Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-07-07
my HOME LIFE
INVADED" ".SAYS
H. 0. W|TTPENN
"BIackguardly journalism" He
Calls Story in Martins
Newspaper.
SAW GROSScUP ABOUT
CONWAY APPOINTMENT
Declares Vintage at Banquet
Caused State Chairman's
Change of Heart.

JERSEY CITY, July NAVAL Off
Ger H. Otto Wittpenn today sent out
a statement in answer to the charge
made by Secretary of State Thomas
! +. Martins paper to the effect that
Wittpenn had threatened to use his
newly acquired financial resources
to carry on political warfare in the
Democratic party. Mr.. Wittpenn, in
his statement, also emphasizes what
he believes to be the necessity of
having only real Wilson Democrats
on guard in the party for the coming
campaigns. Here is the Wittpenn
statement:
Il would say that the attack on
me in the article referred to in the
| Hudson Dispatch is brutal and
shameful invasion of my domestic
life and an absolutely false and sour
rilous publication, and is a specimen
of blackguardly journalism of which
no reputable editor or newspaper
would be guilty Its falsehood is
so palpable that it answers and
refutes itself; and as a decent and
Self-respecting man | do dismiss it.
II am sorry, however, that some of
the Democratic leaders on the other
side have sunk so low as to coun-
tenance such an attack. IN the past
| have been for what | believed to
be right, just and honest, and against
men who stood for what in my judg-
ment was the opposite. This has
been and will continue to be my pro-
gram in the future. When | con-
fronted Edward Grosscup, chairman
of the Democratic State Committee,
yesterday with the story that he was
supposed to have inspired, he prompt
ly denounced it as a lie and assured
me positively that he had not con-
versed with Secretary of State Mar
ton or any of his representatives, and
that he had absolutely nothing to do
with the charge that l had threat
ened to use money to advance the
fortunes of my friends or annihilate
my enemies.
John Conway was our candidate
for the position of member of the
Hudson County Board of Elections,
just as Percy Hopkins was our can
didate for the Board of Elections a
year ago, when Mr.. Grosscup, who
seemed then to be acting sincerely in
the interests of the Wilson Democ-
racy in the State. appointed Mr.. Hop
kins. We had no reason to imagine
that Mr.. Grosscup had experienced a
change of heart. or that he would
adopt a new rule al the eleventh hour
which would operate against the best
interests of his friends and work to
the advantage OF his enemies.
After Nugeni, Too.
THE new rule to which Mr. Gross
cup so pathetically appeals to justify
his support of those men who have
always been his enemies, and his de-
sertion of those who have always
been his friends, originated In the
somewhat confusing atmosphere at
a banquet which was rendered by him
to the members of the State commit
tee last summer. Under the stimulat-
ing influence of good cigars and ex-
cellent vintage, one member of the
committee, Mr.. Nugent. of Newark,
requested to be informed by the
chairman whether he would consider
nominations made by the State COM
mtteemen for the position of member
of the respective County Boards of
EleCIlOIlS. anu III duSWt1 W lillS MI .
Grosscup. being in benignant frame
of mind. assured the gentleman from
Essex that he would be glad to take
such names under consideration.
THE subsequent proceedings at the
banquet led to some confusion of
mind among the assembled guests on
the following day as to precisely what
had occurred in respect to Mr.. Nu-
gent and his question, and the chair
mans answer to 1t.
According to Mr.. Grosscup's own
statement. made to me. there was
nothing TO prevent him this year from
doing as he did last year. namely,
doing all in his power to put only
reliable Wilson Democrats ON guard
in the County Boards OF Elections.
THE appointment by the State
chairman of Mr. Houghton looks to me
like a surrender to the forces which
in 1912 did their utmost to prevent the
election OF Wilson delegates at the
presidential primaries in New Jersey.
THE State chairman and other poll
ticians. for reasons best known to
themselves. may do what they deem
to be expedient and desert the colors,
but as for me, | would rather con-
tinue to fight for the principles to
which / have thus far adhered than
to win offices. Let no man believe
that this fight will be carried on in a
negative way. 1t requires effort to
accomplish things, and we are ready