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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 4, 1921)
TIIE 3I0RXIXG OREGONIAX, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER . 4, 1921 JERSEY'S OVERTURN .EEUT Election of Governor Wilson General Upset. OLD POLITICIANS STUNNED Prophecies and Plans of Politically AVIso Set Adrift or Destroyed by Happenings of Day. BY JOSEPH P. TUMULTY. (Copyright. 1821. Doublfdiiy, Page & Co. All rights reserved. Published by ar rangement. ) CHAPTER VIIL The final meeting of the guberna torial campaign was held in a large auditorium In Newark. X. J., where the last appeal was made by the dem ocratic candidate. It was a meeting filled with emotionalism such as I had never 'seen in a campaign before, rr-i-- The democratic can- ; " 1yv did ate. Woodrow Wilson, had covered every section of the state, and it was easy for x-ven the casual observer to note the rising tide in his favor. The camnaign had. in deed, become a cru-& - sade. his elonuenceO - and sledge -hammer';.' lt blows at the oo-tM position having cut J. 1". Tumulty party lines asunder. I was present at the final meeting and took my place in the wings of the theater or audito rium alongside of Senator Smith, the democratic chieftain who a few weeks before had in a masterful fashion manipulated the workings of the con vention at Trenton in 8-uch a way as to make the doctor's nomination pos sible. Mr. Wilson's speech on this occa sion was a profession of faith in the people, in the plain people, thoso "whose names never emerged Into the headlines of newspapers." When he Bald In a delightful sort of banter to his audience, "I want you to take a sportsman's chance on me," there went up a shout of approval which could be heard as far as the hills of old Bergen. (rent Speech Recalled. The peroration of his final speech, spoken in a tone of voice that seemed not only to reach every ear but in fact to touch every heart, Included the following: "I want to speak very plainly to this audience tonight. I have now been into every county of the state, and 1 have seen audiences that would move the heart of any man, thronging in numbers and rallying around, not a party, not a person, not to accomplish some selfish purpose or interest, but to enjoy the experience of hearing the genuine interest of the entire com monwealth discussed. ... . ;We have begun a fight that, it may be. will take many a generation to complete, the fight against privilege; but you know that men are not put into this world to go the path of ease. They are put into this world to go the path of pain and struggle. No man would wish to sit idly by and lose the opportunity to take part in such a struggle. All through the centuries there has been this slow, painful struggle forward, up. up. a little at a time, along the entire Incline, the Interminable way which leads to the perfection way which leads to the perfection of force, to the real scat of justice and honor. . . . At the end of this notable and touch ing speech, old Senator Smith, seated alongside of me, pulled me by the coat and. in a voice Just above a whisper and with tears In his eyes, said: "That is a great man. Mr. Tumulty. He is """ "r great things." It did not teem possible on this memorable night that within a few two democratic chieftains would be challenging each other and engaging In a desperate struggle to decide the question of democratlo leadership in the state. CHAPTER IX A Party Spilt. !! the PfoPhedes and predictions of the political seers and philosophers of Now Jersey, many of them of course feeling their own partisan pulse, were annihilated and set adrift by tho happenings In New Jersey on the First Tuesday in November. 1910 Woodrow Wilson, college professor man of mystery, political recluse, the nominee of the most standpat demo cratic convention of many years, had been chosen the leader of the people of the state by the unprecedented majority of 39.000 and was wearing the laurels of victory. The old bosses and loaders chuckled and smiled; they were soon to have a Homan holiday under tho aegis of the Wilson ad ministration. There were many surprises In the W ilson victory. The democrats awoke on the day after election to find that they had not only won the gover norship of the state, but their Joy was unfounded to find that they had captured the lower house of the leg islature that would have the election, under the preferential primary sys tem Just adopted, of a United States senator. Therein lay the fly in the oint ment. Never In their wildest dreams or vain imaginings did the leaders of the democratic party believe that there was the slightest chance, even under the most favorable circum stances, of carrying a majority of the vote of the state for the democratic choice, James K. Martina of Plain field. Democratic. Hopes Meager. The suggestion that It was possible to elect a democrat to the United States senate was considered a form of political heresy. The nomination for the senate had been thrown about the state until, torn and tattered al most beyond repair, it was finally taken up and salvaged by that sturdy old democrat of Union county, Jim Martin. Even I had received the effer of the senatorial toga, but the one who brought the nomination to me was rudely cast out of my office. The question was: What would be the attitude of the new democratic leader, Woodrow Wilson, toward the prefer ential choice. Jtartlne? Would the vote at the election be considered as having the full virtue and vigor of a solemn referendum, or was it to be considered, as Senator Smith would have it. a sort of practical Joke per petrated upon the electors? Soon the