Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1912 — DEMOCRACY MUST BE A WORTHY INSTRUMENT [ARTICLE]

DEMOCRACY MUST BE A WORTHY INSTRUMENT

People Trust It, Says Woodrow Wilson, and It Must Make Good. ’I . ’ Sea Girt, N. J. —Woodrow Wilson at the “Little White Housol’ at Sea Girt is daily called upon to demonstrate his ability as a ready speaker. There is not d day passes but what he meets various delegations who call to assure- him of their support. In speaking of political machines to the Brooklyn Democratic club Governor Wilson said: “Machines are bad, but an organization may be very essential. For instance, I have been surrounded by an organization here in New Jersey while doing my best work. A machine uses its political opportunities for the selfish ends of its members. No members of opr organization would ea(er think of doing that. Public opinion in New Jersey has drawn the distinction. It has killed the machines, and it is going to keep the organization going. “It seems to me that we are standing in the presence of something higher than allegiance to the Democratic party. The country has been disappointed in the Republican party, and it is turning to the Democratic party. That party is willing to show the way toward those things which must be realized.

“Some gentlemen seem to find it easy to make personalities out of politics, but it seems to me that whenever that is done politics is debased. “Men who are in search of reform are now resorting to the Democratic party, because, for my own part, I do not know where else they will turn to expect the results. There Is no discounting the strength and serviceability of a united party, and the splendid part is that the Democratic party is united.

“Speaking seriously, nothing affords me more genuine pleasure than to receive such greetings from men In Jersey who have at least tested my qualities. Because you have known me at close range and if you will be kind enough to vouch for me perhaps the rest of the country will be credulous of your report. “I have spent a great deal of time since I .became governor of New Jersey defending your character. It was supposed In the old days, when the board of guardians was In charge of the state, that you were all of you disposed to give the most monopolistic trusts in the country a great ringing welcome, in New Jersey. “New Jersey was known as the mother of trusts—a very troublesome and questionable family—and I spend my time outside New Jersey assuring the people of the Union that It had not been the fault or the disposition of the people of New Jersey that there were certain gentlemen who had undertaken to carry the Republican party in their pockets and to administer independently of the rank and file of Republicans In the state. “New Jersey is progressive, but the United States Is progressive, and we have here merely a delightful sample of the people of the United States. “Now, these people are not bent on destroying anything, but they are bent on setting everything In order; they are bent upon justice; they are bent upon seeing to it that the people in general are partners of the government, as I was trying to show the other day. And the Democratic party Is now placed under a peculiar responsibility. It has to prove that It is the worthy Instrument of that real on the part of the people of the United States. If it does not prove It now It will never be given another chance to prove it. No party that proves unfaithful to that ideal will ever again be trusted by the people of America. And therefore we are standing at a turning point in our politics. We must make good or go out of business. In the vernacular, it is a case of ‘put up or shut up,’ because words are going to be discounted. Nothing will be honored except the actual carrying out of such programs as sensible men may unite in for the common benefit”