Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-04

equal fervor, he was elected on the
Democratic ticket, and Immediately
took on the state bosses" for round
of combat which attracted the attcn-
ton of the country. In the Jersey
legislature he found the young lawyer
Joseph T.. Tumulty. who became his
private secretary and biographer.
Political opponents charged Govern
or Wilson with radcal Lsm, but he
drove his program through. The out
standing legislation was the "scvcn
sisters laws" series Of bills drafted
under his direction which dealt with
trusts. New jersey up to that time
because of its corporate laws. had been
called rendezvous for monopolies.
Governor Wilson's nomination for
the presidency at the Democratic con-
tention of 1912 in Baltimore was one
of the dramatic spectacles of American
political history. 1t was battle royal
which brought him victory after more
than so ballots.
CEamp Clark, the venerable and be
loved speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives. led Wilson in the early vot-
ins-in fact polled a majority of the
delegates. For the first time in his
tory Democratic national convention
refused 10 give the necessary two
thirds to candidate who had gotten n
majority. William Jennings Bryan.
himself the nominee OF three previous
conventions, led the fight against
Clark in one OF the bitterest contests
ever conducted in American politics 1t
broke ClaIks hCaTt--he never forgayc
Wilson or Bryan.and he opposed VIII
sons policies in Congress Repeatedly.
Clark knew he lost not only the noni-
nation, but the presidency. for the con-
test between Taft and Roosevelt as
suEcd sucE a rift in the Republican
vote that the election of a Democrat
was al! hut inevitable.
The convention realized This for tre
man who nominated Clark declared:
we meet not only to choose a
candidate but to choose a president"
AT any rate, Woodrow Wilson got
the nomination and won the election
with 43a electoral votes Roosevelt
got IS and Taft got 5. He came TO
the, White House on March 4. 1918.
signalling the return Of the democ-
racv 10 power after successive de-
feats Of l6 years.
Immediately he galvanized the
country, appearing before Congress in
person. publicly denouncing "a vici-
Gus lobby" which he charged was at
tempting to influence in Washington
and launched n legislative program
which included repeal of the tariff.
revision Of the currency system, new
styles Of control OF the trusts. the
creation Of many new government
agencies, and such a multitude of
other legislative business that Con-
gress and the country had difficulty
In keepink up with It.
Congress thought Theodore Roose-
Welt 4 dictator" and IN "autocrat"
hut it soon found itself dancing TO
Woodrow Wilson's tune and at first
it danced very ohcd:eDtly and with
very little SrumblinG. Mr.. Wilson
early confessed that he had zone
track mind and he proved to Con-
gress early in his administration that
he knew what he wanted and how to
get II. He had a cabinet. II was true,
but he consulted It after he had de-
termined what he wanted TO do. When
he wanted bill introduced in Con- /
gress he frequently drew II himself /
and if it hesitated on passage he
summoned the leaders-and il passed |
soon thereafter. In dealing with the !
cabinet he did his own thinking and !
much important business !
of the various Departments direct
from the White House.