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550 FAMOUS LIVING AMEBICANS meant the death of much of the power of the boss. On the other side was a man who seemed not to have stepped out of a college chair. With tact and understanding, but above all with open frankness, he brought to bear the force of public opinion as few trained politicians could have done. After the triumphant passage of this first ditch, the march toward a complete victory was less uncertain but still fraught with diflSculties. In the end, however, the state of New Jersey had put upon its statute books more progressive laws than had been dreamed of in many other communities long regarded as less boss-ridden than New Jersey. The whole program of the platform was carried out, and at the close of the ses- sion many legislators who had begun the session hostile to the governor were his warm admirers. Soon after this the movement to make Mr. Wilson the nom- inee of the Democratic Party for President of the United States at the election of 1912 was set going. It was no arti- ficial boom nursed and fostered in the quiet nooks of political secrecy. It was the natural and normal answer to the grow- ing demand for a progressive candidate to lead a party that had long been out of power, but which had recently become dominated by conservative elements. It is true, of course, that his campaign had the backing and management of shrewd poUticians. The press bureau was skilfully managed and his name carefully kept before the na- tion. But it manifestly was not backed by the reactionary elements of the party. From the first it seemed to be Wilson against the conservative field. As the Baltimore convention drew near this fact became more evident, and when at last the fight came, the issue was squarely joined between the forces of the party that believed that nothing should be done to antagonize the business interests of the country, and the forces that believed that a new day had dawned in American politics and that it was the opportunity of the Democratic Party to step in and become the knight to fight for the i>eo- ple's rights. What has happened since that day is well known. It might be said that Mr. Wilson would never have been elected had it