The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-03
M'DERM0TT TAKES
WILSON To TASK
FOR INTERFERING
Conference Over Jury Law
Almost Results in an In U
suit to President
ADJOURN MOTION
SAVES SITUATION
Following Conference Execu-
tive Speaks and Again
Excoriates System Of
Boss Rule

NEW YORK, May 2.-Presidem
Wilson conferred for three hours to-
day with New Jersey Democratic sens
ators and assemblymen on the sub
ject of jury reform and at the end the
situation was no nearer a settlement
than it was at the adjournment OF the
legislature. He failed utterly to pre-
vail on the representatives of his party
to unite on any scheme for carrying
out the campaign pledges upon which
they were elected. The president made
an earnest appeal on the ground Of
public and party policy and for his
pains was baited and defled.
The purpose of his visit was called
in question, he was made to feel that
his declination to dictate the kind OF
a bill he thought best was prompted
by fear of the criticism of his oppo-
nents, and Assemblyman McDermott
went so far as to challenge him to 4
public debate, in Jersey City tonight.
A motion to adjourn was shot forth
before the president had finished
speaking and it was considered by
those present that only the good on
ces of Governor Fielder prevented Mr..
Wilson from being openly insulted.
The conference was held behind
closed doors in the Carterest club.
Assem- blyman McDermott asked that
kHc IC"SpdpcILlcI ne duInILteu, UuI
his suggestion was not approved. the
president himself voicing objection.
Want McDermott's Bill.
The twelve members of the assem~
bly, delegation from Hudson county.
caucused before the conference and
decided that they would stand by =
jury reform bill offered by Mr. Me-
Dermott 1t provides for referees.
dunn on two propositions. one to have
the list of grand and petit Jurors se-
lected by the Sheriff. subject to tho
correction OF the presiding Suprous4s
court justice and the second to have
the list prepared by two jury commits
sioners named by the Supreme court
justice.
President Wilson said he had his
own ideas. The president affirmed his
belief in the policy Of performing what
had been promised in the party plat
form. Mr.. Wilson said he believed
that the party would be repudiated At
the polls next November unless this
reform is written into the statute
books.
When the conference broke up II
was decided to have another session
at Trenton next Manday-TAe- pEes4-
dent will not be present but the legfs-
lators avowed their intention to get
together on some plan.
President Holds Conference.
| Immediately after this conferences
the president met with Governor
Fielder. Mayor Wittpen. OF Jersey
City, Prosecutor Hudspeth, the ma
tionai committeeman from New Jer.
sey. State Democratic Chairman Ed
ward +. Grosscup, Senator Davis.
General Dennis F. Collins Patrick r.
Griffin. Democratic leader in Hoboken
and Bernard M. Cannon, the Democra-
tic leader of Middlesex county
They were in conference for three
hours.
t 1t was decided to have a new fury
reform bill drafted. The details
were not worked out. but it will pro-
vide for a jury commissioner In each
county to be appointed by the cham
cellor. the highest judicial officer In
| the State. The chancellor is an
equity Judge. and no juries sit In his
court. This will remove the objec-
| ton to Judge-selected commissions
ers, The commissioner and tina
sheriff will prepare the jury lists. thus
leaving the sheriff some part OF hts
present power, but subjecting his &C.
tions- to scrutiny The referendum
/ feature was left for the conferences
| next Monday.
| McDermott Tells II.
It was apparent as soon as tha
| legislators came from the conferences
| served to calm the troubled waters
Of New Jersey politics
When Mr.. McDermott reached the
crowd OF waiting newspaper men he
said: The meeting broke up in an
argument between myself and the
president. He refused to say why hoS
was opposed to my referendum meas
ure. When put the question to him
he turned away and wouldn't answer.
He Gid not commit himself on q jury
reform measure at this conferences.
and from what he said IT would be
hard 20 say what he wants 1890
AS the president was beginning his
speech in the high school in tbs
evening the three thousand men ana
women gave him hearty welcomA
| He said in acknowledgment OF their
greeting: Your cordial greetings
makes me feel very much more come
! Portable than / did this afternoon In
another part Of the city where thu
tender sensibilities of one Of the aees
semblymen from this county made ne
conclude that he considered 1t an Afss
front to his personal dignity that M
should. without his invitation. HAYS
come into the county over which Mn
influence Is so beneficiently exerte4s
| Ends FITS Campaign. s
The president ended his two-dAy4a
campaign for Jury reform u Nss
in Jersey City tonight. He averrsd NJ
| familiarity with the men who are tp3k@
| ing to block jury reform. He said thl
cement Of politics from one end * n e
1 country to the other and he want1&
know how long the people Of Hu4&1
/ fiddle to the machine leaders In I196 +
county. # n sslsS5
The president obviously sp0ke n
some effort. His face was pals -
QrA " q. u