Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-19
E'WOODROW WILSON
AS | KNOW HIM"
Continued From Page ~

Of their will and purpose to the law
making body. The people had voted
for MARITIME. The fact that Senator
Smith had scOrned to have his name
placed on~the ballot, the fact that
human imagination could picture
stronger senator from New Jersey
than genial Jim MARITIME, did not
affect the argument. A great major
ity had voted for MARITIME and for
nobody else. Was the use of the
preferential primary for the first
time in the selection of United
States senator to be ignored, and all
the arguments that Candidate VII
son and others had made in behalf
of the system to be taken lin
PickWickian sense, as not meaning
anything?
There was a real dilemma, doubt
less much more acutely realized by
the goVernor-elect than by the hot
heads, including myself. who were
clamorous for an immediate procla-
nation of support Of MARITIME on pro-
gressive principles, and for an ultl-
matum of war-to- the-knife aNe!nst
Smith and the old crowd.
Hesitation Before Action
1t seemed as if Mr.. Wilson was
hesitating and holding off, reluctant
to accept the gage Of battle thrown
down by the challenge of the smith
wing. The leading Democratic ana
Independent journals Of the state
were most insistent that immediate
proof be given. by Governor elect
Wilson of his leadership and control
over the party, and that test should
be made as to which influence, re-
dictionary or progressive, was 10 con-
troll the destinies of our party IN the
state. Those Of us who had fol
lowed the candidate throughout the
campaign and who had been heart
ened by his progressive attitude were
sorely disappointed at his failure I'M
mediately 10 act. 1t was painfully
evident to us that behind the scenes
at Princeton the new governors
friends, particularly Colonel Harvey,
were urging upon him cautious and
well-considered action and what,
mayhap, might be called "a policy of
watchfu! waiting" picturing to him
the insurmountable difficulties that
would lie in his path in case he ex-
ercised his leadership in the matter
of Marines selection to the United
States senate. They suggested that
the vote for MARITIME had no binding
force; that it was mere perfunctofy
expression of preference in the mat
ter of the United States senatorsh1p,
which the legislature was free 10
ignore. The only man, therefore,
who could make the vote etfectlVe
was the governor elect himself. What
he would do in these circumstances
was for days after the election
matter of perplexing doubt to his
many friends.
Disappointment and chagrin at the
candidates silence brooded over the
ranks of the progressives of the
state. In my law office in Jersey
City 1 tried to convince those VINO
came to confer with me regarding
the matter that they must be pa
tient; that, ultimately, everything
would be all right and that DR.. VIII
son would soon assert his leader
shin over the party and take his
nroner place at the head of those
who worked to make preferential
vote an effective fundamentally as
evidencing the peoples Will IN inc
matter of the United States senator
ship. Frankly, though, L did not
give expression to my doubts, was
profoundly and deeply disappointed
at the apparently hesitant, uncer-
tain attitude of the GoVernor-elect.
Feeling certain that popular opinion
would be with him in case ne de-
cided to lead in this struggle, was
convinced that the delay in an
no11ncing his attitude toward the
Smith Nugent 'defi'' was dampen-
ing the ardor and enthusiasm of
many of his friends.
The progressive Democrats of the
state waited with patience the word
of command and counsel from the
Princeton professor to initiate the
fight that would settle for all time
in the state of New Jersey the ques-
ton whether the referendum
on the question Of cleo
of election of United States senators
should be treated as "a scrap OF
paper" or whether it was to be up
held and indicated by the action
of the legislature. No direct word
came to me of the gOVernOr-electS
attitude on this vital question. Ru-
mors of his position toward Senator
Smiths candidacy filtered through
the lines from Princeton; various
stories and limitations that seemed
to indicate that the goVernor-elect
would allow Marines selection to
go by default; that he would not
interfere in any way to carry out
the mandate of the election.
A Visit From Mr.. Wilson.
Things were in this unsatisfactory
condition when to my surprise L re-
ceived call in my modest Jersey
City law offices from the governor
elect. Knowing him as l now know
him, I can see that in his deliberate
fashion he was taking testimony
from both sides and slowly arriV-
ing at his own decision. Having
heard from the cautious who cOun
seled neutrality, he was now seeking
the arguments of the impetuOuS
who demanded action and wanted it
"hOt off the bat" But at that time,
not knowing him as | now know
him, he seemed in this interview to
be vacillating between two opinions,
for he did what [ have often known
him to do subsequently, stated with
lucidity the arguments of the other
side, and with the air of one quite
open-minded and without opinions
of his own he seemed to seek my
arguments in rebuttal. l was sorely
disappointed by what then appeared
to me to be his negative attitude,
so unlike the militant debater whom
T had come to admire in the cam