Woodrow Wilson as I Know HimTumulty, Joseph P. (Joseph Patrick)
History
Woodrow Wilson as I Know Him
Tumulty, Joseph P. (Joseph Patrick)
Presidents -- United States -- Biography; Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
You wish to know what my relations would be with the Democrats whose
power and influence you fear should I be elected governor,
particularly in such important matters as appointments and the signing
of bills, and I am very glad to tell you. If elected I shall not
either in the matter of appointments to office, or assent to
legislation, or in shaping any part of the policy of my
administration, submit to the dictation of any person, or persons,
"special interests," or organizations. I will always welcome advice
and suggestions from any citizens, whether boss, leader, organization
man, or plain citizen, and I shall confidently seek the advice of
influential and disinterested men representative of the communities
and disconnected from political organizations entirely; but all
suggestions and all advice will be considered on its merits and no
additional weight will be given to any man's advice because of his
exercising, or supposing that he exercises, some sort of political
influence or control. I should deem myself for ever disgraced should
I, in even the slightest degree, coöperate in any such system. I
regard myself as pledged to the regeneration of the Democratic party.
Mr. Record also inquired: "Do you admit that the boss system exists as I
have described it?" "If so, how do you propose to abolish it?"
Mr. Wilson said:
Of course I admit it. Its existence is notorious. I have made it my
business for many years to observe and understand that system, and I
hate it as thoroughly as I understand it. You are quite right in
saying that the system is bipartisan; that it constitutes "the most
dangerous condition in the public life of our state and nation to-
day"; and that it has virtually, for the time being, "destroyed
representative government and in its place set up a government of
privilege." I would propose to abolish it by the reforms suggested in
the Democratic platform, by the election to office of men who will
refuse to submit to it, and who will lend all their energies to break
it up, and by pitiless publicity.
Still hoping to corner the Governor, Mr. Record named the bosses:
In referring to the Board of Guardians, do you mean such Republican
leaders as Baird, Murphy, Kean, and Stokes? Wherein do the relations
to the special interests of such leaders differ from the relation to
the same interests of such Democratic leaders as Smith, Nugent, and
Davis?
Mr. Wilson, answering this, said:
I refer to the men you name. They [meaning Baird, Murphy, Kean,
Stokes] differ from the others in this, that they are in control of
the government of the state while the others are not, and cannot be if
the present Democratic ticket is elected.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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