New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-06-30
Battle for Head of State
Ticket Oversl1adows All
Else; Sores of Former
Conflicts Breaking Out
Wilson Continues Factor
Smith-Nugent Struggle Once
More Up, With Tumulty
as Man Behind Edwards

Although it is generally conceded the
Republicans will carry New Jersey by
a comfortable majority next fall, one
OF the bitterest primary fights that the
state has known is being waged for the
Democratic nomination for Governor.
Back Of the fight is an attempt on
the part of Mayor Frank Hague of Jer-
sey City and Democratic leader of
Hudson County to wrest control OF the
state machine from the Smith Nugent
faction by winning the nomination for
State Senator Edward /. Edwards, also
of Jersey City.
The Smith Nugent faction has ac-
copied Mayor Hague's challenge, and
the active head of the Democratic state
organization, James r. Nugent, of New
ark, son-in-law of ex-United States
Senator James Smith, jr., will be a can
didate in the primaries against Sena-
tor Edwards
The Edwards candidacy, according
to political gossip, will have the sup
port of Joseph Tumulty, secretary to
the President. There has been bad
blood between President Wilson and
ex-senator Smith since they broke
shortly after Wilson's election as Gov
ernor of New Jersey, which. like his
nomination, was due to Smith. The
latter wanted to return to the United
states SENATE. OuC wilson forced the
Legislature to pick MARITIME.
Nugent in announcing his candidacy,
declared that he stood -four square
against the hypocrisy of woman suf-
frage and prohibition" This was after
Edwards had entered the field and
made known that he was for suffrage
and rigid enforcement of the dry law.
Because of his stand on these two ques-
ton Nugent faces vigorous fight on
the part Of the women and the drys.
Meetings are being held in Demo-
being made to line up the various
bosses.
Some Democratic leaders believe the
fight between Nugent and Edwards will
be SO bitter that Congressman Thomas
J. Scully, of South Amboy, who is con-
Quoting a quiet campaign for the NOM
nation, Will win the prize. Scully
has considerable personal following
throughout the state.
There is a fourth candidate for the
Democratic nomination, like Nugent
Newark man, Frank NJ. McDermitt
McDermltt was contestant in the
Democratic primaries last year for the
nomination for United States Senator
The Republicans have also started
their primary contest but the four
candidates now in the field are waiting
70 near from orange, Wnere colonel
Austen Colgate, the millionaire manu-
facturer of Jersey City, has his home
The Republicans in the field are
Acting Governor William C. Runyon;
Thomas j. Raymond. City Commits
sioner of Newark; Warren C. King, a
manufacturer of Bound Brook and
Newton A. n. Bugbee, of Mercer
County
SO far Bugbee. who resigned as
chairman of the New Jersey Republic
can State Committee to become a can
didate, has the lead. He is generally
regarded as having the backing of
United States Senator Walter E. Edge,
and popular belief credits him with
having the organization behind him.
Bugbee's friends profess to have no
fear of any of his rivas-thus far
But there are few Of them who would
not be alarmed at the entrance of Col
gate into the race. Colgate, in a three
cornered contest for the Republican
nomination for Governor in 1916, with
only an independent following, came
within q comparative handful of votes
Of beating Edge, the organization can
didate
Colgate's chances this September,
political wiseacres reason, would be
considerably better than they were
three years ago. With Governor Run-
yon candidate, it is figured Colgate
would split the solid organization vote
which otherwise would go to Bugbee.