Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-29
tWOODROW WILSON
AS | KNOW HIM"
Continued From Page ~

| musicians VINO regaleQ the uIIle
group with fine old southern melo-
dies. 1t was real fun to watch the
new governors conduct in this en-
vironment. He was like a boy out of
school. He was no longer the college
professor or the>cold man Of affairs.
He delighted the members of the sen
ate who sat about him with amusing
stories, witty remarks, and delight
| full bits of sarcasm. At the close OF
the dinner Senator Frelinghuysen
walked over and challenged him to
a Virginia reel. He accepted this
invitation and the crowd of men were
soon delighted to see the Somerset
senator lead the new governor out
on the floor and his long legs were
soon moving in rhythm with the
| music.
| After all, men are just boys, and
this bringing together these practi-
cal men on so happy and free an &C.
casion did much to convince the
members of the senate that the new
governor after all was like them
selves, a plain, simple man, modest
ly trying to serve the interests of
a great state.
Cooperation With Legislators
, This affair broke the ice, and aft
er that there was close intimacy
between the governor and the mem
bers of the legislature, both Demo
Gratis and Republicans, and this CO.
operation soon brought about the
enactment of the whole Wilson pro-
gram. Never before had so com
prehensive a program been so eXpe.
ditiously acted upon by legisla
tive body. The legislature had con-
vened in January, and by the middle
of April every campaign pledge that
| the governor had made had been
kept, although the senate with which
he had to deal was largely Repub'
lican.
AS the legislative session pro-
| crossed it appeared that certain
democratic senators were reluctant
to follow his leadership. Indeed it
was also apparent that the Repub-
| leans were alike unwilling to act
| favorabIy upon his legislative sug-
gestions. In this situation he sum-
moned the Democratic senators and
reminded them of the party pledges
in the platform and served notice
that if they did not vote for these
measures they would have to explain
to their constituents. He then sum
moned the Republican senators and
said to them, in effect, this: 1.-The
legislation proposed was promised in
| the Democratic platform. That is
not your platform. Therefore you
are not pledged to this action. But
| if you obstruct the action I shall
have to trouble you to go with me
to your districts and discuss these
matters with your constituents and
tell them why you consider this bad
legislation and why you resisted it. "
The newspapers Of the country
soon began to discuss the achieve
ments of the Wilson administration,
in New Jersey and Immediately the
name of the governor began to be
mentioned in connection with the
presidency.
The Grade Crossing Veto
One of the matters of national i'm
portance with which he was called
upon to deal during this Legislative
session was the passage of railroad
grade crossing legislation. In re
Spouse to the agitation that had
long existed in New Jersey for the
elimination of grade crossings, the
Democrats had inserted radical
plank in the platform in reference
to it, and, acting upon this, the leg
islature had passed grade crossing
bill, to which the railroads of the
state strenuouSly objected. 1t was
4 a matter of the greatest public in
terest and Importance that for many
years had been the, subject of bitter
controversies throughout the state
While the bill was before the gov
ernor for consideration, the railroad
attorneys had prepared long, com
prehensive briefs attacking the bill
as unjust to the railroads and as
containing many features which ir
their essence were cOnfiscatory
When the bill came before the gov
ernor for final action, no one con
sidered for moment the possibility
of a veto, first, because of the ira
ditional attitude of the Democratic
party in the matter of grade cross
ings; and, secondly, because of tht
effect a veto would have upon the
progressive thought of the country
I recall very well my discussion with
him in regard to this most importan
bill. Realizing that he was at thi:
| IIIIlS lOOIIIIllS up dS q lldllOlidl LIZ
ure, and knowing that the progress
sives of the country were awaiting
with keen interest his action on thu
bill, I feared the effect upon hi!
political fortunes that a veto Of thu
bill would undoubtedly have.
The Baltimore convention was onl!
a few months away and it was clea1
to me that, no matter how safe an(
sane were the grounds upon which
he would veto this legislation, hi:
enemies in the Democratic party
would charge him with being inf1u
enced by the New Jersey railroad in
terests who were engaged in a mos
vigorous campaign against the pas
sage of this legislation. In fact
when we came to discuss the mat
ter, I frankly called this phase of i
to his attention. I tried to make hin
see the effects such a veto would
have upon his political fortunes, bu
, he soon made it clear to me that h
was unmindful of all such conse
ing the matter he finally decided t.
veto the bill. In discussing the mat
ter with me, he said:
IT realize the unjust and unfortu
nate inference that will be drawn b.
my political enemies from a veto o
this bill, but the bill, as drawn, i
: unjust and unfair to the railroads
, and 1 ought not to be afraid to sa.
so publicly. I cannot consider tn
effect of veto upon my own polit
ical fortunes. If I should sign thi
bill it would mean practically a con