The Washington herald., 1916-11-11

That II elected he would consider hlmselt
the leader Of the States democracy.
They thought he did not mean 1t. But
Mr.. Wilson had not long been governor
when they found out their mistake. To
their surprise, the ex-college president
proved somewhat of a radical, condemh-
ing the States legislature and refusing
| to mind the bosses.
! Advocated New Ideas.
He espoused the initiative and refer
endum, stating that the views he had
held against these innovations while lee
turer at Princeton, had been mistaken.
The result Of Wilson'S term as governor
C911-1913) was a series Of anti-monoply
laws, called the Seven Sisters" prim-
ary election law, corrupt practice act.
employers liability act, public utilities
act municipal commission government
act and sterilization act.
Mr.. McCombs appears to have been tho
Original Wilson man. He was sure he
saw in the energetic governor 'presiden-
tial timber" He began to line up his
friends and came to the Baltimore Demo
cratic convention of 1872, with a few
pledged delegates.
That convention developed into a pro-
tracted struggle. Champ Clark had more
than a majority of votes on the tenth
ballot, but Mr.. Wilson's vote kept growing
until on Ine LOTIy-SlNIn DaIlOI ne TcCelVeu
the necessary two-thirds.
With William H. Taft and Theodore
Roosevelt dividing his opponents, M.
Wilson was easily elected. On his entry
into office he Immediately took UP tn
question of changing the tariff and the
Underwood act was the result. The credit
for this should go mostly to Mr. Wilson.
Believes in Democracy.
Mr. Wilson believes in personal con-
tact between the people and their OFF,
cials. He put this idea into effect by
going to the Capitol to read his mes
sages to Congress, breaking all prece-
dents in this respect.
The Mexican troubles have engaged a
large share Of President Wilson's atten-
ton. He decided the Mexicans should be
allowed to put their house in order with
out outside interference. But when
Huerta insulted the American flag at
| Tampico and refused to salute as q rep
aration, the President ordered the seizure
of Mexico's chief seaport. Vera Cruz.
This soon forced the abdication of
Huerta. Venustiano Carranza, Huerta's
successor. demanded that the American
troops withdraw and the President Or
dered Vera Cruz evacuated.
Disorder continued. American property
was destroyed and American lives lost.
Then Francisco Villa, the leader who was
for time the strongest figure in the re-
public, and who had a grudge against
the American President made a night
raid on Columbus. N. Mex. killed about
eighteen Americans and escaped to his
Businesses
President Wilson sent an expeditionary
force into Mexico and modified the Ma
tional Guard along the border. This Is
, the situation today. A joint American
Mexican commission has been trying to
! come to a settlement and is still sitting.
Japan Threatened Trouble.
Japan threatened trouble over the Cali
fornia exclusion law. but the President
smoothed over the difficulty.
The Federal Reserve law Is one Of the
Presidents most undoubted successes.
The new money system has stood the
test Of troublous times and come through
without difficulty.
The great European war which broke
out in August. 1914 brought a string OF
serious problems for the President First
there were the acts of partisans of the
warning nations in this country, who
committed many unneutra acts OF vio-
lence. These have now almost entirely
ceased Second, the holding I'D of ocean
mails and freight by the entente allies
irritated the nation and is still a sore
point. Third, and most menacing was
the controversy with Germany over the
latter's right to torpedo merchant steam
crs without warning. President Wilson
finally exacted promise from the
kaiser's government to observe the law.
Mr.. Wilson also took a great interest
in the bill for government merchant ves-
sells. which failed Of passage two years
ago, but was enacted in modified form
by the last session Of Congress.
Mr.. Wilson's first wife died August 6,
1914 She left three daughters, Miss Mar
garet Wilson. Mrs. William F. McAdoo,
and Mrs. Francis B. Sayre. On December
Is, 1915, Mr.. Wilson married Mrs. Edith
Boiling Gait, of Washington, D. c.