WOODROW WILSON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1638, 16 November 1916, Page 2

WOODROW WILSON.

j/(’ js now | >i‘;i<-li<-ally certain that Woodrow \\ dsou will reign at \\ bite House as President of Hie United Stales lor another term of four years. Iliomas Woodrow Wilson was born at Stanton, Virginia ,on December 28th, 185(5.' He is thus nearly HO years ( ,f He was educated at the Princeton and Vir- | ginia I.niversities, and up to two I years ago his whole adult life bad I been devoted to teaching' and study, j His academic distinctions are proj bably as great as those of any man m America. Few men have bad so thorough a training for political life on the theoreiie side, for he has acted as leelnrer and professor in history, political economy, politics, jurisprudence, and law. He thus appreciates, more fully perhaps than any man in public life in 1 lit* United States, the origins of the institutions under which the country is governed, the development of its laws, and their sanction and comparative merit. He has written what is generally conceded to lie the best book on the American Parliament, ‘‘Congressional (tovernment A Study in American Polities.” In his relations with Congress, therefore, he will not need to he reminded of its functions and the limits of its powers. A ‘‘History of the American People,” published in 1902, is a classic of its kind, whilst a biography of George Washington and political and literary essays are also to be numbered amongst his publications. In 1902 Dr. Wilson became President of Princeton University, of which he was already a professor. He began what proved to he the almost impossible task of democratising the University, and removing the class distinctions which had grown up within its walls. He showed at the University the same courage and disregard for tradition and vested interests which he afterwards displayed in politics. His broad democratic outlook and straight just rule, impressed their stamp on the University and its students, and must, without doubt, have had a very great influence during the eight years of his occupancy of office of its President. The new President had always had the desire to put his theoretical knowledge to some practical use in the world of affairs, and in 1010 he came forward as a candidate in his own part for the parly nomination for the governorship of New Jersey. By the rank and Hie he was regarded as an interesting scholar, who need not be taken very seriously. The “bosses” however, were persuaded that Dr. Wilson’s gift of oratory, combined' with bis distinguished academic record. might appeal to tho electors, and lie received the Democratic

nomination. His programme was. it is'true, much ion advanced for their liking; but they fully expected that they would he able io prevent any drastic change in the existing order of things, Wilson's elleetive platform stylo, earnest manner and clean record appealed to the electors, and he was elected by a majority of nearly titty thousand. as against a previous Republican plurality of eighty-two thousand. He soon came into conflict with the Democratic “bosses,” fur one of Ihe first acts as Governor was to announce his opposition to the nomination of cx-Senntor Smith for election to the Senate. In vain did the party managers threaten and caj.de. The scholar who they had vainly thought would ,H ' ;i tool in iheir hands proved to be absolutely (inn in his delermina--1 ion to remove from polities in the Finle the corrupt ion which had previously existed. What is more important, lie was successful. As governor he was confronted with a Democratic House of Representatives and a Republican, Senate; but ne succeeded in nvo years in almost completely transforming the Government of the Slate, verv largely with the a.sent of his political opponents. Direct “primaries” for elections, thus transferring power D'om the party bosses to the people ! ' s ;l wil "le, employers’ liability and • H 'lory laws, and (‘omipl IVaeti‘,,s Act, ami the introduction of

< oiimiissiun govcniinenl in municipalities (tlnis removing Ilk> past * nunel.nl corrupt character of civy‘‘Wi»icn( in New .Jersey), are *| of 1 ho reforms he Ims earmi mio law wijh the general ap('d ild public-spirited citi- /‘ , ol ild inform," lie has : h <* «* “mans of getting: • *.H-k o the question, “What we ■ml. is the question ‘lime are we going to gel U r The immediate ' f lV * Ils,ve ** to do is to reM,m popular Government" President \\ ilson’s wife i i died nearly ' TT "*"■ , " ,<l tiio to Airs Galt wtu> ~ White a«4 „! V, i,,” *?"»/• ji -| , ,l ‘ompaiiioii i o r ■e President’s invalid nieee. Since he war broke out President Wilson f a- been the butt „f many jests :! Ul Jl,)e P Particularly over Jus 11 l Jroud to fight” speeeh; but, «lull ever might be said of his foiv UUtl ° o1 '- >t is eertain that in f ls ° f huernal administration, !mhm U " dU,V ’ iUul 11 rure ’ i,Kleed * . j “‘ensure of success. J n his ** ; Vei,r °f "dice he disposed of ,' V ° f?rutlt questions that for more a generation had baffled Aux-

origin statesmanship. Ho kept his parly together, quietly ruled Congress with a power such ns Mr L’oosevelt, with nl! his hectoring iind indomitable vigour, never attained.