Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-07-28
W|TTPENN WOUND
IS NOT HEALING
Followers of Sometime Candi-
date Sore-BIame Tumulty
for Political Injuries.
IFrom a stan Correspondent

| "a AANi NloyOl HANNEVhta - WAbAhAdW
al from the contest for the Demo-
cratic nomination for Governor, while
not surprise to politicians familiar
with the situation, was a shock to
many of his followers in this city.
They had known that the former
Mayor had lost favor with President
Wilson and that the latter was warm
ing up to Governor Fielder, but they
had hoped that he would make the
race irrespective of the wishes of the
occupant of the White House. Even
If he lost out his candidacy would
have at least kept together what re-
mains of his once powerful machine.
This is the way they regarded the
situation and they had believed that
this is the way he would look at 1t
when he made his decision in answer
to the letter from President Wilson.
Assistant Secretary of State Job
Lippincott, former City Clerk John
Morris, Thomas Haight, Mayor Gro
min, of Bayonne, and Warren Dixon,
former corporation counsel, who are
among the closes Of Wittpenn's
friends, viewed the situation from
THIS SldUlpOlHl. NdllOldl 1Oluilll-
teeman Robert S. Hudspeth and State
Committee Chairman Edward Cross
cup were among those who argued
that in view of the circumstances
there was nothing for the Mayor to
do but accept the suggestion of the
President and withdraw from the
race. Their arguments prevailed and
Wittpenn's letter to the President
was the result.
Lippincott Would Defy Wilson.
While the President made it appear
in his letter to the former Mayor that
he regretted that he was forced to
decide between two friends, there are
many of the Wittpenn leaders who
will not be convinced that President
! Wilson was not with Fielder from the
time he announced his candidacy. So
disguised are these leaders with the
turn of affairs that they will hesitate
a long while before they get on the
| Fielder bandwagon. Commissioner
La Monte, of the Department of
Banking and Insurance, is one of
| these, and 1t would not be surprising
| If he were to come out for Katzen-
bach. Secretary of State Crater Is in
the same mood. The attitude of these
men is not causing any alarm in the
\ Fielder camp according to the friends
of the Governor They are welcome
to join the Fielder movement, but
they will not be coaxed to do so, is
the understanding.
Assistant Secretary of State Lip
pincott Is another of the Wittpenn
leaders who is sulking. To a friend
he said he was in no hurry to declare
for Fielder Lippincott has a high
opinion of his ability as campaign
manager.
"If / had my way" Lippincott is
reported to have told his friend,
"Wittpenn would make the fight, de-
spite the opposition of the President.
He would be in a better position to
go before the Democrats of the State.
Wilson is not near so strong as he
was, and as for his private secretary,
Joe Tumulty. whom / blame for the
Wittpenn fiasco, he is absolutely
without influence. As the candidate
whom Wilson turned down, Wittpenn
would be looked upon as martyr
and would rally to his support every
fair-minded Democrat in the State
AS for Fielder's candidacy, l have
nothing to say at present | will
watch developments. The Governor
needs me more than I do him. He
will need someone to manage his
campaign and when that time comes
guess he will look me up"
wittpenn Stripped of Power.
With Wittpenn out of the race there
will be no serious opposition to Gov
ernor Fielder at the primaries. It Is
understood that some of the Wittpenn
leaders are playing close to former
Governor Stokes, and that if 1.-THE
gentleman from Cumberland" man
ages to be the Republican candidate
some Wittpenn votes will be thrown
to him.
No one believes that these recalci-
trants will count for much. Wittpenn
Is practically without political pres
tige in Hudson County. Had he re-
manned In the race he would have
| found this out. His defeat at the
commission government election was
| the beginning of the end Since then
| his machine has been going to pieces
and only a few "highbrows" are pay
ing him homage.
II he puts a county ticket in the
| field at the fall primaries, which he
intimates in his letter he will do, he
will be convinced that he no longer
| figures prominently in Hudson Coun-
| ty politics.
With the passing of Wittpenn new
leaders of the Democratic party in
Hudson will spring up. If there is
one man more than another who can
| lay claim to having brought about |
| Wittpenn's downfall he is Frank
Hague. Because Hague was not a
political "highbrow" some of the |
Mayors friends did not like him.
Wittpenn. however, had cause to
know that in every fight he made 1t
was Hague's advice and political ac-
cumen that pulled him through. He
did not want to break with Hague.
He wanted Hague to remain in his
camp not as a general but as pri-
vate. Hague wasn't built that way.
He saw men who did practically MOTH
ing but stand around and look wise,
getting all the juicy plums, while he
and others who did the work were
not permitted to hang around the
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