Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-06-10
FIELDER, HOME,
DENIES TALES
FROM FRISCO
Governor Resents Allegations
of Extravagant Entertainment
at New Jersey Building.
"OUTRAGEoUS," HE SAYS;
"HAVE NO FOUNDATION"
Letters of Complaint Sent to
State Commission-Gov-
ernor Praises Fair.
From a STAFF Correspondent.

AVth Si0h NoihCbpohuOhts
JERSEY CITY, June 10.-Rumors
of extravaganza and entertainment in
the New Jersey building at the Pana-
ma-Pacific Exposition were vigorous
ly denied by Governor James f.
Fielder today. Mr. Fielder returned
to his home last night from San Fran
cisco. He was accompanied on the
trip by his staff.
For the past few days, there have
been stories of extravaganza at the
New Jersey building. One story had
it that intoxicating liquors had been
handed out freely; that beer was
tabooed and that nothing but wines
of the rarest vintages and expensive
whiskies were given the guests.
In this connection also there were
rumors that anyone entering the New
Jersey building was treated as lone
OF the royalty" and instead of the
customary buffet luncheon, there
were banquets and dinners At for
kings.
In Good Shape.
Governor Fielder looked to be in
fine physical condition after his long
trip. He spoke in highest terms of
the exposition and of San Francisco.
ReYerting to the scandal stories at
the New Jersey building he said:
These stories of drunkenness and
extravaganza are the most outrage
Gus | have ever heard.
nave heard about them. When
they reached my ears | got in touch
with L. Edward Hermann, my secre-
tary, to see if he knew anything from
the New Jersey end So far as 7
know-and I made a personal OBJ
servation of the situation-these
stories are without foundation.
t1lic in iI1atirn fn q
bers of the New Jersey commission,
to my staff and to me-"
II lived at the New Jersey building
for ten days" the governor continued.
I'VE lived very nicely, but very sim
ply.
Il didn't see the slightest sign of
drunkenness or extravaganza. The
first time heard any of these rumors
was on May 20, the day following
New Jersey Day.
There had been a reception in the
afternoon and a luncheon. There
were about 800 men and women there.
The only thing to drink was punch,
which ! would call fruit punch. It
was so weak 1t closely resembled cir
Gus lemonade.
Now, mind you, that was the only
thing that was there to drink. The
next day one of the members of my
Francisco we're saying that every
body was drunk at the reception. I
made an effort to trace the rumor
1t was to no avail,
THE allegation was one of the most
out-and-out untruths I ever heard.
I was there when the reception began
and I remained until 1t ended. There
wasn't the slightest sign Of drunken
ness. There weren't any intoxicating
liquors served. I felt such statement
keenly, because they reflected on the
members of my staff, the ladies who
were In the party and me-"
The governor said that when they
reached San Francisco, he met State
Treasurer Edward e. Grosscup, who
had been there for week He asked
Mr. Grosscup how things had been
going, and Mr.. Grosscup told him
that everything was going along
nicely that the New Jersey building
was very popular and that crowds OF
visitors were coming there every day.
Praises Colonel Margerum.
As to Colonel Mahlon r. Margerum
assistant to Prosecutor Robert Hud-
speth, of Jersey City, president of the
commission, Mr.. Grosscup told the
governor he was the right man in the
right place.
Other statements from persons in
close touch with the New Jersey
building, prior to his visit there, bore
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