Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-07-25
W|TTPENN IS TO
WITHDRAW TODAY
Will Issue Statement Explain
ing Decision to Quit Gu
bernatoriaI Race.
IRON a star correspondence

JERSEY CITY. n. J.. July 25.-
Former Mayor III. Otto Wittpepn will
issue today n statement ANNOUNCE
ing his withdrawal from the contest
for the nomination for Governor
This was the decision reached last
night at a final conference of his pc
litical advisers. National Committee
man Robert S. Hudspeth who with
State Chairman Edward Grosscup.
was in conference Wednesday with
the former Mayor and who pointed
out that under existing conditions
he had no chance of winning at the
primaries was of the same opinion
at last nights conference. He based
his Judgment on the fact that Presi-
Gent Wilson had withdrawn his sup
port from Wittpenn's candidacy.
The latter could not hope to even
hold his following among the So
called Wilson Democrats throughout
the State. The former Mayor, he
said, could not expect support from
other Democrats and to his way of
thinking it would be useless to con-
tinue the fight.
Their Opinion Differs.
Mayor Matthew Cronin. of Bayonne,
Assistant Secretary of State Job Lip
pincott and Former City Clerk John
Morris, who are among the most
ardent of the NNittpenn supporters,
did not agree altogether with Mr.
Hudspeth. They were of the opin-
ion that Wittpenn had enough sup
porters in the State to win his nom
nation and they made it known that
if they had their way the former
Mayor would remain in the race.
While the conference was in prog
ress it became apparent that Presi-
dent Wilson had not the slightest in
terest in the Wittpenn candidacy and
that if he found it necessary he
would issue a statement showing thaS
he would prefer that Acting Governor
Fielder should be given the support
Of all progressives. Such a statement.
it was conceded. would ALLEVIATE
practically all of Wilson's supporters.
Hudspeth. Chairman Grosscup, United
States Senator Hughes, Congressmaa
Scully and other Democrats who en-
joy the confidence of President Will
son would be among those to desert
the wittpenn cause under such cir
cumstances and this. it was pointed
out. would leave the former Mayors
boom high and dry.
Orchard Men Ask Him to stick.
About the only ones of the former
Mayors friends who favored his con-
tinuing in the race were the small
fry" the fellows who were counting
all along on his success. hoping that
in such an event they would not be
overlooked when the plum tree was
shaken. Reluctantly, but none the
less firmly, Wittpenn himself con-
cluded that it was better that he
should retire from the race. 1t would
be the only way he could retain even
a portion of his political prestige. To
run and be defeated would mean that
he no longer eXerted influence in
party affairs.
Thus was the Wittpenn boom laid
TO rest and the hopes of the man who
boasts that it was his efforts that
made President Wilson'S success pos
sible shattered. While there was no
open denunciation of President Will
son, former City Clerk John Morris,
Assistant Secretary of State Lippin-
colt and Mayor Cronin, in OFFERING
their condolences to the former
Mayor. did not hesitate to say thai
they would take care of the Presi-
dent should he seek denomination
in 1916.
They also paid their respects in soft
voice to Private Secretary Joseph T..
Tnmulty, and from what they said
this gentleman's political future will
not be a bed of roses.