Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-05-02
DEMOCRATS TRY TODAY
TO UNITE ON A BILL
(From the NEWS corresDondent.) }

EfcHF tNc " II " d tO!EtSUORuEHL.J
Jersey City, May 2:-With Presi-
dent Woodrow Wilson in command
in person, the fight of the progressive
Democrats of New Jersey to enforce
the state platform pledges on jury
reform and constitutional conxentt5nc
began here today. The skirmish took
the form of special conference at
the Carteret Club on the fashionable
Jersey City Heights between Presi-
dent Wilson and the big Democratic
leaders of the state-James Smith,
Jr., and James r. Nugent excepted
called at the request of the Presi-
dent, to try and agree upon jury re-
form and constitutional convention
bills for Introduction at the opening
Of the extra session of the legislature
next Tuesday at noon. Practically
the entire Democratic membership of
the legislature was present, in addi-
tion to the party leaders.
A6tute Democratic leaders regard
the meeting as one OF the most i'm
portant in recent years in this state.
Not only does it involve the question
Of the leadership of the President in
his own state at the very outset of
his administration, but upon the out
come of the contest there also may
depend the control of the governor
ship and both branches of the legis-
lature next fall. A governor, seven
state senators and sixty members Of
the house of assembly are to be
elected in November, and whether
the state administration shall remain
in the hands of the Wilson Demo-
Gratis, pass to the Smith-Nugent fac
ton, or as some Republican leaders
predict, return again to the Repub-
lican banner because of the Demo-
cratic strife, all depends upon the
work of the extra legislative session.
AT least this is the opinion expressed
by wise political captains of both
parties.
This explains the anxiety of Ffesi-
dent Wilson and his followers as to
the jury reform fight, and gives the
reason for the Carteret Club confer
ence.
Among the state Democratic lead
ers who supported the President at
the meeting were: Acting Governor
James F. Fielder, of Hudson, candi-
date for the governorship; Robert s.
Hudspeth, the New Jersey member
of the Democratic National Commits
tee; Edward E. Grosseup, state chair
man; Secretary of State David
Crater, OF Monmouth; Banking and
Insurance Commissioner George NJ.
LaMonte, of Somerset; Supreme
Court Clerk William C. Gebhardt,
and others.
Mayor H. Otto Wittpenn, of Jersey
City, also candidate for governor,
t-aa nd
assemblymen who will stand by the
President in the contest come what
may, were there, side by side with
the lawmakers who are bitterly op-
posing the jury reform campaign on
the particular line demanded by the
President and governor.
1t will be late this afternoon be-
fore the conference breaks up, but
this much is already apparent: Presi-
dent Wilson has no easy contest be-
fore him.
Up to noon today there was no
sign of any break In the ranks of
the assemblymen who Insist that the
McDermott jury reform measure. or
some similar bill with statewide
referendum included, shall be pass
ed. Assemblyman Thomas F. Mar
tin, of Hudson, who has been leading
the referendum forces and who is
supporter of the Smith-Nugent poll
cies, served notice that those favor
ing the referendum would stand
firm. He insists that there is not
the great public demand for jury
commissions that is claimed, and
that the people should be permitted
to decide themselves what they want.
Roth Assemblyman Walter l.. McDer-
tContinued on page h