Part 1 (2/2)
CHAPTER I
THE POLITICAL LABORATORY
My introduction to politics was in the Fifth Ward of Jersey City, New Jersey, which for le” of politics of the city in which I lived Always Democratic, it had been for many years the heart and centre of what New Jersey Dereat Gibraltar of Democracy The ward in which I lived waspot of all races, but with a predominance of Irish, Germans, and Italians, bethom it was, like ancient Gaul, divided into three parts
My dear father, Philip Tu an apprenticeshi+p as an iron lishrocery store on Wayne Street, Jersey City, where were laid the foundation stones of his modest fortune and where, by his fine coment, he soon established hihbourhood This modest little place soon beca, around the plain, old-fashi+oned counters, seated upon barrels and boxes, the interesting characters of the neighbourhood gathered, representing as they did the leading active political forces in that quaint cosmopolitan community
No matter how far back my memory turns, I cannot recall when I did not hear politics discussed--not ward politics only, but frequently the politics of the nation and the world In that grocery store, from the lips of the plainest folk who came there, were carried on serious discussions of the tariff, the n relations, and all phases of the then famous Venezuelan question, which in those days threatened to set two continents on fire
The roup which surroundedThere was Mr Alexander Haresse in Ireland and who afterward taught in the National Schools of Ireland, a well-read, highly cultured, broad-minded man of affairs; and dear Uncle Jiave hihtly revelled in the recital to those ere present as ready listeners, his experience when he was present at a session of the House of Parliament in London and heard the faland's attitude of injustice toward Catholic eroup that encircled hireat speech of Robert Emmett from the dock, and excerpts fro Irish orators like Curran, Sheridan, and Fox
While these discussions in the little store wended their uneasy way along, a spark of huhtful banter of a rollicking, good-natured Irishenerous- hearted and lovable, e affectionately called ”Big Phil” I can see hireat pyraroup, every now and then throwing his head back in good-natured abandon, recounting wild and fantastic tales about the fairies and banshees of the Old Land from whence he had come When his listeners would turn aith skepticism written all over their countenances, he would turn to me, whose youthful enthusiasic spell in the stories which he told of the wonders of the Old Land across the sea
I loved these delightful little gatherings in whose deliberations my dear father played so notable a part Those kind folk, now off the stage, never allowed the spirit of provincialisreat public affairs I recall with pleasure their tolerance, their largeness of view, and fine nanih level They were a very simple folk, but independent in their political actions and views Into that little group of free, independent political thinkers would often co from the Democratic boss of the city that they anization's dictum in political matters and not seek to lead opinion in the community in which they lived Supres, and unmindful of political consequences They felt that they had left behind them a land of oppression and they would not submit to tyrannous dictation in this free land of ours, no ht to exert it
In this political laboratory I came in contact with the raw materials of political life that, as an older er way in the years to coreat policies of a nation are simply the policies and passions of the ward extended In the little discussions that took place in that store, I was, even as a youth, looking on froenerous spirit of my own father Never would he permit, for instance, in the matter of the discussion of Ireland--so dear to his heart--a shade of resentment in the least, for he believed that no e in any matter where his mind was filled with passion; and so in this matter, the subject of such fierce controversy, as in every other, he held a judgonisms I found in the siht up the sas, in a small way, that I was subsequently to co of political life in the Capitol of the Nation I found the saness and the same relative smallness, the same petty jealousies and rivalries which reat nation's life; the sa itself in the same way, only differently apparelled
One of theplaces in the world for the study of hurocery I was able as a boy standing behind the counter of the little grocery store to study people; and intimately to become acquainted with them and their daily lives and the lives of their women and children I never came in contact with their daily routine, their joys and sorrows, their bitter actualities and deep tragedies, without feeling rise in o, seated behind the counter of rocery store, hat passionate resentment I read the vivid headlines of the hastly accounts of the now famous Homestead Strike of 1892 Of course, I came to realize in after years that the headlines of a newspaper are not always in agreement with the actual facts; but I do recall how intently I pored over every detail of this tragic story of industrial war and how, deep in my heart, I resented the efforts of a capitalistic system that would use its power in this unjust, inhuman way Little did I realize as I pored over the story of this tragedy in that far-off day that some time, seated at my desk at the White House in the office of the secretary to the President of the United States, I would have the pleasure ofactor in this lurid dra froent recital of the events which forround of the Homestead Strike
CHAPTER II
DOING THE POLITICAL ChoreS
