Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-07-26
Follows Suggestion of President
Wi|son--His Supporters Released
and Will Undoubtedly Aid Fielder
KATzENBACH MAY QUIT ALSO
Special to the EVENING NEWS.

Special to the EVENING NEWS.
Trenton, July 26:-The formal
withdrawal of former Mayor II. Otto
Wittpenn, of Jersey City, from the
Democratic contest for governor was
announced today. 1t was made pub
lie In correspondence which has just
passed between President Woodrow
Wilson and the former mayor.
The President wrote former Mayor
Wittpenn that his analysis of the
situation in New Jersey makes him
feel that a three-cornered fight for
the governorship would be most un-
wise, and that in view of this Acting
Governor James f. Fielder's candi-
dacy should be supported by those
who have been for Wittpenn.
Former Mayor Wittpenn replied
that 1t would i'll become him to do
anything to injure the cause of good
government in the state, or allow his
ambition to control him, irrespective
of his party's good.
Under all the circumstances now
confronting me-" wrote Wittpenn,
land particularly in view of your
communication, and the suggestions
therein contained, together with my
personal knowledge of the political
situation at this time, | believe that
my duty to my friends and my party
is clear. and, therefore, l withdraw
as candidate for governor"
The withdrawal of former Mayor
Wittpenn was not unexpected. 1t
has been looked for the past two or
three weeks, as his boom for COVER
nor has been surely waning ever
since his defeat In the Jersey City
commission government election, in
which four of the five commissioners
chosen to rule the city, after siren
uous campaign, were anti-Wittpenn
men.
Wittpenn's retirement from the
contest releases his supporters and
they will now undoubtedly join the
ranks of the supporters Of Governor
Fielder. In fact, Democratic State
Chairman Edward e. Grosscup sale
today that they would all be fol
Fielder. The list includes United
States Senators James e. MARITIME
and William Hughes, several of the
Democratic congressman, Mr.. Gross
cup, Secretary Of State David s
Crater, Assistant Secretary of State
Job H. Lippincott and many others.
Coupled with the announcement OF
the withdrawal, there came a rumoI
today that Wittpenn would be the
Democratic candidate for state sena
tor from Hudson county, to succee5
Acting Governor Fielder, and thai
because of his sacrifice in giving III
this contest, he would be given the
earnest support of both the Wilson
and Fielder leaders in the senatorial
fight.
President Wilson's Letter.
The letter of President Wilson tc
former Mayor Wlttpenn suggesting
his withdrawal, Is as follows:
White House, Washington, D. c.,
July 23. 1913
My dear Mr.. Mayor:
1t has given me great deal OF
| concern that, In view Of your having
been generous enough to consult mt
with regard to the advisability o.
your becoming @ candidate for The
nomination for governor at the pri
maries, 1t was clearly incumben
upon me to form and express al
| opinion. / feel, as | explained Il
you at the time you requested m!
! opinion, that your desire to know ml
| Judgment forced me to make a prac
| tical political choice as betweeI
| friends, friends who have been O
| great service to me personally al
well as to the public in the pOlitica
contests of the past two years.
But there was nothing else for II
and / yesterday told Mr.. Grosscup
as had been agreed, what my judg
ment was. 1t is that we ought t'
support Mr. Fielder's candidacy
| Fielder backed me so consistently, Sc
intelligently, so strongly and earnest
| ly throughout my administration anC
has followed, / hold, so consistent
course that | feel that / would have
no grounds whatever upon which Il
oppose his candidacy. My analysis
OF the political situation in New Jer
sey makes me feel that a three
cornered fight would be most unwise
and that. possibly, in such tigh
your own strength would not b'
great enough to count decisively.
| cannot state this conclusion with
out also saying to you how greatly
have admired the course you hay'
pursued from time to time and th'
stand you have taken for the rights
OF the people. Moreoevr, your gen
erous friendship for myself, and you
aid, again and again, rendered II
effective fashion, have won not onl.
my admiration but my deep appre
citation. / am sure you will not thinl
the conclusion l have come to as thu
leader of the party Is in any way ;