New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-04
TURNED DOWN, SMITH
MAN "SASSES" WILSON
State Controller Accuses PreSi-
dent-E|ect Of Using Patronage
to Defeat Him.
BOTH ARE READY FOR WAR
Governor Decides to Support
Grosscup-Opposes Edwards
Because Democratic Boss
Is Behind Him.
LBy TELEGRAPH TO TIE Tribune.

fBy Telegraph to The Tribune.
| Trenton, n. J., Jan. 3.-Governor Wilson
had red hot verbal set-to with State
Controller Edward ]. Edwards this after
noon, in which the latter threw down the
gauntlet to the President-elect and an
nounced that he would beat the Gov
ernor to q fragile In the fight over the
selection Of new State Treasurer.
| The term Of Daniel s. Voorhees,. the
present State Treasurer. expires OH March
1. and Mr.. Edwards Is a candidate for the
place against Edward Grosscup, tho
Democratic state chairman. The Govern
or and Mr.. Edwards. according to the
| latter's version. this morning talked the
question over. and when Governor WILSON
! said that he had decided tc support Mr..
| Grosscup the Controller lost his temper
and shouted:
| We'll, I'm going TO beat you. Gov
ernor."
THAT sounds like fight the Gov
ernor is reported to have answered, "and
| IL that Is so there is not much use OF US
talking any further"
| They kept talking until, Edwards said
he accused the Governor OF using the
patronage Of his Office to defeat him.
! Governor Wilson denied that such was
the case. or that he had ever used the
patronage of his ONCE for any such pur-
pose.
| We'll. IL you didn't your friends did"
shouted Edwards They have promised
every state job that you have. and few
| Cabinet places, too. in order TO get votes
I'm Hudson County for Grosscup."
The Governor tried to make Il plain 10
Mr.. Edwards that he was not opposed to
him personally. but that he could not
| support him. because ex-senator James
Smith. jr., the Democratic boss. was be-
hind him and was going about the state
soliciting votes in his behalf. Edwards.
however. was obdurate. and announced
that he was in the fight TO stay.
Edwards in Fight to Win.
"You never knew an Edwards to quit
he had left the Governors office. IL am
In this fight to stay, and 1 am going to
win
The Office OF State Treasurer is one OF
the most influential in the state, because
that official has the disposal OF about
SIC. 0O0. 900 Of the states money. Mr.. Ed
wards Is cashier Of the First National
Bank in Jersey City. and this was said
TO be another reason why Governor Will
son opposes his selection as State Treas
urer, because he was said to believe that
banker cannot morally hold the post.
1t was learned here tonight that an
embryo insurrection has been started by
number Of the new Democratic mem
bers Ct the coming Congress to Gust some
OF the oid-timers from the choice COM
mittee chairmanships Of the House.
Warren Worth Bailey. Of the 18th Penn
sylvania District. being the prime mover
in the mix-up. and he has started n sort
OF endless chain OF letters among the new
Congressman to line them up for the
fight.
MI Bailey Is a close friend OF William
J. Bryan and he Is using every effort TO
get the new Democratic Congressman
| from the North to stand together against
the "hogging' of the committee assign
ments by the old-timers who come prin-
cipally from the South. the fight at the
| present time being aimed at the Ways
and Means Committee. which selects the
committees and reports back to the
Democratic caucus.
| The new Congressman believe that this
committee will practically rename all the
| old-timers now on choice committees, and
| that the newcomers won't get a look in.
| The SOLUTION. as suggested by the insur-
gents, was that the power to select COM
| mittees be taken away from the ways
and Means Committee, and placed In the
hands Of a committee on committees. TO
be chosen by the Democratic caucus.
Wants OkIahonan in Cabinet.
United States Senator Robert l.. Owen,
Of Oklahoma, called on Governor Wilson
this afternoon to add another name to the
long list Of candidates for Secretary OF
| the Interior. Mr.. owen wanted the Pres
ident-slect to select Rupert Rogers, OF
Oklahoma, lawyer and Progressive Demo-
croat, who In addition happens to have
been a classmate Of Governor Wilson In
the Law School of the University OF Vir-
ginia. After talking with the President
elect Senator owen characterized tho
United States Senate as the very essence
of old machine politics.
| "There must be a distribution OF
power" he said, 80 that the party Will
be properly represented. So long as we
were in the minority It mado very little
difference how the committee assign
ments were parcelled out. but now that
we are invested with the responsibility
OF government, It makes q great deal OF
difference"
When the Oklahoma Senator was asked
II lie thought Bryan should be In the
| Wilson Cabinet. he said there should be
no doubt of 1t. Il have always been an
adnirsr of Mr.. Bryan. and 1 hope he will
take an active part in the administration.
| The old rancor and hostility against Mr..
Bryan has passed away"
Governor Wilson talked over state at
fairs and patronage with National Com
mitteeman Robert s. Hudspcth. Edward
| f. Grosscup and Congressman William K.
| futile and Robert L. Bremner. He also
discussed a bill which the latter will in
| troduce to provide for national mu-
scum OF safety, where all kinds Of safety
appliances for workmen will be on exhibit
Governor Wilson will not 80 to Trenton
to- morrow. but will stay at home and
rest.
SENDS BACK STOLEN PIN