Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1913-07-30
Fight Among the Leaders
Against Nomination of Stokes
Causes Greatest Concern.
FRIENDS OF TIE FORMER
GOVERNOR ACTIVE
Declare the Character of Op-
position Resembles Too
Much the Old Days
Special to the EVENING NEWS.

Special to the EVENING NEWS
Trenton, July 30:-The gravity of
the present situation in the Republi-
can camp as regards the gubernato-
rial campaign formed the chief
subject of the governors day discus
sion at the State House yesterday.
The clearing of the Democratic out
look by the retirement Of former
Mayor Wittpenn, of Jersey City, mar
rowing the fight to Governor Fielder
and Frank s. Katzenbach, Jr., added
to the fact that there is no factional
quarrel in the Democratic camp, only
serves to emphasize conditions on
the other side of the political fence,
as viewed by most Of the politicians
here yesterday.
The criticism was not aimed so
much at the division of the Republi-
cans and the Progressives, nor yet
at the entry of several candidates
into the Republican arena, including
former Congressman Fowler, State
Senator Pierce, of Union county, and
former Senate President John d.
Prince, of Passaic county. The
critics seemed to think the chief
trouble was the friction among the
state G.. o. p, leaders, including
members OF the state committee, over
the question of a candidate. There
were several who freely expressed
the opinion that the party would be
far better off if these leaders would
drop the matter entirely and let the
selection of a candidate be left abso-
lutely to an open primary.
The reported movement among
certain Republican leaders to pre-
vent the nomination of former Cover
nor Stokes came in for the liveliest
discussion, and there were several
who did not hesitate to say that If
there was such conspiracy Matching,
those implicated might find they
were "monkeying with buzz saw"
whether former Governor Stokes
will run or not, and whether or not
he could be nominated, he has a
strong following in all sections Of
the state" declared one Republican,
"and his friends will not stand FOR
any secret deal to bowl him out. If
they want to fight Stokes let them
come out in the open and fight fairly.
This story of a cabal to down the
former governor sounds too much
like the old days when the bosses
ran the entire party behind closed
doors. That day has passed forever
in New Jersey and these men might
as well understand It,"
None Of the politicians seemed to
have any definite knowledge of
plot against the former governor.
The report seemed to have its basis
In the attitude of former United
States Senator John Kean, former
State Assessor Theodore Strong and
State Chairman Edmund Wakelee.
These men, 1t is claimed, are OPP
posing Stokes as the candidate and
that this opposition has been precon-
certed In order to kill Stokes polite
ally.
Other big men In the Republican
ranks favor Stokes and say he Is the
one man to nominate In the present
mixed condition of affairs. One of
these is David Baird, the South Jer-
sey leader. He is for Stokes and
says he should be nominated.
Ex-Governor Stokes refuses still
to say whether he will seek the NOM
nation. His friends are not waiting
for word from him, however, but are
already circulating petitions in his
behalf. In several counties Stokes
organizations are being quietly form
ed for the mapping out of cam
paign.