New-York tribune., 1910-12-23
.STAND FIRM FOR SMITH
Essex AssembIymen UnyieIding
at Conference with Wilson.
SENATE FIGHT CONTINUES
Jersey Elect Will Tell
To-day Why He Insists Mar
tine Be Named.

Five Democratic Assemblynen-eIect of
Essex County, n. j.. all stanch supporters
of James Smith, jr.. for United States Sem
ator had a two-hour conference with Gov
ernor-elect Wilson at a New York hotel
yesterday afternoon, and when Ii was over
they broadly intimated that Mr.. Wilson
had not presented any argument which, to
their minds, was sufficient to bring them
into line for James MARITIME The Assem-
blymen-elect were Harry F. Backus,
Michael Leveen, John ]. Bracken. NJ. A.
Phillips and Frank P. Shalvay
Before going into the conference the leg
islators made no secret of the fact that
they were going TO tell the Governor-elect
in plain terms that they were for Smith.
otherwise they would never have signed
the petition asking him to be a candidate
and one of the more daring asserted that
he was going to tell Mr.. Wilson what he
thought of him for "butting into" an affair
which did not concern him
Just what took place in the conference
room is known only to those who took part,
but when it ended the throats of the As
semblymen-elect were so parched that they
lost no time in applying restoratives- AS
a matter OF fact, ,Assemblymen-eIect Brack-
en- was so hoarse that he could hardly
speak above a whisper, but he asserted
that this was not due to any strenuous
discourse with DR.. Wilson, for. he said
the Governor-elect did most of the talking
Senator Harry V. Osborne. of Essex. it was
said, assisted DIR. Wilson in presenting his
case to the recaIcitrant Essex Assembly
uen-elect
The only Essex legislator who has not
yet talked with DR.. Wilson is W j. Nc
Gowan. but as he is an avowed supporter
of Smith, it is believed nothing would be
gained If he did confer with the Governor
elect
Sussex Men Non -Committai.
Previous to comforting with the Essex
men DR.. Wilson had a talk with Assembly
man Charles Meyer, OF Sussex. and Assem-
blyman-elect Eugene Burke. of Morris.
Mr.. Meyer said the arguments presented
by the Governor-elect were mighty hard to
get around He declared, however. that he
saw no reason to change his attitude at the
present time. The Sussex Assemblyman,
although generally cIassed as a Smith sup
porter, said he was non-committal, and
purposed to remain SO until the Legislature
met. Mr.. Burke would give no intimation
Of how he stood, although HIS friends say
he is against both Smith and MARITIME and
favors the selection of a compromise can
dfdate
The only reference DR.. Wilson would
make to the conference was the announce
ment that he would issue statement this
afternoon that would clarity the situation.
This statement. 1t is understood will be
one of the most strenuous political docu-
ments ever issued in New Jersey. 1t will
deal it is said, with the manner in which
the nomination for Governor was given to
Dr. Wilson. and will tell OF the conference
at the Lawyers Club in New York pre-
vious to the convention. at which time, IT
is understood, he told the Democratic lead
ers who had gathered there that If elected
Governor of New Jersey he would take ii
to mean that ne was also made the leader
of the Democratic party in the state.
The statement, SO 1t IS understood, will
also tell how a certain leading Democrat,