New-York tribune., 1910-07-18
CHILL FOR WILSON BOOM
Many Jersey Democrats Oppose
Princeton Mans Candidacy.

Princeton Mans Candidacy.
| IFrom the Regular Correspondent of The Tribune
| Trenton, n. J., July 17.-Woodrow VII
sons recent announcement that he is a re-
ceptive candidate for the Democratic noln1-
nation foE Governor of New Jersey this falf
| has not been met by the enthusiasm among
| the rank and file of the party which his
hackers had hoped for. and indeed it is re-
! sarded as probable that unless there is a
decided change in the sentiment now pre-
vailing by convention time the decided
majority Mr.. Wilson referred to will be
! hard to find.
| Many reasons are given by men promi-
nent in the councils of the New Jersey De
mocracy for the chilly greeting accorded
the Princeton presidents announcement
| One has pointed out his unfamiliarity with
| the affairs of New Jersey: another says he
is not in touch with the people of the
state, and a third has called attention to
some of his recent speeches on the control
! of public service corporations
In one of these speeches-that at Plain
! field-Mr. Wilson opposed the control Of
public service corporations by state COM
missions. He said: I'VE have carried this
method so far that we have virtually gone
the length of debating their management,
which carries us very much beyond the
point Of mere control" Mr.. Wilson's S
remedy was the Capitalization Of the con-
troll of these corporations at Washington,
with little interference as possible with
the management of the corporations.
In view of such utterances as this. the
Democrat referred to said it was not hard
to see why the mention of Mr.. Wilson's
name was not arousing enthusiasm, espe-
cja1lyy va IF the north
ern end of the state, where the bulk of the
voters live and who are now clamoring for
a still stronger public utilities commission
than the one of which New Jersey row
boasts. It is easy task to convince
these voters when their rates are raised
they should go to Washington for redress,
when their own Legislature, by giving the
New Jersey commission rate making power,
can serve them Just as we'll. In fact the
giving OF rate making power to the present
commission is going to be one of the lead
ing issues If not the leading issue of the
coming contest for Governor.
But there is another reason given for the
apathy toward Mr.. Wilson's boom, and
that is the situation in the Democratic
ranks of Hudson. It was primarily in an
swer to the pleadings of emissaries of
Bob Davis that Mr.. Wilson consented to
become receptive candidate. 1t Is doubt
ful indeed if Davis would know the Prince
ton president If he met him on the street.
But he now has rather interesting pri-
mary contest facing him, and there are
grave doubts that when it is over Davis
Will be able to boss things Democratic in
Hudson with his accustomed ease
1t so happens that the leader of this re-
volt is Mayor II. Otto Wittpenn of Jersey
City who since holding Office has been
endeavoring to clean out the grafters and
other leeches in the public treasury, a task
that has made him very unpopular with the
machine Wittpenn has been fairly sue
cessful in his efforts, and has attracted so
much attention that at the behest of his
friends he entered the contest for the
Democratic nomination for Governor. There
was CONSERVATION among the Davis fol-
lowers when he made his announcement.
Under no circumstances could they tolerate
the Mayor going to the Democratic conven-
tion with a majority of the Hudson dele
gates shouting for his nomination, for 1t
would mean that Bob had lost his grip.
So they hatched out a plan whereby ex
Senator Robert tfudspeth and Congressman
Eugene Kinkead, two of Daviss most de-
voted followers, were to visit Mr.. Wilson
and urge him to consent to the use of his
is said that recent events at Princeton had
some weight in bringing it about Anyhow, |
the Davis followers were happy, for they
were sure that Wittpenn could not continue |
in the race against man of Mr.. Wilson's |
standing, and with the Mayor out of it |
the control of the party machine by DAVIS |
was assured. The Jersey City Mayor, how |
ever. has turned the tables, for he has re-
fused to retire from the contest, and says !
he intends to stay until the convention Sc
lects the candidate.
It is said that one of the arguments pre-
sented to Mr.. Wilson was that should he
become a candidate all others would with
draw, but, aside from Mayor Wittpenn.
Senator George Silzer, of Middlesex, as
serts that he IS not going to be forced out,
and so does Assemblyman Edward Kenny.
of East Newark. As for rank Katzer-
bach. his friends say they won't let him
drop out, and It is hinted that the mention
of Mr.. Wilson's name has not caused James
Nugent, the chairman of the Democratic
State Committee. to let up in his efforts to
have Mr.. Katzenbach named at the coming
as the Democratic candidate for
Governor.
Republican leaders express little interest
in Mr.. Wilson's candidacy. They hold that
New Jersey is a Republican state, and that
either Senator Joseph S. Frelinghuysen or
Vivian NJ. Lewis would not have an ex-
tremely hard task in defeating any candi-
date that Jim" Smith or Bob Davis
might nominate.
The Hudson Democrats have promised 10
ssue a statement tomorrow defending
their work