New-York tribune., 1918-10-24
r GUS than mere political personalities

d r Gus than mere political personalities
and rartisanship, do not fear the re-
sut, as ! am convinced that Jcrseymen
/ require neither political instruction nor
extensive political campaigning in or
der to decide upon the ca. didates most
capable of represent ng great sta G
in great legislative body during q
vital period in the ! fe of the nation.
Impressed with this conviction, as
is we'll known in New Jersey, ] have
not n nade political speech in the
campaign. In New Jersey we are not
| doing things on partisan basis to-
{ day, and we will not assume a pure
partisan attitude toward the President
/ of the United States, even in po ltlcs.
The President says in his letter that
he Graves the support of New Jersey
, Certainly he has the support and VIII
continue to have it.
Our state has q patriotic recoru~-
q record which shows most emphatic
ally that Jerseymen have laid aside
I their po.ltics and their partisanship to
support the commander in chef IN
every measure looking to the vigorous
prosecution of the war. l prefer to
I be generous and look upon IRE ldent
Wilson's letter as merely the friend y
word of encouragement to candidates
DO l,ca patty. rat er tnan as an at
tempt to dictate New Jersey politics
and an aDrogaton of politics adj
jcurned.'
81, however, take emphatic eXccp-
tion to the inference that the p esi-
dent must necessarily have q Congr, So
of his own political faith in order to
conduct the country, either at war or
ct peace.
Facts show that President Wilson
did not need a Congress composed eX-
c.usively of members of his own party
in order to win the war. History
demonstrates that his strongest sup
porters have frequently be n ReNubl'
cans. Certainly. then, no such un nj
nous political situation at Wash NJ
ton wi be necessary in facing the
problems of domestic reconstruction,
which will likely be the ! ad ng ones
before the Congress to be elected this
fail"
Reconstruction Is lmnortant
ain that part cular period the best
minds should be devoted to bring ng
the country back to genuine representa-
tive government by removing what has
been necessarily centralized control
during war. cannot conceive of a
worse calamity for Amer can democ-
racy than having only one source of
ir spiration. ony one dictation of ac-
ticn, supreme in our Republic. the very
cornerstone Of which is individual mi
tiatlve and representative government
"In these oh ervations it will be
plainly seen that | have been almost
impersonal, and certainly reserved, but
it might not be am SIS to refer briefly
to an occurrence in recent political his
tory. During the campaign for Gov
ernor two years ago, and before politics
was adjourned. the President s~oke
from Shadow Lawn, ca ling unon the
people of New jersey to elect my Dem
ocratic opponent. They answered by
giving me $1,000 plurality. succeeding
q Democratic Governor and perhaps it
is not entirely immodest for me to
draw attention t, the fact that this
was the largest majority ever given &
Governor in New Jersey.
"Wh;le from the broad stendpoint,
therefore, | regret that the President
has seen fit to enter into the state
campaign. from the STANDPOINT of per-
sonal advantage perhaps I should wrl-
come it. History may repeat itself.
Who knows ?"
George NJ. La Monte. before the
Presidents letter indorsing him was
made public. attacked Governor Edge,
which prom~ted the Governor 10 seek
scat in Wash 'ngton when he had
duties as Governor yet unfulilled.
"Pessonal ambition shou' d have no
stand ny at a crit cal time" said Mr.
La Monte. "If the Governor can as
Senator render a greater service to the
country than any one else en- the
roo1le of the country are entitled to
know what that peculiar service is or
VIII be-
Replying to this attack, Governor
Edge said
Il believe the public, irrespective Of
past party affiiatlon is bvco.n."g .uso
a little weary of the decidedly moth
eaten effort on the part of the Demo
crat cand; dates to make it aprear .hat
a. vote for a Republican is a repuda-
ton of the Pres .0ent. 1t is 20 me =
amnzing, but astounding when candi-
dates for the CHEST Legislative re-
sponsibility in the world, in an appeal
Tor support state over tteir own sig
natures that beside this issue (the
support Of the President> the G. a~actnr
of car d d9tes the instruments that the
people Will e to express their politi-
ca will are relatively un mportanu.'
According to tho statements Of the
Democratic cand dates it makes no
difference then what sort of man is
elected, whether he be effic 'ent or in
efficient, Amer can to the core or Hun
20 the veneer lust So he bears the
Democratic label"
Points to Wilson Defeats
Representative Bertrand H. Smell. of
Pot dam, said yesterday, at the Re-
publican Club that Presidential inter-
ference in the Senatorship fight in
New Jersey wou d rebound to the bene-
fit of tNe Republicans
"Peop'e do not like to be dictated
to said tiis men Der of Congress,
THE people of New Jersey are inte H.
gent. They do not need to be to d
ow to vote. They know already. The
President discovered that fat in 1916.
"lf mistake not tie Pre- dent two
years ago tried to encompass the de-
feat in the primaries of Louis w.
Fairfield, Democratic candidate for
Congress. Fairfield won. In New
lamps ire the President thought the
reelection Of Sherman T. Burroughs
would be menace. and said O. Bur
roughs won. Then he tried to per-
euade the people of Wisconsin That
Das'ics should be deelected Unitcd
States Senator, and after rousing Old
battle Lcnroot, Repub ican, won.
IN the Democratic primaries in
West VIRGINIA he leY+ CL;l+or IL: