The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-09-05
About the Governor

1.-THE state has, at various times, had
ONE notably able chief magistrates, and
hen, on the other hand, men of medi-
GRITTY have occupied the executive
mansion.
Fort was succeeded by the most re-
character who ever filled the
chair, Woodrow Wilson,
he most adroit, most insidious politician
If contempOraneous times; all the more
sdroit, all the more insidious, all the
more effective because he has hidden
rom the masses the fact that he is a
politician.
Wilson's administration was abso
utely unique in the history of the state.
During the incumbencies OF Governors
Stokes and Fort they had been handi-
capped by recalcitrant and rebellious
corporation-owned, who re-
fused to pass the laws recommended by
the chief executives.
"Governor Wilson had no trouble
with these men. He treated them en-
tirely as pawns, as manikins, as au-
as blocks, as stones, as clods
Of earth. Assuming that they were in
Trenton to do his, not the peoples will,
he gave them their orders, and they
Obeyed, tho frequently with many a
grimace. II they evinced a disposition
TO demur, he dubbed them into SUBJ
mission without ceremony.
Under other circumstances his conduct
would have been startling; would have
shocked the populace; would have pre-
clpltated rebellion; would have brought
about his own impeachment.
Never was there Caesar, a Nero, a
Caligula, or Napoleon who exercised
such despotic power, who ruled with
such rod of iron; who so completely
usurped the powers of coordinate
branches of the government. Neverthe-
less, the people applauded.
when Wilson treated the legislators
as clods OF earth, and proceeded to pull
verize them with a club, the public
laughed in glee. For years the legisla-
tors had been recognized by the people
as clods of earth, and the people were
only too glad that some one had come
along to pound them into dust.
''Of course, all this conduct was un-
democratic, but it went, and Woodrow
Wilson became president.
''Of the latter's successor in the guber-
material chair, James f. Fielder, little
need be said. There is some difference
between the light of the sun and that
AiOA4 u AAC-Aly VI SIOW-WOIAs
What about the present campaign
for q successor to Fielder
THE Republican of progressive pro-
clivities Is up against tough PROPOSE
ton. In the first place there is no Pro-
gressive candidate in the field. The
Democrats will nominate H. Otto Witt
penn, of Hudson county. There may
be some Progressives who will vote for
him. II they do, they will regret it.
In making this statement no reflection
is intended regarding Mr.. Wittpenn' q
or his fitness for the high
Office Of governor. But no good ever vet
resulted to the cause ofprogressiveism in
electing a Democrat to Office. A Demo
crat is part Of system which is really
undemOcratic, absolutely bourbonistic,
essentially non-progressive.
"A Democratic candidate for Office will
gladly accept the support of men OF pro-
gressive proclivities, but in the last
analysis he is a Democrat, pure and
simple, partisan, and nothing more.
There are three candidates for the
Republican nomination, George L.
Record, Austen Colgate and Walter E.
Edge.
In mentality, Record unquestionably
excels his competitors. He is a keen
lawyer, fighter from Fayetteville, a
fine public speaker, and were he chosen
governor, there would be something
doing every minute. But he won't be
chosen governor. Absolutely he is not
in the race; he will not carry a county.
Record was at one time, Democrat,
it is said. Later he became a Republi-
can. In 1912 he was one of the leaders
in the great Roosevelt uprising, and, for
two years, was member of the Progress
i've state committee. Then, in 1914, he
returned to the Republican party.
while most Of the Progressives are
returning TO the Republican party now,
Record went back two years too soon.
The two candidates for the Republi.
can nomination who have chance OF
winning at the primaries are State Sena.
tor Colgate and State Senator Edge.
Neither one exactly appeals to the
progressive element of the party. Col
gate has one advantage. He was for
merly looked upon as a man of indie
pendent notions; a progressive Republic
can, in other words. For this reason
some prefer him to Edge.
But there is another side to the CUES
ton which the casual observer overlOoks
but which the careful analyst takes into
account and is greatly influenced by.
After getting into the state senate
Colgate became a devoted henchman OF
the machine, and his entire legislative
service was adjusted thereto. The most
servile tool was no more to be depended
upon by the bosses when machine meas
ures were pending before the senate thar
Austen Colgate.
Both Colgate and Edge are men OF
means. But there is this difference
Colgate inherited his fortune and his
business from his father. Edge was q
penniless lad twenty years ago who has
made his own way in the world. That
is a distinction with difference, a very
wide differences.
To one who is familiar with Senator
Colgate's legislative service it seems
strange that he should be a success as
the head of large business establish
ment. As matter of fact he seems to
have no familiarity at all with what is
going on in the senate; he has no know
ledge of the details Of legislation.
ANY one who has frequented the sem
ate chamber at Trenton observes a sim
gular sight. Instead of twentv-one SEN
ators occupying seats on the fioor-one
for each county-there appear to be
twenty-five. The twenty-second man is
joe Crawford, city solicitor of Newark.
who occupies a chair beside Colgate's'
incidentally, Crawford is supposed to be
looking after the interests of New Jer-
sey's invisible government
His chief duty, however, is to advise
Colgate concerning legislation. He
keeps track of all bills, and those which
affect the interests of Essex county he
briefs for Senator Colgate. When the
latter is called upon to speak upon such
measures, pro or con, he bases his brief
upon the memoranda supplied
by "Joe" Crawford. This procedure goes
IN from the beginning of the session un.
ill the close.
This is the man whom New JERSEY
and Progressives are asked
% place in the gubernatorial chair at
Trenton. Hadn't we better elect Joe
Crawford2
"Colgate's utter unfamiliarity with
politics and the practical things of life.
shown in an amazing wayin the cam
)aign literature which has been dis
ributed throughout the state in his be-
lah.
''The only remaining candidate for the
is Walter E. Edge, of At
antic county. New Jersey Progressives
would not ordinarily select Senator Edge
IS an ideal chief executive. However.
lpon close analysis of the situation it
will be found that such a conclusion is
'ased upon the fact that he has always
'een party man and identified with
'arty politics.
In the presidential contest, Progress
ives are deprived of their own choice of
candidate, but, like practical men,
hree-fourths of them will vote for
Iharles E. Hughes, as one who most
learly approaches their ideals.
80 too, in the gubernatorial struggle
n New Jersey, with no prospect of elect
ny q man of progressive Droclivities