Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-26
"WOODROW WILSON
AS | KNOW HIM"
Continued From Page ~

on the gay set LUZ DdllOLlllS' VIC
found a spy in our ownA ranks-a
leading lawyer and politician from
my own county, who, while pre-
tending to be our friend, was sup
plying the enemy with what he
thought was useful information. We,
however, were already aware OF
this gentleman's duplicity and, al
though he never suspected it, when
ever he left the executive office he
was followed by professional de-
tective, who heard and reported to
us every bit of information he had
supplied to our political foes.
On the night before the election
the Smith-Nugent leaders had
gathered their forces and, headed
by band, paraded through the
streets of Trenton, passing in re-
view before Senator Smith, who
stood upon the steps of the Trenton
house and greeted them in most
generous fashion. The purpose of
this demonstration was obvious to
the governor-elect and his friends.
1t was simply to give to the arrlv-
ing legislators an impression OF
great strength behind the Smith
Nugent forces.
Slim SmIUns Show of Strength
On the morning of the balloting
the corridors and lobby of the state
house were crowded with the bench
men of the Essex chieftain. The
surface indications were that Smith
had the necessary number of votes.
but to those of us who were able
accurately to analyZe the situation
it was apparent that the froth would
soon pass away. The parade and
the demonstration of the Nugent
followers had deeply impressed some
Of the men in our ranks, particu-
larly the editor of a Trenton news
paper, who came to the executive
offices and urged upon the COVER
nor the publication of a statement
which he had prepared, filled with
grandiloquent phrase, warming the
people of the state that the mem
bers of the legislature were about
to be coerced and threatened by
the strong arm methods of the
Smith Nugent organization.
Frankly, the suggestion which
this Trenton editor made to the
new governor impressed him. The
governor made certain changes in
the statement and then sent for me
to read it, asking my advice upon
it. The first test of my official
connection with the governor was
at hand. Upon reading the editors
article 1 saw at once that it's is
suance would be most unwise, and
I frankly said so.
My practical and political objec-
ton to it, however, was that If
published it would give to the peo-
pie of the state the impression that
our forces were in a panic and that
we were in grave fear of the re-
suit. I further argued that 1t was
an attempt at executive coercion OF
the legislature that would meet with
bitter resentment. [ felt that we
had already won the fight; that the
legislature, which was the jury in
the case, was inclined to favor us
if we did not seek to influence its
members by such foolish action as
the Trenton editor advised. The
statement was not published.
I found in this little argument
with the new governor that he was
open-minded and anxious for ad-
vice, and 1 therefore felt free to
discuss matters with him in the
frankest way.
Turning tine Votes to MARITIME
The first ballot showed MARITIME
leading heavily. In the following bal
lots he gained strength at every
count The legislature adjourned
the first day without reaching a
decision. AS we surveyed the field
after the fist days balloting it was
clear to us that if we hoped to win
the fight we would have to have
Hudson county's legislative vote.
The Democratic boss, Bob Davis,
who controlled this vote, lay i'll,
and had entrusted his affairs to
the hands of a fine, clean-cut, whole
some Irish-American, James Hen
Messy, then chairman of the Hudson
county Democratic committee. He
was one of the squarest men 1 ever
met in politics and had been an
intimate associate of my father in
the old days in Jersey City. On the
day of the final balloting we were
sore1y pressed. When it seemed as
if we had reached the limit of our
strength it occurred to me that a
final appeal to Hennessy by the
governor might have some effect
We decided to send for Hennessy
to come to the executive offices
1t was clear from his attitude when
he arrived that while his sympa
thies lay with us he was bound in
honor to carry out the instructions
Of his chief and deliver the Hudson
county vote to Smith. The COVER.
nor, getting very close to him and
discussing the campaign in the most
intimate way, told him that il
MARITIME was rejected the political
! effect on our party's fortunes would
be DISASTROUS; that we were sure
we had the votes and that the next
ballot would give proof of this, and
that it was only a question, to use
a campaign phrase, of "getting or
the band wagon" and making Mar.
tines nomination unanimous.
When the governor concluded his
talk [ turned to Hennessy in the
most familiar way and spoke OF
| the governors desire to elect Mar
tine and of the unselfish purpose
| he had in mind, and how he, Hen
messy, was blocking the way.
said to him: ''You have it in youl
power to do big thing. You may
never have the chance again." He
| finally stood up and said to me
what do you want me to do?'
I told him that we wanted him tc
go to the Hudson delegates ant
send word to Davis that the Gig
was up and that they must throw
their support to MARITIME. short
| 1y after this meeting the Hudson
| delegates met in caucus and agreed
| to support MARITIME.
When Smith and Nugent heard o.