Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-24
Woodrow Wilson
As Know Him
RY JOSEPH p. TUMULTY
CHAPTER TX
(Continued.)
Getting Into the Fray

(Continued.)
Getting Into the Fray
= Returning to Princeton from New
ark, the formal announcement Of the
COY 4rnor's entrance into the fight
was made and the contest for he
senatorship and the leadership Of the
Democratic party was on. The an
nouncement was as follows:
Friday Evening, Dec. 3, 1910.
"WoOdrow Wilson's Challenge to the
Bosses.
"The question who should be
chosen by the incoming legislature
of the state to occupy the seat in
the senate Of the United States which
will presently be made vacant by the
expiration of the term Of Mr.. kean
is Of such vital Importance to the
people Of the state, both as ques-
ton of political good faith and as a
question of genuine representation
in the senate, that l feel constrained
! ~xpress my own opinion with re
gard to it in terms which cah not
be misunderstood. I had hoped that
j. would not be necessary for me to
speak, but it is.
"I realize the delicacy Of taking
I; part in the discussion OF the
matter. AS governor of New Jersey
I shall have no part in the choice OF
senator. Legally speaking, it is
not my duty to give advice with re-
gard to the choice. But there are
other duties besides legal duties. The
recent campaign has put me in an
unusual position. l offered, if elect
ed to be the political spokesman
and adviser of the people. L even
| asked those who did not care to
make their choice of governor upo,;
| that understanding not to vote for
me. L believe that the choice was
| made upon that understanding, and
I can not escape tn responsibility in
| volved. I have no desire to escape
! it. 1t is my duty to say, with a full
| sense of the peculiar responsibility
of my position, what I deem it to be
| the obligation of the legislature to
do in this gravely important matter.
"I know that the people of New
Jersey do not desire James Smiths
Jr., to be sent to the senate. If :
should be, he will not go al their
representative. The only means !
have Of knowing whom they do de-
| sire to represent them is the vote
primaries, declared their preference
for Mr.. MARITIME, of Union county
For me that vote is conclusive.
think it should beFfor every member
of the legislature.
absolute good faith in dealing
with the people, an unhes1tatlng
fidelity to every principle aVoWed, is
the highest law of political morality
under a. constitutional government
The Democratic party has been Civ
en- a maiority in the legislature; the
| Democratic voters of the state have
i expressed their preference under g
| law advocated and supported by the
opinion of their party, declared alike
in platforms and in enacted law Il
is clearly the duty of every Demo
cratic legislator who would keer
| faith with the law of the state, with
the avowed principles Of his party
to vote for Mr. MARITIME. 1t is my
duty to advocate his election-tC
urge it by every honorable means at
my command"
Immediately the work of organic
ing our forces for the fight was set
| in motion. I had been designated by
the governor-elect to handle the fight
| in Hudson county, the Davis strong
| hold Meetings were arranged for
! at what was considered the strategic
points in the fight-Jersey City and
Newark. The announcement of the
| goVernor-elect's acceptance of the
challenge had given a thrill to the
whole state, and Immediately the re
| action against the old guards at
| tempt to discredit the primary choice
was evident. The bitterness in the
ranks of the contesting factions be-
gan to express itself in charges and
| counter-charges that were made
+ Speeches for and against the candi
dates were addressed to the ears OF
the unwary voter. The state was
soon up in arms.
Supported by the People
There was no doubt Of the attitude
Of the people. This was made plain
| in so many " ! hat our l. was
to impress this opinion upon the
members of the legislature, whose
vote, in the last analysis, would be
the determining factor in this con
| test. While we were laying down a
barrage in the way Of organization
work and making preparations Tor
| our meetings Throughout the state,
| the ROV6THOT-GlSCI was COlAAClA .
nightly with members Of the legis
Iature at the University club in New
York. From day to day could be OBJ.
served the rising tide in favor OF
our cause, and slowly it's effect upon
the members Of the legislature was
| made manifest. The first meeting in
the senatorial contest was held IN
| Jersey City. AS chairman of the
committee had arranged the details
for this first speech of the governor
elect I had adopted plan in max
ing the arrangement that felt
would remove from the minds OF the
organization workers, to whom we
desired to appeal, the idea that this
was a revolt or secessionist move
ment in the ranks Of the Democratic
party. The committee in charge OF
the meeting had selected the finest,
cleanest men in our party ranks to
| preside over and take part in the
meeting.
There was never such an out
pouring of people. Men and women
from outside the state, and partlc'
ularly men and women from New
York and Connecticut, had come all
the way to New Jersey to witness
this first skirmish in the politl-
| cal upheaval that was soon to take
Continued on Page 6, Column ~