Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-07-17
PRESIDENT ASKED
TO AID W|TTPENN
Hudspeth and Grosscup Admit
Weakness of Their
Candidate.

WASHINGTON, July II.
In a half-hour interview at the
White House this afternoon, National
Committeeman Robert S. Hudspeth
and State Chairman Edward C. Cross
cup. of New Jersey, urged upon Pres
ident Wilson the necessity for some
statement from him in behalf of
Otto Wlttpenns debated gubernato-
rial boom.
After the interview both the Jer-
seymen admitted that they had been
given no promise by the President,
although they declared their confer
ence to have been fully satisfactory.
Mayor Matthew Cronin, of Bay
onne, accompanied Hudspeth and
Grosscup in their visit to the White
House Judge Hudspeth said, after
the conference with the President, that
he had been urged to get into the
gubernatorial fight himself, and that
Wittpenn had been willing to get out
of the race and support him If he
would do so. Hudspeth declared that
he had positively refused to consider
the proposition and that he would
stick to Wittpenn to the last.
Both Hudspeth and Grosscup de-
MED that there had been any con-
sideration in the conference of the
suggestion that Wittpenn should
withdraw in favor of some new can
didate to be selected by the Presi-
dent. Nothing of that sort was
even mentioned" said Hudspeth.
Neither man made any secret of
the fact that Wittpenn's chances are
far from bright unless he can induce
the President to come to his assist
ance. They denied, however, that
they had directly asked the Presi-
dent to make a statement or take an
active part in the campaign in Witt
penis behalf.
Other Callers Wait.
Nothing was known at the White
House of the proposed visit until
Judge Hudspeth telephoned yester-
day that they were coming, and
asked for an appointment with the
President. While the conference on
Jersey politics was in progress the
ante-room to the Presidents office
was filled with congressman and
others waiting to keep belated ap-
pointments, and Secretary Tumulty
finally had to take other callers into
the Presidents room to bring the
conference to close.
How can you expect the Presi-
dent to indorse anybody else after his
two public eulogies of Governor
Fielder" Mayor Cronin was asked
"well. he might say as much for
wittpenn.' said Cronin.
first of the Wilson kitchen cabinet to
announce themselves for Wittpenn
last winter, and it has been sus-
pected for some time that they had
realized their mistake in acting too
quickly, and were anxious to find
way to get out of their predicament
since they have realized the hopeless
ness of the Wittpenn fight.
did you tell the president that
Wittpenn has no chance to win un-
ess he gets the Presidents actiT.
support?" Hudspeth was asked after
his afternoons conference
Now, you are asking a very direct
question" he parried.
But did. you?"
We told the President the exact
situation in the State, and talked
over every phase of it very care
fully" the Hudson man answered
evasively.
Grosscup refused to make any fur
ther statement than that the whole
situation had been discussed and he
was going home happy The Jersey
men went home on the o'clock train
this afternoon.
d