opinion of the people of the state be gan to express itself in no uncertain way. demanding the carrying out of the "solemn covenant" of the election, only to be answered by the challenge of Senator Smith and his friends to enter the field against Martlne. the rholce at the election. This business pitchforked the gov-trnor-elect : prematurely into the rough-and-tumble of "politics as she is." not always a dainty game. As I tevlew In retrospect this famous chap ter of state history, which, because i.l the subsequent supreme distinction of one of the parties to the contest, became a chapter In national history, j 1 realize the almost pathetic situa tion of ilr. Wilson. He had called himself an amateur in politics, and such he was in the practical, details and involutions of the great American game, though in his campaign he had shown himself a master of political debate. In the ordinary course of events he would have been allowed two months between his election and Inauguration to begin an orderly ad justment to the new life, to make a gradual transition from the comely proprieties of an academic chair to the catch-as-catch-can methods of the political wrestling mat, to get ac ouainted with the men and problems of the new career. But the, Smith Marttne affair gave birth premature ly to an immediate occasion for a fight Difficult Problem Faced. As president of Princeton, Dr. Wil son had proved that he was not averse to a fight when a fight was necessary, and when it was distinctly his affair, but he may well have paused to consider whether the Smith-Martine business was his af fair. One of his favorite stories in later years was of the Irishman who entered a saloon and seeing two men in a tangle of fists and writhing legs and bloody heads on the floor at the rear of the saloon, turned to the bar keeper and asked. "Is this a private fight, or can anybody git Into it?" A more politic man than Woodrow Wilson, and one less sensitive to moral duty, might well have argued that this contest was the business of the legislature, not of the gover nor. Many a governor-elect would have avoided the Issue on this unques tionably sound legal principle, and friends in Princeton were in fact ad vising Mr. Wilson to precisely this course, the course or neuimiuj. It would not be strange If neutral ity, alootness. had presented a rather attractive picture at times to Mr. Wil son's mind. Why should he gratui tously take a partisan position between the factions which would inevitably win for him the enmity of a strn element within the party? Which would also win for him the unpleas ant reputation of lngratlude? or. though he had at the first overtures from Senator Smith ' and his friends made it as clear as language can make anything that he couia accept the nomination oniy with the Plicij understanding that acceptance should establish no obligations of political favors to anybody, it would be Impos sible to make it appear that opposi- tlon to n it 1 1 l ii a uiu " . come senator was ankune1rcl"! return to tne man wu" " - - -'orees which had nominated Wilson at Trenton. On the other hana, mere " " .. .. ... th neoole during his campaign that if they elected him governor he would make himself the . . . ... nn.iv n-mild broadly leaaer ui m .. - .,, and not with pettifogging legalism Interpret his consiiiuiiun... ship to the legislature, would under take to assist in legislative action, and not wait supinely for the legis- j .nmo-thiriir. and then sign or veto the thing done. Moreover, he had insisted on tne primie preferential primary as one means by which the people should participate In their own government and convey an expression of their will and purpose to the law-making body. The people had voted for Martlne. ot- r ... .hot Senator Smith had i lie ii.v .". scorned to have his name placed on the ballot, the fact that numan mms- ...... 1.4 nlflfiira a stronger sen- inaiiuu -uum " - ator from New Jersey than genial "Jim" Martlne, aia noi buci me gument. A great majority had voted for Martlne and for nobody else. Was the use of the preferential primary for the first time in the selection of a United States senator to be ignored, and all the arguments that Candidate Wilson and others had made In be half of the system to be taken "In a Pickwickian sense." as not meaning anything? . There was a real dilemma, aouDtiess u aniit.lv realized )V the governor-elect than by the hotheads. Including myself, who were clamor ous for an immediate proclamation of support of Martlne on progressive i A frtw on ultimatum of prmui V lea. im v war-to-the-knife against Smith and the old crowd. Harvey Urtres Cantlon. " it seemed as if Mr. Wilson was hes itating and holding off. reluctant to accept the gage ot Dattie tnrown down by the challenge of the Smith wing. The leading democratic and in dependent Journals of the state were most Insistent that immediate proof be given by Governor-eSect Wilson of his leadership and control over the party, and that a test should be made as to which influence, reactionary or progressive, was to control the desti nies of our party in the state. Those of us who had followed the candidate throughout the campaign and who had been heartened by his progressive attitude were sorely disappointed at his failure Immediately to act. It was painfully evident to us that behind the scenes at Princeton the new governor's friends, particularly Colonel Harvey, were urging upon him cautious and well-considered ac tion and what, mayhap, might be called "a policy of watchful wait ing." picturing to him the insur mountable difficulties that would lie in his path in case he exercised his leadership in the matter of Martine's