New Britain herald., 1918-03-21
FORGET POLITICS.
 WILSON'S ADVICE
Urges National Unity in Message
 to Jersey Democrats

4NeNdIh, \. d.. M dICu L~--N CIV Jersey democratic leaders assembled here last night for reorganization banquet were greeted by message from President Wilson, as national from President Wilson, as national head of the party, calling upon them to rise to the test of a, new time when old party slogans have lost their sig nificance and to commit themselves to disinterested service to humanity.
 In letter presented by Secretary Tumulty, the president said the ne- cessity for his staying lon the job' made it impossible for him to be present, but 1t was clear that in the present posture of affairs in New Jersey he could not overlook his re- sponsibility to point out what he be- lieved to be the duty of the demo- crats of the state in a great hour of crisis. He reviewed briefly he record of the party while he served as gov- ernor, declaring that in every act of legislation i've cut clear pathway of public service'' and gave the peo- pie a government they could feel was their own, unhampered by special privilege.
 "A time of grave crisis has come in the life of the democratic party in New Jersey the president wrote, a time when its friends and supporters must face the facts of the situation if they would serve the cause of free government in New Jersey. Every sign these terrible days of war and revolutionary change when economic and social forces are being released upon the world whose effect no po- 1itica1 seer dare venture to conjec- ture, bids Us search our hearts through and through and make them ready for the birth of a new day, we hope and believe of greater oppor- tunity and greater prosperity for tho average mass of struggling men and women, and of greater safety and opportunity for children.
 ''The old party slogans have lost their significance and will mean nothing to the voter of the future, for the war is certain to change the mind of Europe as well as the mind of America. Men everywhere are search ing democratic principles to their hearts in order to determine their soundness, their sincerity, their adapt ability to the real needs of their life, and every man with any vision must see that the real test of justice and
 
 never came before. The men in the trenches who have been freed from the economic serfdonl to which some of them had been accustomed. will. it is likely, return to their homes with a new view and new impatience of all mere political phrases and will de- mand real thinking and sincere action.
 Let the democrats party in New Jersey. therefore, forget everything but the new service which they are to be called upon to render. The days of political and economic reconstruc- tion which are ahead of us no man can now definitely assess but we know this, that every program must be shot through and through with utter disinterestedness that no party must try to serve itself, but every party must try to serve humanity, and that the task is a very practical one, m meaning that every program, every measure in every program, must be tested by this question and this uues tion only: Is it just, is it for the ben eft of the average man, without in- fuence or privilege; does it embodY in real fact the highest conception for social justice and of right dealing, without respect of person or class or particular interest?
 This is a high test. It can be met only by those who have genuine sym pathy with the mass of men and real insight into their needs and opportu- mites and a purpose which is purged alike of selfish and of partisan inten- tion. The party which rises to this test will receive the support of the people, because it deserves it.'
 1f1- O1 that in his opinion they had listened to letter which embodied the Sos pei of democracy of this new day.
 "Those principles" he said, "rep- resent the outpourings of the heart of one of the greatest leaders of dem- ocratic forces in the world at this time-a leader whose moral weight and influence Is as dominant in the councils of Europe as it is in the councils of the democratic posts in our own country He has given ex- pression to the yearnings that come from the hearts of common men. What a mighty difference there is when you contrast these stirring doc- trines with that much-vaunted, over advertised program of efficiency whose wreclss and ruins are streNn along the legislative pathway of New Jersey. Tn the one. you hear the cry of humanity; in the other. you hear the demands of the counting-h house, the vociferous urginss of special privilege.
 "Therefore, the supreme duty If this hour-one which calls for the pa triotism of everyone within our ranks is to win this war and to end in fine fashion this terrible tragedy which has 1ra wn the whole world in to the aelstrom of blood and tears
 we are living in days of great stress and strain--in days when great sacrifices Of blood and treasure are being made by freemen throughout a q icn