Perth Amboy evening news., 1914-04-28
POLITICS CALLS
FOR ATTENTION
With Legislature Out of the
Way, Party Leaders Turn
to Coming Campaign.
PR0GRESSIVES PLAN FIGHT
Evident Enmity Between Gov
ernor Fielder and Wittpenn
Indicates Future Fights.
'PR0GRESSIVES PLAN FIGHT
Specia! to the EVENING NEWS.

|
Trenton, April 2S:-With the
legislature out Of the way, political
leaders of the state are turning their
attention to the campaign which
soon will be in full swing for the
election of twelve congressman and
a new legislature. Candidates of
both the older parties are already
seeking support of their friends in
the coming primaries, while the Pro-
gressives, according to statements OF
the leaders of this party, are quietly
taking stock prior to making a vigor-
Gus fight throughout the state. While
important in itself, the congression-
al election this year in New Jersey
will have a double significance be-
cause of It's probable bearing on the
choice of the next governor to sue
ceed James #. Fielder, and upon the
question of party leadership. There
will undoubtedly be a bitter struggle
in the Democratic camp for party
| leadership, and this factional contest
will be all the stronger because it
will be more or less three cornered.
| The acrimonious fight Of the last
| days of the legislative session dis
close the enmity between Governor
| Fielder and Naval Officer H. Otto
| Wittpenn, and evidenced the fact
that these two leaders will be found
| fighting each other in future political
contests. The third Democratic fac
ton In the campaign now opening
would be led by the mith-Nugent
machine in Essex county. There is
some speculation around the State
House as to whether or not the Witt
penn men and the Nugent men might
be found working together this fall.
this talk being due to the fact that
they lined up together In the legis-
lature against Governor Fielder on
the bank stock tax bill and the prison
reform bills 1t is not believed,
however, that Naval Offlcer Wittpenn
will make an open alliance with
| Nugent, because Nugent and James
Smith, Jr, his chief, are the most
standpat of reactfonaries, while
Wittpenn has always been emphatic
In his declaration for the ultra-Pro-
gressive principles advocated by
President Wilson. For Wittpenn to
make such an alignment, therefore,
would be to stultify himself. AS
State House politicians view the
Democratic campaign outlook, there
fore, there is prospect of lively
times.
Opinions as to the forthcoming
Republican campaign and the effect
thereon of the Progressive movement
vary widely, depending upon whether
they are given by regular Republican
leaders or by the Progressive cap
tains. The Progressive leaders in
sist that their movement in New
Jersey is marching along and gain
ing strength every day
They declare that the party Is
preparing for complete ticket in
every county, and congressional dis
trict, and in practically every city In
the state next fall. They point to
the fact that their party proved the
most formidable opposition the Dem
ocrats encountered in some sections
of the state last fall.
Basing their predictions on the big
slump in the Progressive vote in the
recent congressional election In the
Seventh District, the Republican
leaders declare that the Progressive
party will enlist but comparatively
be remembered that in the recent
congressional election in the Seventh
District, the Progressives polled only
618 votes, while the Republican can
didates rolled up 10,620.
Without doubt the Panama canal
tolls issue and the Wilson tariff and
currency issues are to be used by the
Republicans and by the anti-Wilson
Democrats to rally vote In the con-
gressional election against a contin-
uation of the leadership Of President
Wilson in this state.
The lines in the congressional
campaign are already being drawn In
the districts embracing Essex and
Hudson counties. Congressman
Townsend and Mccoy, Democrats,
have been informed by the Smith
Nugent machine that they are to be
opposed for denomination because of
their support of President Wilson.
In Hudson county Register Mcmahon
is leading an anti-Wilson movement,
and Police Judge O'Brien, OF Jersey
City, has agreed to run for congress
against Congressman James A.
Hamill, who is Wilson man.
1t is being reported down In the
second congressional district that
former Congressman John J. Gard
ner, a standpoint reactionary Repub-
lican, will again be a candidate for
congress on the Republican ticket
this fall. There are already several
other candidates in the second dis
trict, including State Senator Blan-
chard H. White, of Burlington coun-
ty; Assemblyman Emerson L. Rich
ards, OF Atlantic; and former Assem-
blyman Joseph w. Salus, of Atlantic.
Congressman j. Thompson Baker, |
Democrat, who defeated Gardner at
the last congressional election, will
be a candidate for denomination.