election to the United States senate. They suggested that the vote for Mar tlne had no binding force; that It was a mere perfunctory expression of pref erence in the matter of the United States senatorship, which the legisla ture was free to Ignore. The only man, therefore, who could make the vote effective was the governor-elect himself. What he would do In these circumstances was for days after the olectlon a matter of perplexing doubt to his many friends. ' Disappointment and chagrin at the candidate's silence brooded over the ranks of the progressives of the state. In my law office in Jersey City I tried to convince those who came to confer with me regarding the matter that they must be patient; that ultimately everything would be all right and that Dr. Wilson would soon assert his leadership over the party and take his proper place at the head of those who worked to make the preferential vote an effective instrumentality as evidencing the people's will In the matter of the United States senator- ship. Delay V orrlea Friends. Frankly, though I did not give ex pression to my doubts, r was pro foundly disappointed at the appar ently hesitant, uncertain attitude of the governor-elect. Feeling certain that popular opinion would be with him In case he decided to lead in this struggle. I was convinced that the delay in announcing his attitude toward "the Smith-Nugent "defi" was dampening the ardor and enthusiasm of many of his friends. The progressive democrats of the state waited with patience the word of command and counsel from 'e Princeon proressor to Initiate the fight that would settle for all time in the state of New Jersey the ques tion whether the referendum on the question of election of United States senators should be treated as "a scrap of paper," or whether it was to be upheld and vindicated by the action of the legislature. No direct word came to me of the governor elect's attitude on this vital ques tion. Rumors of his position toward Senator Smith's candidacy filtered "through the lines" from Princeton; various stories and intimations that seemed to Indicate that the govern-cr-elect would allow Martine's selec tion to go by default; that he would not Interfere In any way to carry out the mandate of the election. (To lie Continued Tomorrow.) SALES TAX P1I IS Democrats Vote Solidly Against Smoot's Measure. 17 REPUBLICANS OPPOSED Gooding of Idaho and Jones and Poindexter of Washington Vote for Amendment. WASHINGTON, D. C. Nov. S. The sales tax was rejected tonight by the senate. The democrats voted solidly against the measure and were joined by 1? republican. The vote, 43 against and 25 for, wa on a proposal by Senator Smoot, re publican, Utah, for a 1 per cent levy, with exemptions provided in the case of sales by farmers of the products of their farms, sales by public utilities and those by the United States or any foreign government or any state or territory, the army and navy and hos pitala The roll call for the. amendment showed 25, Including republicans Gooding of Idaho and Jones and Poin dexter of Washington. Against the measure was 43, including Borah, re publican. Idaho, and Walsh, demo crat. Montana. Another Amendment Offered. The vote was regarded generally as decisive of the question of a sales tax at present, but immediately after it had been announced, Senator Smoot offered another amendment embodying a business sales tax of one-half of 1 per cent on gross salea in excess of $6000 a year. This went over until tomorrow. . In the debate on the defeated man-, ufacturers' sales tax plan, some re publican leaders Indicated a sales tax might have to be provided for In connection with the soldiers' bonus bill, which they predicted would be passed at the next session. Discussion of tne sales tax was comparatively brief. Senator Smoot was the chief speaker for the plan, which was opposed among others by Senator Jones of New Mexico, demo crat. Before taking up the sales tax the senate perfected the committee Dili with the adoption of some additional amendments offered by individual senators. Prior to taking up the salea taxes ihe senate adopted an amendment by Senator Broussard. democrat, .'jouisi ana. striking out a committee (.mend ment providing that Income received by any marital community should be included in the gross) inoome of Uie .spouse having the management and control of such community property and should be taxed as the income cf such sDouse. Senators from Ixjuisiana and eight western states contended that the committee amendment would over turn lawj In the'r states which pro vide that the wife Bhall have title to one-half of the family property. Stamp Tax Accepted. The senate also accepted a pro posal by Senator Pittman, democrat Nevada, fixing a- stamp tax of 1 cent for each fi'O or fraction of that amount of the value of capital stock, provided the entire value of the share does not exceed 10O. The change did not affect the committee amendment, already agreed to plaeing f tax of 5 cents for each 3100 or fraction of the par value of such stock above Jioo. BEEBE DENIES ALL GUILT (Continued From First Page.) realize the situation their son is fac lng. Pete is the eldest of sine chil dren. That William Painter, 19 years old, was shot by Beebe in the forenoon ot Wednesday, October 19, on his father's farm while the father was In Lacoral), four miles distant; that John Painter, the father, was killed shortly after noon of that day when he returned home from Lacomb: that Beebe did the job alone and that he was laboring at the time under th impression that Painter had not paid him for work done on the Painter farm, and particularly that he had a mania for a