The sun., 1919-07-07
RAYMOND DESERTED
BY By ESSEX SENATOR NAT
Charles o. Pilgrim Comes Out
for Newton Bugbee for
Jersey Governorship.
OTHERS MAY FOLLOW HIM
Newark City Commissioner
Now Said to Have Eyes on a,
Vice. CHARACTERISTIC.

Charles o. Pilgrim, State Senator
and one OF the Republican leaders of
Essex county. New Jersey, announced
yesterday that he will support the candi-
dacy. for the Republican Gubernatorial
nomination of Newton A. X. Bugbee,
now State Comptroller. The announce
ment means that Mr.. Pilgrim and I'M
auestionably some other influential lead
ers there have decided to cast aside
Thomas L. Raymond, City Commissioner
OF Newark who also is q candidate for
the Governorship.
|. During recent months the situation In
the Essex Republican county commit
tee has been turbulent over major diff
ferences between the leaders. It has had
the erect OF forming factions, and Mr..
Pilgrim has aligned himself with the
most powerful group in the committee.
The influence and prestige Of this group
was heightened recently when a SUI
prene Court investigation Of the. county
government disclosed that John B. Wool
ston. county chairman and Commissioner
Raymonds campaign manager. profited
to the extent OF $4,000 in county land
deal two years ago. Mr.. woolston since
has resigned as Mr.. Raymond's manager.
OF late the group OF leaders, which
includes Senator Pilgrim, have held a
series OF conferences at which Il is
understood they concluded to throw
their political strength to the Bugbee
candidacy. They are inclined to the
impression that Mr.. Bugbee has greater
strength in Essex than was believed
before the contest got under way, and
that this strength may land him the
nomination,
New Rumors About Raymond.
Singutatfy. the Raymond candidacy
has made no progress to speak OF in the
last few weeks. The Newark Commits
sioner himself has done Virtually no
campaigning, either on the stump or
by public statements. In this connec-
ton rumors are rife that Commissioner
Raymond has been mentioned as q like
ly successor to e-Chancellor Merritt
Lane who recently resigned his post in
the Court OF" Chancery. 1, Chancellor
Walker. who win make the appointment
has said nothing publicly concerning
this matter, but there 10 cpnsidera BILE
talk Of it IN political circles in Newark.
the apparent lethsrgy Of Mr.. Raymond.s
campaign Is regarded as ar, Indication
that he fs watching which way the
wind blows with relation to the Vice
Chanchellorship. Should he Be appointed
he OF course would have to resign as
City Commissioned OF Newark and abati.
don his candidacy for the Governorship.
Should Mr. Raymond be appointed to
hanNh MO n
wet Republican votes to Mr. Bugbee as
against Gov. Runyon. the recognized
dry" candidate for the Republican nomi-
nation. Mr.. Raymond. the avowed wet"
candidate. has incurred the open ennaity
OF the New Jersey Anti-Saloon League
which is out to beat him at,all costs. 1t
prefers Runyon. but would accept any
one save Raymond But next to Mr..
Raymond the league loves NJ Bugbes
least Of all. although In the beginning
the dry" forces smiled upon the State
Comptroller. a. =
= ON n Dodgins PIafforin.
1t appears that Mr.. Bugbee recently
accepted the State platform promulgated
at a convention Of the New Jersey
League. OF Republican Clubs. and that
platform evaded both prohibition and the
woman suffrage issue. 1t provided that
these issues, be laid aside for a year.
which was exactly what the Anti Saloon
League did not want. So when Mr.. Bug
bee adopted the platform for his own
the league went out against him. and its
State superintendent, the Rev. James X.
Shields. sent out circular letters to no
less than 1900 ministers Of the State
urging them to use all their influence
against the State Comptroller. The let
ter was not designated to be read In the
churches especially. but rather urged the
ministers TO campaign against Bugbee.
So, conversely. should the Raymond
candidacy collapse or fail to show great
strength the wet" forces OF the party
are expected to swing over to Bugbee