Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-01-04
FIGHT ON OVER
STATE TREAS.
Governor Tells Edwards He
Cannot Support Him.


Trenton, Ian. Open wal wal
declared In the State TrcasuercrshiI
fight yesterday afternoon at a con
ference between Governor Wilson
and State Comptroller Edward !
Edwards. of Jersey City, and ht'
brother, former State Senator VII
liam ID. Edwards. Governor Wilson
who had previously refrained from
openly stating whore he stood In the
contest between Mr.. Edwards sno
State Chairman Edward f. 0
cup, fatty told the comptroller thai
he could not favor his because ht
was a bank director and the right
interests we're not behind him. State
Comptroller Edwards came back
with the declaration to the Governor
that he would beat the executive ito
a FRAGILE" The comptroller and his
brother were with the Governor
nearly two hours.
The conference was far from be-
ing a pink tea affair. 1t took place
in the Governors private office, but
the door was not closed. To those
in the outer office 1t was plain that
words we're not being minced. Time
after time Governor Wilson gave
vigorous negative shakes OF his
head. The gestures on both sides
were of the most vigorous kind and
it was very evident that the confab
was a warm one Governor Wilson
and the Comptroller first talked to-
gether some time and then former
, Senator Edwards argued with the
! Governor, but at the close the Gov
%ernor's negatives were as determin-
ed as at the beginning.
After Comptroller Edwards had
left the Governors Office he stated
that the Governor was for Grosscup.
1--WE talked over the treasurership,'
he declared, land Governor Wilson
stated that he favored Grosscup."
care you Poing to withdraw from
the contest?" he was asked.
"You never in your life heard OF
an Edwards withdrawing from any
thing. I am going to fight" he re-
piled.
Later Mr.. Edwards talked about
the conference as he sat in his pri-
vate office. He admitted that the
meeting had been a warm one. He
said the Governor told him he had
nothing personal against him (the
Comptroller), but he was for Gross
cur. The Comptroller declared
that the Governor told him he could
, not favor him because he was the
director of a bank and the two posi-
lions were not compatible.
ct told the Governor that he and
his followers were not fighting fair
ly," continued the Comptroller. He
also told Governor Wilson hat the
Public Service CORPORATION people
were against him (Edwards) for the
comptrollership and that this proved
the Governor vas wrong in insisting
that certain interests were backing
him.
The conference with the Governor
was terminated when, Comptroller
Edwards declared that he was going
out to beat Governor Wilson and
win the treasurership despite the
executive.
THAT sounds like fight, and if
you are going to fight. I have moth
ing more to say now" declared Gov
Wilson, meaningly.
State Chairman Grosscup and
National Committeeman Robert S.
Hudspeth also saw the Governor yes
terday afternoon, and after their
talk both declared that Comptroller
Edwards was beaten. Mr.. Grosscup
| said everything looked favorable for
him.
"Grosscup Is sure to win," was
former Judge H~udspeth's statement.
He claimed Mr.. Edwards would not
have more than II votes out of the
43 Democratic votes in the joint
meeting of the Legislature.
1t is understood that Governor
Wilson raised very strong objections
to Mr.. Edwards as state treasurer
because he is a director and cashier
Of a Jersey City national bank. His
brother. who is urging his selection
as state treasurer, is also a director
in the same bank. The Governors
understood to have declared that if
Mr.. Edwards were elected state
treasurer, the two positions would
interfere with each other. The state
Treasurer controls the repositories of
the millions of state funds, and the
Grosseup hackers intimate that the
real object of Mr. Edwards in seek
ing the treasurership is to get the
big deposits for his bank.
1t Is expected that the caucus for
the selection of the candidate for
state treasurer will be held soon af-
ter the LEGISLATURE opens on jan
uary IA. The term of State Treas
urer Daniel S. Voorhees, expires
March ]. He will be renominated
by the Republicans. The salary is
$4,000 a year The state comptrolle,
is paid $500, the extra $500 being
allowed because he is custodian of
the funds of the state school for the
deaf. II Mr.. Edwards were made
treasurer and Mr.. Grosscup como
troller, as proposed by the Edwards
forces, the Democrats would retain
control of the state house commits
sion. and through it many state en-