Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-08-22
our TRENTON LETTER.

llISl dCtS OIL G0NeFUOT- WItSOn y6SLeT-
day after he reached the State House
was to send telegram of congratu-'
lation TO Governor Thomas R. Mar
shall, of Indiana, congratulating him
upon his formal notification as the
Democratic candidate for Vice-Presi-
dent Governor Wilson was unable
to attend the notification ceremony
His telegram was as follows:
s. My hearties and siacerest congrat-
ulations. 1t is a matter of the deep
est regret with me that / could not
be present to extend my congratula-
tons in person and to express again
the warm satisfaction it gives me to
be associated with you on the Demo-
cratic ticket. I should have liked to
have chance to join you in saying
how confident | feel in the presence of
the partys great opportunity to serve
the people without fear, favor or
timidity. Pray accept nay warm per-
sonal regards
The Governor came to the State
House from New York where he had
conference with Rolla Wells, Treas
urer OF the Democratic National
Campaign Committee, and Henry Nor
genthau Chairman of the Finance
Committee. He was kept busy all the
morning with his executive duties and
yesterday afternoon attended the out
ing of the Mercer County Democrats
at the Interstate Fair grounds.
Speeches were made by the Governor,
former Mayor Frank S. Katzenbach,
former Judge Westcott, of Camden
County; Congressman William Hugh
les, of Paterson, and others.
The situation in the Democratic
camp over the United States Senator
ship grows more tense as the cam
paign advances 1t is now considered
more than likely that former United
States Senator James Smith, Jr., will
throw his hat in the ring and go be-
fore the people at the primaries as a
candidate to succeed Senator Briggs
None of the three or four Wilson men
who aspire to the Senatorship will
withdraw from the race and this
/ is giving the Governor and his
llieutenants considerable concern, due
to the fact that they fear that with
| former Senator Smith pitted against
Former Judge John w. Westcott, of
Camden County, who has just return
ed from his vacation, declar.d yes
terday that ne will not withdraw from
/ the Senatorshin contest Congress-
man William Hughes, of Paterson,
and State Senator William c. Geb-
hardt, of Hunterdon, were Doth active
/ " pushing their senatorial booms at
/ the New Jersey Day celebration at
Sea Girt last Saturday, and each gave
evidence that he did not propose to
| withdraw. It is likely that further
pressure Will be brought to bear upon
all three of these candidates to agree
/ to a compromise that will put only
one candidate in the field to fight
/ Senator Smith.
The Wilson men believe that former
Senator Smith cannot win the nomin-
alton unless it practically be handed
/ to him by division in the Wilson
ranks. Smiths chief strength will
be in Essex County where he still, to
some extent, maintains his political
machine His machine in other parts
of the state, however, has been badly
shattered by the Governor, and in a
straight contest between the former
Senator and one Wilson candidate
upon whom all the force OF the Will
son men is concentrated,che outlook is
T that Senator Smith would be decisive
lly defeated.
Senator James F. Fielding: of Fud-
OF ri Caf, How
and was pushing his boom for Presi-
dent of the Senate next winter ii case
the Democrats controlled that body.
| He expressed the belief that Governor
Wilson would easily be elected and
that the Democrats would carry the
Legislature in November.
***&
Senator Gebhardt in an interview
yesterday, said that he hoped Sena-
| tor Smith would enter the contest.
He believes that with Smith in the
race his own chances Of obtaining the
nomination would be made stronger
Senator Gebhardt insists that he was
the first Progressive in the Democrat
I ic ranks in the state, that ne fought
in the Senate for Progressive laws
when he had to fight single-handed
and alone and when such fight was
far from popular. He contends that
| for this reason he should have the
nomination for United States Senator.
*@#
AS far as the Republicans are con-
ceraed the Senatorial fight is moving
forward but without any political
fire works" United States Senator
Briggs and former Governor Edward
c. Stokes are both pushing the work
of getting signatures to their nomin-
ating petitions throughout the state.
Senator Briggs, of course, will run as
| a Stand-pat Regular Republican and
will support the Taft administration
He will ask the suffrages of the vot-
ers on this platform. Mr.. Stokes. on
the other hand, will seek the nenina-
tion as Progressive. He will de-
Iclare for Progressive principles, but
lis position will be that the fight for
these principles should be made with