Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-29

would not be worthy of the trust of
single man in the state or in the
country were [ afraid to do my duty
and protect private property by my
act"
Forecast War
His attitude toward the bill was
clearly set forth in the veto, part OF
which is as follows:
II know the seriousness and great
consequence of the question affected
by this important measure. There is
demand, we'll grounded and impera-
tive, throughout the state that some
practicable legislation should be
adopted whereby the grade crossings
of railways. which everywhere
threaten life and interfere with the
convenience of both city and rural
communities, should as rapidly as
possible be abolished. But there is
certainly not a demand in New Jer'
sey for legislation which is unjust
and impracticable. ". The non
enactment of this bill into law will
Of course, be a serious disappoint-
ment to the people of the state, but
it will only concentrate their atten-
ton upon the just and equitable way
of accomplishing the end in view.
do not believe that the people OF
the state are in such haste as to be
willing to work a gross injustice
either to the railroads or to private
owners Of property$or to the sew
eral communities affected"
OF course, his political enemies
made free use of this veto in an
effort to injure him throughout the
country in every state campaign
where his fortunes as a candidate
were involved. AS a matter of fact
his veto of this bill did shock the
people of the state, but when they
seriously considered the matter in
all it's aspects they felt that their
governor had at least done an hon
orable and a courageous thing in
refusing to approve it.
Discussion of him as strong
presidential possibility was steadily
growing. I had felt a delicacy about
talking of this with him, but in a
walk that we were accustomed to
take along the banks of the Della
ware and Raritan canal between of
flee hours, I one day made bold
to open the subject in this way: "It
is evident from the newspapers
governor, that you are being con
sidered for the presidency" I could
plainly see from the\ way he met
the suggestion that he did not resent
my boldness in opening the discus
sion. I told him that we were re
ceiving letters at the executive Of
fices from various parts of the coun
try in praise of the program he had
just put through the legislature. AS
we discussed the possibilities of the
presidential situation, he turned to
me in the most solemn way, and
putting his hand to his mouth, as
if to whisper something, said, 81
do not know, Tumulty, that I would
care to be president during the next
four years." and then, looking
around as if. he were afraid unin
vited ears might be listening, he con
tinued, "for the next president will
have a war on his hands, and
am not sure that I would make a
good war president This reply
greatly excited my curiosity, and
interest, and I said, with what ma
ton do you think we will have a
WARP" Very cautiously, he said 81
10 IlOL care W lldlllS IllC lloIlOll1
and our little talk ended. This
statement was made to me in April
1910. Was it a prophecy of the war
that was to burst upon the world in
August, 1914?
Copyright, 1921, by Doubleday,
Page & Goa
(All Rights Reserved) a..
(To BE Continued.)