Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-04
BATTLE IS ON
FOR LEADERSHIP
OVER IN HUDSON
Much Will Depend ON Result of
the Democratic Associa-
tion Election.
EGAN AND WEDlN ARE
ARRAYED FOR THE BATTLE
Each DESTROYS of Filling the
Late Robert Davis's Shoes.
Postmastership Issue.

Special to the Evening Star.
JERSEY CITY, Dec. 4.-Despite
the talk of harmony in the ranks OF
the Democratic party in Hudson
county that was prevalent all
through the recent campaign, an
other merry little war has broken out.
This time the question of who shall
be president of the Hudson County
Democratic Association. the old
Davis association, is the cause of the
outbreak, and all indications point to
the liveliest kind of a war next
Thursday night at the Mercer street
home of the club, when the election
will take place.
Former Sheriff n. Peter Wedin is
president of the organization at the
present time, and, together with the
old officers, is a candidate for re-
election. When the slate was posted
by the nomination committee of the
organization this week that wing of
the membership made up of the fol-
lowers of Siarogate John p. Egan
did not like ne idea of Wedin being
reelected, and Immediately Egan
was placed in the race for the place.
''If I'm wanted as president said
Egan, "I'll take it," And the fight
was on.
wedin Fond of a right.
Wedin is not very keen for the
place, but just as soon as he saw
that he was to have opposition he
decided to stick in the race to the
end Wedin says that there is moth
ing he likes better than a fight, and
he is confident that he will win.
As usual as in all Hudson county,
fights, the battle has been divided
into q clash between the Wittpenn
and anti-Wittpenn wings of the
party. The anti-Wittpenn wing is
favorable toward the Egan candi-
dacy, while the followers of the for
Iner mayor of this city and present
naval officer of the port of New
York are said to look with favor on
Wedin.
In some sections it is said that
Sheriff. -Congressman Eugene +. Kin
kead might be Induced to enter the
contest for the place, and some of
The most influential members of the
club would not be surprised TO see
him make the fight, although to date
he has not expressed himself on the
question.
Egan an6 Wedin for the place it
would be a real battle, for the cleo
ton would be a test of strength be-
tween Egan and Kinkead on the
/. question of county leader
Anxious to Fill Davis Shoes.
Egan is an ayowed candidate for
the shoes once filled by the late Rob-
ert Davis, and is not backward in let
ting his friends know the fact. At a
recent meeting of the Egan Associa-
tion Assemblyman-elect Archibald
NJ. Henry, who was placed on the
ticket last September by Governor
Fielder, came out openly for Egan
as county leader. lxinkead would
not mind taking Davis's place as the
man to lead the destinies of the
Democratic party in this county, and
should the Egan boom assume any
real size he is expected to take inn
mediate steps to reduce 1t. A step
in this dll oction would be to become
president of the Democratic associa-
tion.
While the adherents of Democracy
ere watching the fight with consid-
cradle interest, the selection of the
man to take the place now held by
Postmaster p. Farmer Wanser is also
awaited with more than the usual de-
sng candidates for the place seem to
be Wedin, Boulevard Commissioner
John p. OGorm3n and Joseph
Sharhey, an attache of the sheriff s
office.
Eyes on the Postmastership.
The wiseacres say that the place
will go to either Sharkey or Wedin,
although Congressman Kinkead is
confident that O'Gorman will be the
man. Sharkey is a close personal
friend to President Wilson'S private
secretary, Joseph p. Tumulty, and If
he gets the place it Will be a personal
appointment of the President S
through Tumulty's influence. We
din's candidacy has placed the chief
executive Of the nation in a more or
less embarrassing position.
When Woodrow Wilson made his
fight for delegates in this State
Wedin was one of the first to take
up his cudgels, He was chosen as
delegate-at-la and all through
the fight at Baltimore was one of The
leading figures. Naturally. the Presi-
dent is aware of this fact, and does
not want to break friendship with
the former sheriff over the lpostmas-
tership. On this account, and be-
cause of the fact that Tumulty is
known to be boosting Sharkey's can
didacy, the place may go to a dark
horse. If this happens James j. Gal
lagher, who holds a responsible DO
sition in the postoffice at the present
time, may get the place.