Governor's entrance into the fight was made and the contest for the
senatorship and the leadership of the Democratic party was on. The
announcement was as follows:

WOODROW WILSON'S CHALLENGE TO THE BOSSES
Friday Evening, Dec. 9,1910.

The question who should be chosen by the incoming legislature of the
state to occupy the seat in the Senate of the United States which will
presently be made vacant by the expiration of the term of Mr. Kean is
of such vital importance to the people of the state, both as a
question of political good faith and as a question of genuine
representation in the Senate, that I feel constrained to express my
own opinion with regard to it in terms which cannot be misunderstood.
I had hoped that it would not be necessary for me to speak; but it is.

I realize the delicacy of taking any part in the discussion of the
matter. As Governor of New Jersey I shall have no part in the choice
of a Senator. Legally speaking, it is not my duty even to give advice
with regard to the choice. But there are other duties besides legal
duties. The recent campaign has put me in an unusual position. I
offered, if elected, to be the political spokesman and adviser of the
people. I even asked those who did not care to make their choice of
governor upon that understanding not to vote for me. I believe that
the choice was made upon that undertaking; and I cannot escape the
responsibility involved. I have no desire to escape it. It is my duty
to say, with a full sense of the peculiar responsibility of my
position, what I deem it to be the obligation of the Legislature to do
in this gravely important matter.