Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-07-22
MATTHEWS SAYS
HE'LL FIGHT It OUT
Will Not Withdraw from State
Committee Race Unless
Friends Ask.
REFUSES TO GIVE WAY
TO GREGORY, HE ASSERTS
Wilson League lndorses East
Orange Mayor, but Balks
at Fielder.


Despite the action of the Woodrow
Wilson League of Essex County in
Endorsing Mayor Julian A. Gregory,
of East Orange, last night for State
committeeman and the statement of
one of the members that the East
Orange executive would be q stronger
candidate for the position than As
semblyman John A. Matthews, the
latter reiterated today the statement
that he made to an Evening Star re-
porter at Sea Girt. on Friday last,
that he was in the race to stay. Re-
garding the statement that Mayor
Gregory was a stronger candidate for
the position than himself Mr.. Mat
thews declared that different people
had a perfect right to hold different
opinions, but that as far as he was
concerned, he would stay in the field
unless asked to withdraw by his
friends.
"As l have stated before my friends
have asked me to make the rum"
said Matthews Mine is not a fac
~
grind with anyone. | am making the
fight purely On a matter of principle
and appeals ito my friends to sup
port me daesle strength Of my record
in the Legislature"
Mr. Matthews sees no reason why
he should withdraw in favor of Mr..
Gregory, who was put in the run
ming by his friends long after the
Matthews candidacy had been an
.nounced
The resolution adopted by the
league indorsing Mayor Gregory for
the nomination for State committee
man was coupled with a resolution
to indorse the candidacy of Acting
Governor James F. Fielder for Gov
ernor. Afterward the name or
Fielder was stricken out of the res
okfsion and another resolution
brkught in to vote on the indorse-
of Fielder's candidacy at a
special meeting to be called in two
weeks.
Object to Endorsement.
Both Michael j. Tansey and Nathan
Kussy made strong objections to the
calling of the meeting to indorse
Fielder, each claiming the league
should stand by their original mo-
ton to wait until after the primaries
before announcing their support.
Their contention prevailed after a
somewhat lengthy debate between the
members, who appeared to be about
evenly divided on the question.
What might be taken as substan-
tiating the rumor that members of
the league opposed to the nominal
ton of, Governor Fielder were with
drawing was the presenting and ac-
ceptance of the designations of John
M. Rhodabeck and James McGrath.
This move had evidently been ex-
pected, and the names of two other
members were presented for election
III the committee
AS originally presented the reso-
tuition favoring Mayor Gregory over
mis- rival Assemblyman John A. Mat
fhews, spoke of the Democratic party
being under "the inspiring leadership
of President Woodrow Wilson and
Governor Fielder" This wording
called forth objections which result
ed in Governor Fielder's name being
stricken out.
Compromise Suggested.
There were different opinions as to
the Endorsement of candidate for
the State Committee. and 1t was even
suggested to name a compromise can
didate. e. A. Whittier concurred in
the belief that a split ticket might
be disastrous, but expressed hope
that the Endorsement of Mayor Greg
DRY by the league and other organiza-
tons at this time would induce As
,semblyman Matthews to withdraw
from the race.
Mr. Whittier also informed the
members of a recent conversation he
had had with Mayor Gregory in
which the Mayor stated he was now
in the race and would not withdraw
under any circumstances While adj
hitting Mayor Gregory was the
strongest candidate of the two, many
of the members regretted his act in
deferring the announcement of his
campaign until after Assemblyman
Matthews had been in the field for
some time. The resolution passed is
as follows:
Whereas, the Democratic party
under the inspiring leadership of
President Woodrow Wilson is COM
mitted to progressive policies and the
restoration of popular government,
and
Whereas, 1t is of first Importance in
the premises that a capable exponent
of said policies represent Essex
County in the Democratic State Com
n1ittee therefore be II
Resolved, That we. the executive
committee of the Woodrow Wilson
Democratic League of Essex County,
hereby indorse for the office of DEM
ocratic State committeeman from Es-
sex County the Honorable Julian A
Gregory, Mayor of East Orange, and
pledge to him our enthusiastic and
undivided support"
The resolution was presented by
Simon P. Northrup.