Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-07-18
GREGORY BLAMED
FOR LEAGUE SPLIT
Endorsement Of Mayor for
State Committee Reveals
Cause of Row.

Endorsement of Mayor Julian A.
Gregory. of East Orange. for the
Democratic State Committee in OPP
position to James r. Nugent and
John A. Matthews by the Hamilton
faction of the Woodrow Wilson
League of Orange last night brought
to light story of the East Orange
executives alleged activity in the
affairs of the Wilson League, now
hopelessly split wide open. 1t is
street gossip that Mayor Gregory's
ambitions are in measure to blame
for the strife which has practically
divided the league.
A significant situation last night
was the presence of two prominent
aides Of Mayor Gregory at the Or
ange meeting, Postmaster E. Tracy
Lanterman, who was appointed
through the influence of Mayor
Gregory, and for whom he acted
as campaign manager, and Edmond
A. Whittier, an associate of the ex-
ecutive. Edward Wallace, of South
Orange, was also a visitor at the
session.
insisted they were present at the
session by chance-the first because
he had another appointment in Or
ange and Mr., Whittier just through
curiosity. The men were asked to
speak on the Endorsement. Mr.. Lam
terman said he desired to felicitate
the members on their present status
and that it was "creditable to see
the strength the members had" Both
men left Immediately after the vote
on their friends Endorsement.
Sought GubernatoriaI Honors
The action of the Hamilton faction
in resembling the Endorsement of II.
Otto Wittpenn. which was later re-
considered by the Davis-Dugan wing,
was so much in harmony with the Sc
we're criticism by Mayor Gregory of
Mr.. Wittpenn that the conference of
a prominent league official with May
or Gregory the day following the re-
pudiation of the Jersey City execu-
tive was considered significant.
When the Hamilton faction deter
mined to take over control of affairs
by quietly slipping to Trenton and
ly engaging an East Orange lawyer to
look after their interests was COM
mented upon by the antiHamilton
folk
That Mayor Gregory wanted the in
dorsement of the Orange league for
gubernatorial honors was said to be
the basis of negotiations with a fac
ton of the body. Failing in his effort
to get that sort of recognition, the
East Orange man decided to utilize
the league in his efforts to become
State committeeman.
That the Endorsement counts for
little among some of the Wilsonites
was stated today The former sup
porters of the East Orange man
blame him for creating dissension
and point out that only twenty-four
men were at last nights session, a
ma jority of them being newcomers.
Duganitcs Dropping Out.
When presenting the Gregory reso-
lutions Cornelius j. O'Donoghue said
1t was not necessary to speak at
length on the Endorsement, as every
one knew that 1t had been contem-
pldIeu lHTtt IiOiiiHSs ne SdiQ nt
believed a committee was appointed
by the league to interview the execu-
tive to ask him If he would be cam
didate.
Referring to the candidacy of As
semblyman John A. Matthews. Mr..
O'Donoghue declared he could see no
reason why no one else should aspire
to the position simply because the
former is a candidate. 1t was an
nounced that petitions for Gregory
will be out in few days. Those at
the meeting were urged to work hard
in his behalf.
The absence of the Dugan-Davis
faction from the meeting clearly In
dicates how hopelessly split the
league is. Eighteen new men were
admitted, but 1t is understood that
all of them are supporters of Presi-
dent Hamilton. Judge Dugan has re-
signed and the gossip is general in
political circles in the city that most
of his followers contemplate with
drawing from the orga nization.