Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-24
"WOODROW WILSON
AS ! KNOW HIM"
Continued From Page ~

place. Lie Iu0IIOpOllIdl1 O1iAC0 AA@A"
sent their best men to write up
the story and to give "size-up''
of the new governor-elect in fight
ing action. They were not disap-
pointed. He was in rare form. His
speech was filled with epigrams
and witticisms that carried the fight
home to those upon whom we were
trying to make an impression. When
he warned his leaders not to be
afraid of the machine which the
bosses controlled he said, with bit
ing irony: 1--WE do not fear their
fortresses meaning the political ma
chine that frown and look down
upon us from their shining heights"
Smiling deprecatingly and waving
his hand, he continued: "They are
but made of pasteboard, and when
you approach them they fall at
your very touch"
Bosses Llkened to wv arts
Ridiculing and belittling the pow
er of the bosses, he called them
warts upon the body polite" "It
is not" said the new chief of
democracy, "a capital process to
cut off wart. You don't have to
go to the hospital and take an
anaesthetic. The thing can be done
while you wait, and it is being
done. The clinic is open and every
man can witness the operation"
The meeting was a triumph, and
strikingly demonstrated the power
of brain and fine leadership over
Drawn and selfish politics.
The final appeal to the voters on
the United States senatorship was
made in the heart of the enemy's
country, the stronghold of the
Smith-Nugent faction at Newark,
N. j. The same enthusiastic, whole
souled response that characterized
the Jersey City meeting was re-
peated. The same defiant challenge
to the Old Guard was uttered by the
new governor. Sarcasm, bitter irony,
delightful humor and good-natured
filings at the Old Guard were found
in this, his final appeal. In tone
of voice that carried the deep emo
ton he felt, he said, as his final
word:
do you know what is true of
the special interests at this mo-
ment? They have got all their bag
gage packed and they are ready
to strike camp over night, pro-
vided they think it is profitable
for them to come over to the Demo
cratic party. They are waiting to
come over bag and baggage and
take possession of the Democratic
party. Will they be welcomeE--Do
you want them? I pray God we
may never wake up some fine morn
ing and find them encamped on
our side"
The response was thrilling. The
two meetings just held, one in Jer-
sey City and the other in Newark,
convinced those of us in charge of
the MARITIME campaign that we had
made the right impression in the
state, and, having deeply aroused
the voters, all we had to do was
to harvest the crop, the seed of
which had been planted in the soil
of public opinion by the speeches
the new governor had made. 1t was
plain. that the machine crowd was
stunned and Keeling from the fire.
quent and telling blows that had
been so vigorously delivered by him.
Suggestions of compromise came
from the enemy's ranks but no
armistice would be granted except
upon the basis of an absolute and
unconditional surrender. Offers and
suggested proposals from the Old
Guard to the governor-elect were
thrust aside as valueless and not
worthy his consideration. There was
nothing to do but play for KNOCK
out" Soon the full pressure Of the
opinion of the state began to be
felt. Members of the Legislature
from the various counties began to
feel it's influence upon them Our
ranks began to be Strengthened~by
additions from the other side. The
governors speeches and his night
ly conferences were having their
full effect The bosses, now in panic
were each day borne down by the
news brought to them of the in
Vulnerable defections in their quick
1y dwindling forces. However, the
bosses showed a bold front and de
clared that their man had the votes
But their confidence waned as cleo
ton day approached. Realizing the
fact that we were dealing with the
best-trained minds in the Demo
kcratic party, we gave no news to the
outside world of the strength ir
number of our own ranks knowing
full we'll that if we did SO impru
dent a thing the active men in the
ranks of the enemy would pull
every wire of influence and use
every method of threats and coer
cion to wean the voters away from
us. We "stood pat' and watched
with interest every move made by
| the other side. In his final state
ment before the joint meeting Of
the legislature, Smith boldly an
nounced his election to the senate
on the strength of the number Of
| legislative votes pledged to him, bu
| those of us who were in the mids
of this political melee knew tha
! he was licked and that he was only
whistling 20 keep up his coura ge.
In the meantime the governor
elect had rendered to me the pos
of secretary to the governor, ant
I accepted this office, which
brought me into more intimate as
ISOLATION with him and his plans.
| Copyright, 1921, by Doubleday
Page & Coz