any
local part of it. 1t is known as the
social centre movement. 1t has the
force and momentum of a great idea
in it. Secret forces, corrupt forces,
forces of evil of every kind are
against it, are afraid of it. They fear
neighborhood discussion. They do not
wish to have local and neighborhood
matters canvassed too much out loud.
1t is our duty as public servants to
lend full and edIectual aid to this
movement. We can do it by making
philosophical men and women every
where free of the use of the school
houses. A very simple statute will
accomplish the desired result. The
free forces of society will do the
rest.
The Governor says that if this con-
dition had prevailed last winter the
Morris Canal question would have
been settled once and for all. An
other paragraph urges the simplifica-
ton of the States administration
system.
There are other things we have out
grown. The constitution of the State
needs reconsideration in a score of
sequence. No doubt it's provisions
were considered wise and suitable It
the time of it's adoption, but that was
quite two generations ago and the
circumstances of our life have altered
fundamentally within that time, politi-
cally, socially, economically. l urge
upon you very earnestly indeed the
need and demand for a constitutional
convention. The powers of corrupt
control have an enormous and abiding
advantage under our CONSTITUTIONAL
arrangements as they stand. We
shall not be free from them until we
get a different system of representa-
ton and a different system of official
responsibility. l hope that this quss-
ton will be taken up by the Legisla-
ture at once and a constitutional con
vention arranged for without delay,
in which the new forces of our day
may speak and may have a chance to
establish their ~ascendancy over the
rule Of machines and BOSSES.
Two great amendments to the Con-
stitution of the United States await
ratification by New Jersey, the amend
ment comforting upon the Congress of
the United States in unmistakable
terms the power to levy taxes on in
comes, and the amendment providing
for the election of Senators of the
United States by the direct vote of
the people. / a not too strongly urge
upon the Legislature the ratification
of both of these amendments. We can
not keep our place among the pro-
gressive States of the Union and re-
ject them. Indeed, we shall be in a
very small minority if we do reject
them.
May l not, in closing, express the
satisfaction l feel in the knowledge
that when l lay down the duties of
Governor l shall leave them in the
hands Of, Senator Fielder, a man Of
proved character, capacity, fidelity,
and devotion to the public service, a
man of a type to which the people Of
the State desire their public men to
conform. l look back with the great
est admiration to that fine group of
men in the Houses whose names all
the State knows and honors, who set
the pace in the days when the State
was to be redeemed. 1t is men like
these who have rendered the policies
and reforms of the last two years pos
sible. 1t is men like these who will
carry them forward, and the people
of the State will sustain them. They
will sustain no others. Woe betide
the individuals or the party groups
that turn away from that path! The
future is with those who serve, and
who serve without secret or selfish
purpose. A free people has come to
know its own mind and it's own
friends. WOODROW WILSON,
I Trenton, n. j., Governor.