The Penn's Grove record., 1913-04-04
NO PRECEDENT
FOR SITUATION
Jury Reform Controversy May
Wreck Democratic Chances
TRYING TO AVERT UPHEAVAL
Anti-Wilsonites May Openly Defy the
President if He Comes to Tren-
ton-There Is Tense Feeling
on Both Sides.


Trenton.-That the anti Wilson mem
bers of the Democratic majority in
the House of Assembly will be able to
stampede the lower branch of the
Legislature and that the entire body
will 'cut loose" and defy all efforts
to keep it in control for party pur-
poses worried Governor Fielder and
those in close touch with the admins
tration. The situation is without
precedent in the political history of
the State. There is a tense feeling on
both sides of the controversy, the
starting points of which were the eff
forts to pass a constitutional conven-
ton resolution and an adequate jury
reform bill without referendum. I'm
biased observers who have been fol-
lowing recent developments closely
predict an unheayal which nay spell
scandal in big letters, to say nothing
OF the probability that it will wreck
the chances for success of the Demo
cratic party in the coming Guberna-
torial contest.
Two Conferences Held.
In an effort to avert both scandal
and party wrecking it was decided to
hold two important conferences in the
State House. The first between Gov
ernor Fielder and Assemblyman Leon
R. Taylor. One or two others may be
present. Plans for holding the Demo
cratic House members together will
be pointedly discussed, and the two
instances reported of bills being
passed by a bare majority of the
House by the recording of absent
members as voting favorably will be
gone over. In the first case trouble
was averted. by the Assemblyman
whose name was involved deciding to
stand by the record. In the second
case the evidence that the Assembly
man who was voted was on his way
home at the time was SO glazing and
positive that the measu is to be re-
consid red. The member-James C.
Agnew, of Hudson-makes no secret
of the fact that he was not present
when the bill vas passed, adding that
he would have voted in the negative.
Riot Act by Governor.
In connection with these occur
rences something akin to a riot act"
was decided by the Governor. The
situation will be grasped with a firm
hand and it will be made clear that
any attempt at a continuance of vot-
ing absent members will be followed
By drastic action and quick exposure.
The rules against lobbying in either
Senate or House chamber will be
strictly enforced. Jury reform, the
subject of the second conference, par
~ticipated in by a joint special COM
mittee of Senators and Assemblymen
and Governor Fielder. The opponents
of the bill are strongly anti Wilson and
are determined to fight to the bitter
end for the retention of the jury draw
ing power by the sheriffs, or for a
referendum clause. They are headed
By Assemblyman Thomas F. Martin,
of Hudson county. 1t is declared that
he and others have determined that
they will not recede from their stand
even if President Wilson carries out
his present intention of coming to
make a personal appeal to the people
of the State to compel their represen-
tatives in the Legislature to pass the
jury reform and constitutional con-
vention measures.
Defy the President.
They take the attitude that he
has no business to attempt to dictate
New Jersey law-making from the Pres
ident's Office in Washington or to come
back to the State for that purpose.
They resent some portions of the
speech to the Assembly by Secretary
of State Bryan, and declare, it is said,
that they will openly and bitterly defy
the President if he comes here.
That President Wilson and Governor
Fielder and their consistent followers
in and out of the Legislature will
stand together was indicated by a let
ter sem on by the Governor to the
President. 1t acknowledged the re-
ceipt of a letter from the President
and thanked him for active interest in
New Jersey and her affairs. Then it
said: "If l am able to get the confer
ence committee to report a bill or to
agree upon a bill giving the appoint
ment of jury commissioners to Su-
preme or Circuit Court judges l am
satisfied that enough votes can be
mustered in the Assembly to put it
through"
Threatens Extra Session. \
Continuing, the letter set forth in
positive words that if this is not done