The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-07
JERSEY DEMOCRATS
IN BITTER CONTEST
acknowledgment Race for
Governorship Nomination
Splits Party.
u. O. P. MORE FORTUNATE
Republicans Have Difficulty
Over Prohibition and
Woman Suffrage.
4. 0. P. MORE FORTUNATE
spsctal p..patcn to TIE srx.

TRENTON, Sept. s.-The primary cam
paign in New Jersey. featured by the
aspirations of seven candidates to be
nominated for Governor. IL dfawing to
close with a degree of bitterness sell
dom eaualled in this State. Among tie
major candidates the fight between Sem
ator Edward !. Edwards of Hudson and
James r. Nugent Of Essex for the
Democratic nomination for Governor has
reached a point threatening a serious
breach In the party.
The Republicans are somewhat moro
fortunate with resTect to the aspirants
for Gov ernor, who with but slight ex-
coption have been carrying on a cam
paign free from personalities. On tho
other hand local factional fights In the
Republican ranks are more numerous
and more bitter than for many years
past.
The effect of these fractional fights has
caused such alarm on the part Of Re-
publican leaders that a special meeting
of the State committee has been called
for next Tuesday to consider means for
modifying the warning factions. The
State committee meeting Is TO be fol-
lowed by a meeting of county chair
men, at which a determined plea for har-
mony win be made.
Issues Causing Trouble.
The difficulties in the Republican ranks
nre partly attributable to personal feel
ing between Individual candidates aud
partly to q division upon the Issues OK
he campaign. chief among which arc
prohibition and woman suffrage. III the
combined efforts of the State and County
committees are successful In soldifylng
the party, a distinct service will have
been rendered. Hopes of accomplishing
this. however. are not Of the brightest.
The Nugent- Edwards row has subordi-
mated all minor factional fights in the
Democratic ranks and has resulted in
series Of charges and counter charges.
involving not only tho principals and
their intimate associates but the political
organizations of Hudson and Essex
There is a growing feeling among the
candidates that the question of public
utility regulation may cut a larger figure
in the primaries than has thus far been
anticipated. One reason for this Is that
the zoning system. approved by the Pub
lie Utility Commission. will become ef-
fective on the lines of the Public Ser
vice Railway Company throughout the
State September IL. which Is nine days
before the primaries.
The coming system Is apparently des-
tined to be unpopular at the outset at
least Its probable effect will be to
focus public attention upon the claims OF
candidates who have promised to aid
I'm the fight against increased rates on the
part of public utility corporations
Antagonist to the Public Service Cor
poration has been the main issue OF
NN0 n
publican candidates for Governor. Thom-
as L. Raymond, former Mayor OF New
ark. also started his campaign on a
platform Of opposition to the Public
Service, but for the past week has been
devoting himself more particularly to
attacking prohibition. Mr.. Raymond
managers believe that opposition to
prohibition is even more popular than
fighting the Public Service.
Raymond Makes Tour.
Mr.. Raymond spent the greater part
OF the week in q tour Of South Jersey
and. except in Camden county, where
State Comptroller Newton A. K Bug
bee has the support OF a powerful Re-
publican organization, he believes his
trip has not been barren Of results.
Mr.. Raymond's reception In Atlantic
opposition to prohibition was received
there with enthusiasm.
AS compared with the other candi-
dates, Gov. William N. Runyon has
been carrying on IL rather quiet cam
paign and his supporters have been less
vociferous than those of other candi-
dates. There Is, however. a strong
undercurrent of sentiment for Gov
Runyon, whose vote promises to be a
substantial one. whether 1t is sufficient
to land the nomination or not
A close review of the situation seems
to indicate that Mr.. Raymond, Mr.
Bugbee and Gov. Runyon will divide
the vote in Essex county. where there
are more Republicans than in any
other section OF the State. Mr.. Ray
mond has 4 large following among the
young men of Newark, and his views
on the liquor question are decidedly &C
ceptable to the so-called liberal ele-
ment in the county. On the other
hand. Gov. Runyon has q substantial
following among the conservative voters
Of Essex and more particularly, per-
haps, in the cities outside OF Newark.
Mr.. Bugbee claims to have so Der
cent. of the Essex county committee
with him. a fact which Is counted upon
to yield him a fair share of the Essex