Evening star., 1911-08-13
Wilson's Friends Confident of
Capturing Delegation.
NOT WITHOUT OPPOSITION
Adherents Of Former Senator Smith
Plan for q Fight.
HARD JOLT FOR MACHINE
Dethroning Of State Chairman
Nusent Places Governor In Bet
ter Position for Fray.
srcc,aI p,spatcn to The star.

Special Dispatch to The star.
TRENTON, N. j., August t2-Gov.
Wilson's friends and supporters In New
Jersey figure that they have got the
states new elective system so hxed that
n is impossible to prevent the selection
next spring Of Wilson delegation to the
democratic national convention from New
Jersey. They are expecting the opposi-
ton OF the machine forces In the state.
not only those which are under control
of ex-senator James Smith OF Newark.
but others not go much under his thumb
which are not particularly enamored OF
the governor.
The ex-senator's grievance is. Of course.
the active part Gov. Wilson took In the
campaign that kept him out of the SEN
ate last winter. while local machines are
resentful of the schemes aimed at their
destruction which the governor whipped
through the legislature.
Rural Machine Cautious.
The rural machine men are not so open
ly bitter as are the Smith managers. but
their rancor is as deep. even II 1t is
shown in more diplomatic guises. They
do not climb to the house tops to pro-
claim the governor an migrate" and a
liar" but they fear" that the state Will
have had so much Wilson that by the
time the real fight for the presidency be-
gins his name will not be one to be con-
jured with.
The Incident OF Thursday at Asbury
Park is calculated to drive these critics
to their holes. The local machines nave
always looked up to the state macnine
for encouragement and support Ihe de-
throning of Smiths political manager,
Nugent, for many years chairmau OF the
state committee. was jolt to the sys-
tenn all over the stale. 1t has taken
from Smith the control of a state Cunt
mittee that he thought was all his own
and turned ii into Wilson machine.
For the change to have been made by
the mere turn of a hand has weakened
own strength. and they are likely to
prove half-hearted in the hanI bout
with the governor.
State Support Necessary.
The Asbury Park coup was MT among
the achievements in contemplation or
even deemed POSSIBLE by the Cover nor's
friends. who, before he had taken the
oath of office. laid their plans u land
him in the White House in 1918. They
knew how impossible a candidat3 would
state in the national convention, and
they came to the capital primed with a
rev election device that they say will
assure the home delegation to .heir ia
vorite beyond all peradventure.
That device, through law introduced
fHeo the assembly by Geran of Mon
mouth. tears down the time-honored sys-
tenn of electing national delegates to state
conventions, and throws their election
into the open primaries. It Is the applica-
tion In that direction of the referendum
principle which Gov Wilson Is offering to
the people as the panacea for all govern
quote paragraphs from his earlier ad-
dresses that indicate that the governor
was not always so devoted to that policy
of rule as he has been since he came to
II have changed my ideas on some
points the governor said when he was
asked about 1t the other evening. MY
closer contact with things In practice
since l became active In politics has
brought about some notifications Of my
views"
Change In His Views
Whatever he may have advocated be-
fore. Or. Wilson has been warm In his
espousal OF the referendum since he at
tained the governorship. A large part Of
the Geran law Is devoted to a description
of the methods that are to be followed In
the selection of national delegates. Any
hundred voters can get q candidate for .
seat in the national convention before the
people. and a majority vote will elect him.
The most elaborate restrictions are
thrown around the party primary boxes
In localities with more than 5000 In
habitants, to prevent the invasion of the
primary of one party by the cohorts Of
another party. The evident purpose is to
make II as difficult as possible for the
machine workers Of one side to assist the
~ afd
in a factional uprising against machine
domination in places where the machines
are strong.
Those who want Wilson will find 1t
easy enough to get into the primary for
him. That the elector may be only q
Wilson democrat will not stand in the
way of his classification at the primary
as q regular democrat. And then. with
cials in charge OF the boxes. he is not
likely anywhere to be too severely quizzed
as to the depth Of his democracy.
This may not seem to be an overlarge
point, but the practical politicians Of all
folds realize its Importance. And 1t grows
into the larger significance In the minds
OF those who have noticed that the VIII
eon managers plan to run his campaign
on as non-partsan lines as possible.
Strong with the Masses.
A favortts boast Of the governors
friends 10 that he II stronger with the
general masses. Of whatever party. than
he IL sven among the followers Of his own
party The chief complaint Of the ma
:hine men is. indeed. that the tendency. II
not the purpose. OF his new election sys-
tenn is to obliterate party lines. And some
observers think they see. in some OF the
moro conspicuous things he has done in
the governorship. his rallying call to all
men of ell parties. For instance. there Is
his letter declaring for local option In
LIQUOR matters. 1t Is calculated to bring
TO his support at the polls q large body OF
voters who are every ready to attack tho
saloon.
The anti-saloon cry is particularly al
turing In the rural districts The democ-
racy Of the state Ii noted for It's kindness
to the liquor element, and yet In the
banner democratic rural county Of Hun
terdon last fall the democratic candi-
dates for state senate and assembly open
iy declared for local option. and won
out by the handsomest matorities ever
given the party there.
Large Results Expected.
The same intensity Of sentiment 10 pre-
dominant In all other rural democrat
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