The Penn's Grove record., 1913-05-09
WILSON'S AID
TO THE CAUSE
Pours vitrioI Into Old Sores, but
Strengthens Jury Reform
SMITH FORCES WILL FIGHT
President Says: "If the Democratic
Party Is False to Pledges 1t Will
Be Hurled From Power, and
Ought To Be-"

Especial Trenton Correspondence
Trenton.-President Wilson's visit
to north Jersey cities poured vitriol
into the old political sores of his foes,
yet it is generally admitted that he
strengthened himself with the people
and brought fresh aid to the cause of
jury reform and st'ffened public con-
viction for a constitutional conven-
ton. In his audiences in Newark,
Elizabeth and Jersey City were many
prominent lawyers, business men and
others influential in their communi-
ties who had hitherto taken no part
In the movement, and the effect of the
entrance of that factor into the fight
Is felt in Trenton. Mayor Wittpenn's
appearance on the platform in Jersey
City as II of the speakers and the
admission of Assemblyman Hennessy
that he would be willing to recede on
proportional representation in a con-
stltutional convention were looked up-
on as significant, md a break in the
Smith-Nugent ranks on both these
bills is expected. One of ex-senator
Smiths lieutenants put the matter
bluntly at the close of the Jersey City
meeting by saying, Whats the use
trying to fight a winning man? He's
got the offices and the people are with
him, while we're out in the cold.'
Hudson County legislators had be- ::
holding out for a referendum on tie
jury bill, but their position was con
slderably weakened as a result of the
conference at the Carteret Club. More
over, the badgering tactics of AS
semblyman Walter l.. McDermott and
other Smith adherents towards the
President has caused a reaction in
sentiment, it is declared, and when
the members of the Legislature met in
Trenton for the special session most
of the Hudson delegation was willing
to accept some compromise on the
submission feature of the bill. 1t is
charged by the Smith-Nugent faction
that the President has made promises
of distribution of federal patronage to
bring over recalcitrant members of
the Legislature, but both Governor
Fielder and Edward L. Grosscup, who
is chairman of the Democratic State
Committee, deny that such action has
been taken. Not a word was said
about federal Offices at either confer
ence at the Carteret Club" was the
way Governor Fielder put it, land not
one promise has been held out to any
member of the Legislature to get his
support. 1t is a matter of the fulfilment
of a party pledge, and the appeal has
beer made on that alone
No sentence in the Presidents three
speeches has been the subject of so
much comment as this declaration
'If the Democratic party is false to. its
pledges, it will be hurled from power,
and ought to be-" But the power
that has used the office of Sheriff to
protect itself and punish it's foes will
not surrender and had the most for
midable lobby at Trenton, when the
great battle started, ever seer about
the two houses of the Legislature. It
is said that ex-senator Smith, who
was referred to b the P~residyent as
that bulky FORM" will direct the fight
in person, assisted by his lieutenant,
James R. Nugent, while the liquor in
terests stand back of the Smith-Nu-
gent forces. Speaking of that con-
aict, President Wilson said before
leaving Jersey City that it remained
to be seen whether the Democratic
party Of this State was to remain in
power or be banished to the wilder
ness for another twenty years.
There is a brand new bill based up
on a suggestion said to have emanated
from Prosecutor George S. Silzer,
Of New Brunswick, providing for the
appointment of a jury commission of
two members in each county by the
Chancellor. 1t is said that such a law
will be acceptable to President Will
son, Governor Fielder and others who
have heretofore stood for jury com
missions named by justices of the Su-
preme Court or judges of the circuit
courts. 1t will also be acceptable, it
was said, to many of those who have
opposed court drawn juries. Their OBJ
lection was based upon the fact that
judges of the law courts have much
to do with juries and should there
fore not have a hand in their selec-
ton, and that in the case of Circuit
Court judges there might at times be
a close contact with politics.
Both these objections, it was pointed
out, are overcome by the plan to have
the Chancellor appoint the jury com
missions. The Chancellor is invariably
of high class as a man, a lawyer and
a judge and is entirely free from poll
tics. 1t is said hat the few men who