New-York tribune., 1913-09-22
KNELL Of CONVENTION
TO SOUND IN JERSEY
yoters Will Make First Test of
New Primary Law
Tomorrow.
MANY CANDIDATES IN RACE
Four Republicans, Two Demo
Gratis and Two Progressives
Seek Nomination for
Governor.

IRON stan Correspondent OF The Tribune ,
trenton. y. j.. Sept. 2-For the first
.roA the voters OF New Jersey will have
the opportunity on Tuesday TO go 10 the
r-,,naries Of their respective parties and
sslsct their own candidates for Governor
=, the coming election. They will also
have the opportunity TO select the mem
hers OF the state committee Of their re-
spective parties
president Wilson was the last Governor
a, New Jersey TO be nominated by a
convention, and with his election there
nsssed away the picturesque conventions
with delegates from all parts of the
state the noisy brass bands and the ever
noverful party bosses, whose chief deligh,
was 10 manipulate the delegates for their
own particular purposes.
Even among the most advanced Pro
gressives there has been a note OF sor-
row over the passing away Of these con-
ventons. for il was there also that the
orator had his fling" with the keynote
speech" and the delegates usually went
home filed with more or less enthusiasm
for the candidates that had been nominal
ed. even II they did not have much TO
say in their selection or in the making
Of the platform.
A New Type Of Convention.
Under the new condition of things the
candidates for Governor will be selected
directly at the open primaries, together
with the candidates for every other cleo
tive Office in New Jersey A week after
the primaries there will be conventions
held. but Of a kind far different from the
old ones
The convention Of each Of the parties
will consist of the candidate for Governor
nominated at the primaries. the holdover
Senator'S and the candidates for the Leg
islsture also chosen at the primaries. As
q rule, these conventions will consist Of
about seventy-two members each. and
their sole duty will be to frame a plat
form. the carrying out of which every
one taking part in the convention will be
pledged. In the old days the conventions
usually had a thousand or more dele
gates, and frequently. according 70
friends Of the primary law, the platform
was framed 10 catch votes rather than 10
be fulfilled.
Even If II were not for the fact that
Tuesdays primaries have national
interest because the President has
candidate for Governor whom he wants
10 see nominated and elected, the pri-
maries would be Of considerable interest
10 political students because Of the curl
osity as to Just how far the voters Will
take advantage Of the primaries TO select
candidates Of the Embossed kind.
On the eve of the primaries II looks as
though the voters are not going 10 go to
the primaries in large numbers. Despite
the fact that there are four candidates
for the Republican nomination. two for
the Progressive and two for the Demo
cratic. outward signs Of enthusiasm and
interest have been lacking. and the fear
has been expressed that unless the Vot-
trs come out strongly on Tuesday the
.'old guard" OF both the Republican and
Democratic parties will come back
once more.
Acting Governor Fielder by reason OF
being President Wilson's personal candi-
date. has assumed a more or less COM
handing position in the campaign. HIS
opponent for the Democratic nomination
Is Frank 6. Katzenbsch. who, while as
serting that he is Just as good progress
sive as the President, is nevertheless
running on an anti-Wilson platform.
Everything favors Mr.. Fielder's success
at the primaries. although the Katzen-
bach men maintain they have surprise
prepared for the acting Governor.
Mr. Katzenbach is understood 70 have
the support Of the SmithNueent ma
chine. and II this be so 1t looks as II he
Will make things extremely interesting
for Mr.. Fielder. The latter's supporters
while declaring he will have majority
Of 1000 have nevertheless privately ad-
nitted they are worried about Mr.. Kat
zenbachs strength because OF the inn
possibility Of getting an accurate esu-
mate OF IL.
Four Republican Candidates
There are four Republican candidates
for Governor. but from present indlca-
tons the fight is between Ex-Governor r.
c. Stokes and Senator Carlton b. Pierce
Pierce is practically an anti-machlne
candidate because of the opposition OF
The old line bosses. AS legislator ne