gray team belonging to Painter summarizes the theory upon which officers are building their case against Beebe. Brebea Story Recalled. Beebe in one of his conflicting stories said the Painter boy lay In the feed shed between two mangers when he first saw him after, he said. the father had shot the boy. There is every Indication that this is where the boy was killed and where his body lay until Beebe loaded it on a sled with that of hia slain father and hauled them up into the woods, half a mile away, to bury them in a shal low but well-concealed grave. He has maintained that the elder Painter shot himself outside the house. Of ficers searched the place he pointed out In deta'l, using a rake to clear the ground. The ground was hard, but no trace of blood, rifle or pistol shell or any other indication .of death at that place could be discovered. Carson Beebs, Pete's father, told officers yesterday that the young man fell from a load of hay when he was i years old and struck on his head. He said this accident had caused him to be forgetful and absent-minded at times. He also said that it was the cause of the boy going blind. He was blind for 16 years, recovering his sight through an operation about two years ago. Pete Beebe's appearance Indicates that he is below normal mentally. But despite this fact and his father's statement of the consequences of the accident in his early youth, neighbors who have known the young man many years say that he belies his appear ance and in many respects not only is normal but bright. BUGLE CALL IS HEARD (Continued From First Page.) a mile. Every syllable penetrated clearly to every nook and hollow. Then the voice announced that the next words would, be spoken in Sao Francisco. The faint whirr of the mechanism rose to a higher hum and a new, deeper-toned voice announced that chimes played on a phonograph record In San Francisco would come next. As clearly as if It were not a dozen feet away, the click of the pho nograph mechanism came as the needle dropped on the whirring rec ord 3000 miles away; the familiar In troductory scrape began, then the bells boomed out. waking echoes In the cemetery pealing over the thou sands of graves. The deep voice toox up .ne task again with the announcement: "Spoken from the roof of the civic auditorium in San Francisco." It read out the word of President T H HOME J 15c. the Copy From Any Newsdealer or Boy Agent Harding's inauguration address, then announced the bugle call records and the clear note of a trumpet In stirring army rails swept over the field more distinctly heard than the notes of the bugle at Fort Meyer, across the road, where the garrison was at re treat parade. To accomplish this latest marvel of communication, the telephone com pany emploved nearly 10,000 miles of circuit, double that length of wire; it had linemen stationed every 18 miles, 10S picked men to keep it all going; it had more than 90 telegraph operators on Morse circuits parallel ing the talking lines to see that all moved smoothly. And 'n today's test the telephone experts proved that given enough equipment, they could carry all of the Armistice day proceedings, the president's words, the strains of the marine band, the roar of the gun salvo that will mark this unknown soldier's burial, and the notes of "taps' sounded above th'e grave, to every person In the United States. Only lack of equipment, for this is an experimental development, offi cials aaid. prevents extension of the Is America dancing hellward? Is jazz madness driving us to ruin? These questions are asked not by prudes, but by seriously thinking people who are con cerned for the future of our boys and girls. Present-day indecencies of dress, of talk, of manners must stop! Jazz must stop! We must get Back to Pre-War Morals. John R. McMahon has written a series of articles that every mother and every father should read. They show the. evil at its worst and point a remedy. In the same issue begins Zane Grey's great new serial story The Call of the Canon. Just two of more than fifty features in the 172-page November issue of H On Sale Today at Pre-War Prices You can subscribe through any newsdealer or authorized agent or send your order direct to Thb Ladies' Home Journal, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania service to other clues than Xew York and San Francisco. TEST LASTS FOR HALF HOIK Everything in Readiness at San Francisco to Hear President. SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 3. The demonstration held here today of long-range and amplified- transmis sion was attended only by telephone and telegraph officials and other tech nical experts, who will supervise the Armistice-day programme here. The test lasted half an hour and was conducted' to determine the trans mission power of the amplifiers. The Cuticura Soap Clears the Skin and Keeps it Clear Soap. Ofcttnent, Talcum, &, vetY whm . Samt) f re of CttUc&rft L.brfttriat. Eft. X. M44fi. Mam. L, A D OURNAL amplifiers, according to H. O. Bates of the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph company, were found to work per fectly and he declared everything was ready at this end of the transconti nental circuit for receiving on Ar mistice day the president's speech over the grave of the unknown sol dier to be buried in Arlington cemetery. The Biffgeit Value tm ike New K Nash "4" at I $1265 ' Portland See It Drive it and be convinced jf Open Evenings Q I H $1.50 the Year By Mail Subscription Long experience accounts for the facility, judgment and ex pertness with which we ex amine, design and fit good glasses. COLUMBIAN OPTICAL COMPANY Floyd F. Brower, Mgr. 145 Sixth, Near Alder A S A