Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-27
POLITICIANS EN MASSE
AT BIG TRENTON FAIR
Special Day Brings Out Glad
Handing Statesmen Of All
Calibers
SOLDIERS ALSO NUMEROUS
Police Raid Gambling Booths, Danish
Proprietors and Demolish Their
Equipment

TlthNTON, n. j.. sept 80
Polit clans Of New Jersey. great and
small. near great big and little and Of
every variety. swarmed the Interstate Fair
today politicians day"-to bask in the
iimeiigbt or bathe in reflected glory, while
the crowds that thronged quality row.
amused themselves by picking out public
men whose features the press has made
familiar. Many OF the successful candi-
dates Of both parties in this weeks prima-
ries gathered around the tent OF ex-senator
Jonathan Blackwell. president Of the Inter-
state Fair Association, to shake hands and
talk politics Past, present aud future po-
litical battles were waged. The best-patro-
nixed spot on the grounds was the presi-
dents lunch tent where the politicians were
entertained
Governor Edge and his staff. together
with State Comptroller Bugbee. chairman
of the Republican State Committee; state
Treasurer William r. Read. OF Camden
Acting Adjutant General Gilkyson, Quar-
termaster General Murray state Labor
Commissioner Bryant, of Atlantic city. and
many other State officials reached the
grounds from the State House shortly be-
fore noon having been driven there in
autos, and following much handshalNing
ana many tntrOduCtiOnS on all BlueS, an
auto parade was formed. After making a
circle of the track, the distinguished guests
were escorted to boxes in the grand stand
while the band played Hail to the Chief
Tho political gossip was all centered on
tho coming election and the local option
Issue which, it was conceded, would be the
chief feature of the State campaign. With
a great gain for local option in the Re-
publican Assembly ticket in Essex County
the passage of a satisfactory local option
measure by the next Legislature was freely
predicted. Eleven Of the twelve Republican
Assembly candidates in Essex are locaI
optionists and this means, IL was pointed
out, that IL the nearly two score of votes
secured last winter in the House for tho
Gaunt bill remain steadfast. the liquo
question will be put up to a vote of the
people. OF course the election is yet &c
come, but Essex is normally Republican
and il is expected that the entire Re
publican delegation viii win there
There was some talk as TO the mex
United States Senator. and il was general!
agreed that Governor Edge would make
fight for II, although the Executive so fa
has refused to commit himself. He insisted
that the war situation and other pressing
matters have taken up so much of his at
tention that he has had no time to think o
politics.
Hundreds of soldiers from Camp Dix wer,
In evidence at the fair today, and the
presence gave martial air TO the exposi
tion. The Second Regiment, with headquar
ters in this city. is to leave fer Camp Nc
Clellan Admission, Ala, Saturday, and a.
many men as could get off were at the fai
today with their best girls as farewell t
Trenton.
The fair police made raids on twenty
enc gambling and alleged crooked gam
booths after numerous complaints had beer
made yesterday afternoon. The police tor
down the booths and banished the pro
prietors from the grounds, In many in
stances a simple game Of chance for doll
and other prizes clio liked wheels Of forum
operated for money, with confederates ol
the outside holding the winning numbers
An investigation was started after patrol
had complained that he had lost SO with
out winning anything.