For the young reat city there is no royal road to preferly rendered Of course, there seem to be exceptions to this rule At tireat family to rise to temporary distinction in politics without a preliminary course in the school of local politics, for as a Democratic boss once said to me: ”Great family names are fine -dressers,” but inend of careers thus begun and have found that soreat naencies, the would-be politician is quickly thrust aside to make way for the less pretentious butabout a place in politics gained in this adventitious way Of course, there soh office uished subject of this book, from fields apparently remote from practical politics, but such successes are due to an appealing personal force, or to exceptional genius which the young aspirant had better not assuood that a political apprenticeshi+p is as necessary and valuable as an industrial apprenticeshi+p
My first official connection with politics was as the financial secretary of the Fifth Ward Democratic Club of Jersey City My father had told me that if I intended to play an active part in politics, it would be necessary to begin modestly at the bottom of the ladder, to do the political chores, as it were, which are a necessary part of ward organization work I recall those days with singular pleasure, for ave me an unusual opportunity to meet the privates in the ranks and to s of the Club were held each week in a iven over to addressese political worker favours the senator, or the ex-judge, or the ex-Congressressressman by that name), would often be the headliner and he could be depended upon to draw a crowded and enthusiastic house The knowledge and experience I gained at these inspirational hty helpful to me in the political life I had carved out for myself I found that when you had convinced these plain, everyday fellows that, although you were a collegeto serve you to the end It was a valuable course in a great university It was not very long until I was given my first opportunity, in 1896, to make my first political speech in behalf of Mr Bryan, then the Democratic candidate for President I was not able at that tile the intricacies of the difficult money problems, but I endeavoured, ier on what I considered the great moral issue that lay behind the silver question in that n--the attempt by eastern financial interests to dominate the Government of the United States
After un as secretary of the Fifth Ward Democratic Club, an incident happened which caused a sudden rise in iven the opportunity ofspeech for the Fifth Ward's candidate for street and water co the machine candidate It was a real effort on hts of worry and preparation Indeed, it seereat moment of my life I vividly recall the incidents of what to me was a ht of the Convention, with the delegates from my ward, I faced an unfriendly and hostile audience, our candidate having aroused the opposition of the boss and his satellites While I felt that the attitude of the Convention was one of opposition to our candidate, there was no evidence of unfriendliness or hostility to myself as the humble spokesman of the Fifth Ward When I stood up to speak I realized that I had to ”play up” to the spirit of generosity which is always latent in a crowd such as I was addressing I believe I won, although ood nature brought allery and the delegates on the floor ith me, but unfortunately forinfluence of the Convention, was against ht we made In this first skirmish of ood grace and, if possible, sly, and no sore spot or resentment over our defeat ever showed itself in my attitude toward the men who saw fit to oppose us Evidently, the boss and his friends appreciated this attitude, for it was reported to nition and by the boss's orders would soon be placed on the eligible list for future consideration in connection with a place on the legislative ticket
One lesson I learned was not to be embittered by defeat Since then I have seen tooworsted in their first battles that their political careers ended when they should have been just beginning
CHAPTER III
MY FIRST MEETING WITH THE POLITICAL BOSS
After serving my apprenticeshi+p as a orker, devoted friends froed my name upon the Democratic leader, Mr Robert Davis, for a place upon the Derown to have a deep regard and affection for this fine old fellow While he was a boss in every sense,close relations with the Public Service Corporations of the state, he had an engaging human side He never pretended nor deceived With his friends he was open, frank, generous, and honourable in all his dealings, and especially kind to and considerate of the youngforce With his political eneislative session, when I was a member of the House of assembly, ould come to us of the boss's desire that we should support this or that bill, behind which certain corporate interests lay The orders, however, were clean and without a threat of any kind He took no unfair advantage and made no reprisals e failed to carry out his desires
While a islature, the naan to be first discussed in the political world of New Jersey It came about in this way: By reason of the norislature in those days of a Democratic candidate for the United States senatorshi+p was a re one indeed, and was generally paid to the old war horses of democracy like James E Martine, of Plainfield, New Jersey; but the appearance of the doughty Colonel Harvey on the scene, at the 1907 session of the New Jersey Legislature, gave a new turn to this custom A request was made by Colonel Harvey and diplomatically conveyed by his friends to the Deislature, that the honorary nomination for the United States senatorshi+p at this session of the Legislature should be given to President Wilson of Princeton It may be added that I learned years afterward that Mr Wilson was not a party to Colonel Harvey's plans; that once he even sent a friend as an emissary to explain to the Colonel that Mr Wilson did not believe that the use of his name in connection with political office was a service to him or to Princeton University