The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-10-21


questions, were 1 SO inclined, to Mr..
Colby. Such things as Mr.. Colby's OPP
position to the equal taxation of railroads
IN the Assembly of 1904, his association
as counsel in connection with the efforts
Of the water snake to sell New JERSEY
water to Staten Island and his partici-
patton in the matter of the Orange hat
ters' strike might call for some interest
ing explanation on his part.
lnese ana other questions | could
ask both these gentlemen if | chose
with much more minuteness of detail.
And perhaps ] shall. | shall not. how
ever, indulge in vituperation that carries
with it no semblance of truth or reason. -
IHE PHILADELPHIA Ledger of We'd
nesday contained an item touching up
on the political situation in New Jersey.
The headline was bryan undertakes
gam shoe visit. Secretary to be sent
to New Jersey as Presidents special de-
tective." The Ledger says:
THE political situation in New Jersey
is daily becoming more perplexing. The
much-heralded coming of William Jen-
nlngs Bryan as the spokesman for the
Wilson Administration, to bolster I'D the
campaign for Acting Governor Fielder,
will be more of detective mission for
the President than vote gatherer for
the Democrats.
State Chairman Edward f. GroSscup,
who announced that Mr.. BRYAN would
STUN the State for Fielder, cannot give
the date Mr.. Bryan is expected. 1t was
learned that the Secretary of State has
merely promised to look over the situa-
ind i |.
will enter the fight.
when it leaked out in Trenton the
Wilson Democrats and Republicans be-
lieved it to be tantamount to a state
ment from President Wilson that he
was by no means satisfied with the
actions of Acting Governor Fielder in
endeavoring topatch up party differences
and secure the support of James r. Nj
gent and James Smith, Jr., leaders of
the anti-Wilson factions. 1t is believed
that the Misrepresentation made at the
White House for the various Democratic
factions has led the President to delegate
Mr.. Bryan to investigate the real con-
ditions.
Republicans and Wilson Democrats
are daily expecting the President to
show his hand openly in the fight. He
held conferences with Grosscup, Con-
gressmen Scully and Kinkaid and others,
and is thoroughly familiar with the
situation. Chairman GroSscup returned
from Washington on Monday with as
surances of the Administration thunder
coming to the State, and told friends
that the President was in accord with
the State Committee. 1t has been in
timated, however, by a prominent Demo-
GRAFT that other phases of the situation
have been recently brought to the atten-
ton of the White House and that a
statement either from the President or
his secretary, Joseph p. Tumulty-a
leading figure in Hudson county politics
will be forthcoming before the cam
paign is much farther advanced.
Wilson Democrats are open in their
statements that the President will not
tolerate the return to power of the Essex
County bosses. They also point to the
fact that the President is aware that the
Acting Governor was never "a Wilson
man; that he fought President Wilson
when he was Governor on numerous
measures, notably the income tax, and
| that the present State Committee almost
to man is anti-Wilson. The friends of
the President are hoping he will clearly
define his position and openly repudiate
Fielder and the alliance with the Nugent-
Smith forces and thus prevent his
enemies from making the New Jersey
fight Wilson issue simply to gain
political control.
1.-THE Acting Governor finds himself
in position probably never paralleled
in the history of the country. He is
supported by bitter enemy, Nugent,
who supports him to elect the Essex
County ticket, and will then come down
to Trenton the master of the Assembly.
He is bottled" by the State Committee
which has silenced his militant primary
speeches, and which is headed by Ed
ward +. Grosscup, man he endeavored
to bury politically. He is making the
campaign on Woodrow Wilson policies,
of which he was one of the feeblest sup
porters in the Senate, and on a platform
made by his enemies.
To-day the Democratic hoId-over
Senators met at headquarters to outline
campaigns in the eight counties which
elect Senators in November. Six of these
counties are Republican, two are Demo-
cratic. The Democrats must elect four
of the eight Senators to control the next
Senate. From present indications the
Republicans will control the Senate,
even if Fielder is elected.
The campaign of Everett Colby, Pro-
| gressive candidate, has proved almost a
/ failure The attendance at his meet
ings has been! small and lacking in en-
thusiasm. He has practically disregard
ed the issues of the fight and confined
his speeches to personal attacks upon ex-
Governor Edward c. Stokes, the Repub-
lican candidate, and Acting Governor
Fielder. The attacks have been BOOM
erangs. The Progressive candidate has
been hooked up with lobbying in a
water snake deal in 1911, which even
Progressives admit has materially in
jured his cause.
Colby, however, holds the balance
| of power, and the one question
which is being asked all over the state is,
| What vote will Colby poll?' Should
the Progressive vote be under 10000 the
Republicans claim they will win. Colby
polled less than IL 600 in the primary.
''Stokes undoubtedly is growing
stronger. Even the Democrats admit it.
Several newspapers have deserted Colby,
dozens of Progressive Republicans have
reported at headquarters to work for
Stokes. and the situation is so pleasing
to Republican Chairman Bugbee that
he predicts 5000 majority for his candi-
date"
Press Comments.