Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-11-17
STATE LEADERS
IN CONFERENCE
AT WASHINGTON
.WiIson-Fielder- -Crosscup Ses-
sion May Have Senatorial
Bearing.
DENY MARTINE'S FATE
Is IN THE BALANCE
Wittpenn Men Watching Out.
ome-Strength of Gar
rison Discussed.

Special to the Evening star.

Special TO the Evening star.
WASHINGTON. Nov IL While
the participants in the New Jersey
conference at the White House to-
day smilingIy belittled it's signih-
|cance, nevertheless the meeting be-
tween President Wilson, Governor
James T. Fielder and State Chairman
Edward E. Grosscup was generally
looked upon as having momentous
effect upon the next campaign in New
Jersey. The governor and Mr.. Cross
cup were accompanied by Colonel
Thomas Birch, of Bridgeton, an
original Wilson man and United
States minister to Portugal Presi-
Dental Secretary Joseph P. Tumulty
also took part in the conference. !
The conference lasted half hour.
Governor Fielder afterward said
nothing definite was decided upon IN
the matter of candidates for any Of
the Offices He denied reports that
the Democrats are framing up -oppo-
sition to the candidacy of Senator
MARITIME.
Not a Candidate.
The governor took occasion to say,
as he said, for the one hundredth
time,' that he, himself, would not be
candidate for any Office next fall.
II feel that If I am ever to reassem-
BILE my law practice again, must do
so now" he said. For that resHon.
will run for nothing whatever"
The governor and Mr.. Grosscup
have been in touch with leaders IN
every county of New Jersey during the
last week or so. and the result of
their investigations were laid before
the president for his information.
That any slate was heing formed was
stoutly denied
While no suspicion is directed
against the accuracy of this state-
ment, it is an accepted fact that the
strength of some of the possibilities
fsn senator and governor was dis
cussef Tire administration Is
greatly concerned in having the
strongest ticket chosen in New Jersey.
due not only to the effect 1t might
have upon the next presidential cam
paign, but also to the natural interest
the president takes in public affairs In
his home State.
The roster of senatorial and guber-
natorial possibilities is a long one,
and the tockeying for position is
lively indeed The situation is COM
plicated by the fact that so much of
the party's most available timber
comes from Hudson county That it
would not be fatal|to have both the
candidates for senator and the candi-
date for governor residing there, is
contended by some of those having a
voice in the partys affairs.
washington heard with interest
that the presidents Jersey visitors
impressed upon him the high standing
Of Secretary of War Lipdley M. Gar
rison with the rank and file OF the
people. While Washington has long
been aware of this fact, its mention
bv New Jersey Democratic leaders
was regarded as significant. AS either
a candidate for senator or governor,
Mr.. Garrison would strengthen the
ticket as no other man would, ac-
cording to the opinion expressed.
1t was admitted however, accord
inc to report, that the status of this
couptry's foreign affairs next year,
together with the progress made IN
STRENGTHENING the army, would de-
terinine the wisdom of Mr.. Garrison's s
leaving the cabinet If Europe has
not recovered by then from its war
madness, and II good start has not
been made in strengthening the army,
it was conceded that the country
would resent the withdrawal of Mr..
Garrison from his present position.
A disposition was shown to correct
the impression that the administra-
ton was out after United States
Senator James r. MARITIME. Antago-
nizing of the senator upon the eve of
a nomentous session of Congress
would undoubtedly be bad policy, as
the Plainfield statesman has never
been a dependable man anyhow when
an administration measure was at
stake.
The friends of Naval Officer H.
watching the conference with intense
interest. as they feel that he cannot
be ignored as a claimant for higher
honors. Reports here are that the
anti i-Wittpennites are reconciled to
having MFR. Wittpenn nominated for
something. A ticket calling for Gov
ernor Fielder for United States sena-
tor and Mr.. Wittpenn or Mr. Garri-
son for governor, would look good to
many of them, but the governor again
today firmly denied he would be a
candidate.
Frank S. Katzenbach, Banking and
Insurance Commissioner George NJ
La, Monte, Representative Thomas j.
.Scully, Comptroller Edward l. Ed
wards and Mr.. Grosscup himself are
mot adverse to being candidates for
one nomination or the other, and the
conference was not without some ref
Ierence to them, together with few
other possibilities. Washington also
speculated on the report that Mr.. La
Monte might receive a Federal ap-
polntment. thus making room for Mr..
Grosscup's appointment as banking
and insurance commissioner.
A report that former Mayor George
b. Mcclellan, of New York, now a
Princeton professor. had received
mention from New Jersey newspaper
friends for governor brought only