New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-03
STOKES LOOKS WINNER
BY SMALL MAJORITY
Republicans Figure Repentant
Moose Will Elect Him Jer-
Sey'S Governor.
HINGES ON INDEPENDENTS
Both Big Parties Puzzled Over
Silent Voters Democrats
Hope State Pride in Presi-
dent Will Aid Fielder.


From stan Correspondent OF TIL. Tribune q,
Trenton. n. j., Nov. with President
Wilson, his administration and his poll
cics as the dominant issue, the result OF
the election I'm New Jersey is so close as
to be considerably in doubt, with the IN
dications favoring the selection OF I'd
ward {, Stokes, the Republican nominee
for Governor, by a mighty small plu-
rality.
The campaign just closed las been a
puzzle TO the political wiseacres. There
has been no great enthusiasm on either
side, and the result will depend OH the
Independent voters. the men who have
said little but have done considerable
thinking. The independent vote will be
the controlling factor in Tuesdays cleo
ton, and II Mr. Stokes or James f. Field
er is the successful candidate, it will be
because that great mass OF voters who
care naught for political affiliations have
gone over to his side.
Three Cornered Fight Puzzles.
II the contest had been clean cut one
between the Republican and Democratic
parties the result would be comparatively
easy to forecast. for New Jersey is nor
mally a Republican state. and nothing
has come forward in this campaign TO
show that it would not remain so in a
two-party fight
In the campaign that has just closed
state issues have been subordinated 10
national issues. The administration has
sent a number of it's most celebrated
spellbinders TO tell the voters that the
President wants a Democratic Governor,
that he wants the people Of his home
state 10 stand behind him in what he mas
done by voting tor the Democratic can
didate for Governor. William Jennings
BRYAN. Representative Carter Glass and a
host Of other Congressman have put this
issue up TO the voters o. New Jersey for
the last two weeks, and because of this
the election will be watched all over the
minaries have made it plain that the cleo
ton of Mr. Fielder will be taken as an
Endorsement of the President, while his
defeat will be construed as a reputation
on the other hand. Mr.. Stokes and the
Republican managers have made the
welfare of the state the one big issue so
far as they are concerned. They have
asked what place has the conduct Of af-
fairs in Washington in a state where the
people are vitality interested in what their
future will be for the next three years?
It is true they have made the new tariff
bill one Of their issues. but that was only
because the Democrats had insisted on
talking about national issues.
Pride in Wilson a Factor.
Mr.. Fielder and the Democratic man
ayers are hoping and praying that local
pride in the President will bring enough
votes TO the Democratic candidate to
elect him. There isn't much doubt that
II will bring many votes to Mr.. Fielder,
but it will also drive many votes away
from him, because the old Jim" Smith
fact that they arc against Fielder and
intend to vote against him on Tuesday.
This is only an incident in a somewhat
complicated political condition in New
Jersey. but il may turn out 10 be very
important one.
The supporters OF Mr.. Stokes are
optimistic, for a number Of reasons. and
each and every one OF them is sound. In
the first place there has been a steady
drift Of Progressives back TO the Repub-
lican party. This was proved AT the re-
cent primaries. where more than 5000
votes were cast, while Mr.. Taft received
only $500 votes last Election Day. Then
there is the torn and disunited Demo-
cratic party. so different from the har-
monious party that stood back of Mr..
Wilson when he ran for Governor. Be-
tween the two Mr.. Stokes is expected TO
win BY a fair sized plurality for the IN
dications are that the next Governor OF
New Jersey will not be the choice OF a
majority OF its citizens.
This is because the Progressives have
a candidate for Governor I'm the person or
Everett Colby lie is a hard and vigor-
Gus fighter, and he has conducted cam
paign that is going TO win him thousands
NJ votes. No one expects Mr.. Colby TO
win but the number Of votes he will poll
IS giving both the Republican and Dem
ocratic managers considerable anxiety.
for II he wasn't in the field there wouldn't
he much doubt of the result. Some pre-
dict he will poll 5000 votes others 5000
votes but whatever number he polls the
majority will come from former Repub-
1,cans. and it is on this that the Demo-
rats are basing their hope Of victory.
Radical Moose for Fielder.
There is another element on which the
.Igo counting and that is