Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-02-19
TAFT MEN BUSY
IN NEW JERSEY
Regulars Active Throughout
the State Following the
Visit Of the President.
SITUATION IN COUNTIES
Much Progressive Sentiment
But Stand-Pat Leaders Hope
to Maintain Control.

W WutittdlH IUitkt Uts
fFrom the NEWS Corrsspondent.j
Trenton, Feb. 19:-Considerable
progress was made last week In the
movement OF the Regular Republic
cans to put New Jersey In the Taft
column. The Progressiyes were
busy, too, but following the visit OF
President Taft to Newark as the
! guest of former Governor Franklin
Murphy, the Taft sentiment has
shown a p%erceptible increase and the
Regular leaders now claim there
will be no difficulty In selecting dele
gates to the National Convention
who will be for the denomination OF
the President. The Bergen County
Republican Committee last week
adopted a resolution formally en-
dorsing Taft, adding another to the
list Of counties which have taken
such action. The Union County RE-
publican Committee willmeet tonight
and Union county Republicans who
were at the State House today said
there was every probability that
President Taft would be given "A
unanimous endorsement. One OF the
county leaders declared that there
was very little Taft sentiment In
Union county.
Not only are the Taft leaders
working through the crunty organi-
cations, but vigorous work has been
begun for the extension of the Taft
Business Mems Club to all sections
of the State. State headquarters for
this organization will be opened
probably this week and then the
campaign will be started for branch
es all over the state.
Conditions I'm South Jersey.
In Atlantic county State Senator
Walter Edge, who has opposed Louis
Kuenhle, the Republican boss. In
many ways, and who aspires to the
leadership since the downfall OF
Kuenhle, has been looked upon more
or less as inclined to Progressiveisms
but he Is to be a candidate for dele-
gate to the National Republican as
Taft man and has lined UP with
the Taft forces.
Not a great deal Of Roosevelt talk
Is f1eard, as yet, In Burlington conn-
lty Seeaough the Roosevelt State
ALeagss AAaA a conua1ktesman IN the
Nsssaaaasaa s I -
-TSgxyz=T~E8 ~
BuxIin6taa aate ssaa
20 to congress and Whu would aIBts
like to be Que OF the national dele
gates from the Second District, aud
the other Regulars In the county.
are actively : work for Taft.
Camden codrity will be for Taft.
without a doubt, unless there be a
great change in the present sifnr-
tion. Camden county's strong incli-
nation always to vote regular lis well
known. and David Baird and the
other leaders have the situation 80
well In hand that the county will
give It's usual large quota OF votes
to keep the First District In line for
Taft, 1t is claimed. The Regular
leaders In Camden county claim that
the espousal by former Senator VIII
liam J. Bradley of the Roosevelt
cause will have little effect in the
county.
State Senator Robert Hand. or
Cape May, claims that county will be
for Taft. Former Governor e. c.
Stokes points to the recent straw
primary vote In Cumberland county,
which was overwhelmingly for
Roosevelt, and says that Is the senti-
ment throughout the state. State
Senator Isaac T. Nichols says that
the vote did not mean anything OF
the kind. He claims the Taft men
took no interest In the straw vote
and did o cast their ballots. Mr..
Nichols thinks the county will be
for Taft.
Essex the battle-ground.
Essex county win be- one OF the
chief backgrounds between the Taft
and Roosevelt forces. 1t is n OF
the strongholds OF the Progressives
and notwithstanding the claim of
County Chairman DalrympIe that
the county will easily so for Taft,
the Republican leaders are concern
ed considerably as TO the outlook
and are leaving no stone unturned
to insure the election OF Taft dele
gates. The state leaders are count
ing on the recent primary victories
of the Regulars In Gloucester county
over the Avis Watkins faction TO aid
the Taft movement In the First Dis
trict.
With Hudson county Republicans
split into three factions, only n Of
which is avowedly for Taft. it can-
not be predicted now how 1t will
vote for delegates May %, The Pro-
gressives, headed by George +.
Record, and the followers OF County
Clerk John Rotterdam, by refusing
to join the move, prevented the
county committee from endorsing
raft last week. In Hunterdon oun
ty the Republicans are In the minor
ity and thus far there has not been
much Progressive sentiment there.
Mercer county has not yet given
any evidence OF an organized move
In favor of Roosevelt. That there is
considerable insurgency In this city
was shown by the decided way III
which the old Republican adminis-
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