The sun., 1919-09-21
JERSEY RACE ENDS;
ALL CLAIM VICTORY
Seven Seeking Gubernatorial
Nomination Confidently
Await Tuesday Vote.
TRACTION Is BIG ISSUE
Bugbee Seems to Lead in G. O.
P. Contest-Democrats
Favor Edwards.
TRACTION is BIG ISSUE
sp.c,n, pespatcA 70 Tn srx.


TRENTON, Sept. 20.-One OF the hottest
,ol,tical primary campaigns in the State
v,rtually came to close to-day with
s.yen candidates each expressing con-
sdence that he will be nominated for
aovernor. The decision OF the voters
will be rendered at the primaries, Tues
ssy. but as the polls will remain open
until o'clock at night results viii
hardly be obtainable until the next day
unless the contest in each party Is a
ruoh more one sided affair than present
conditions indicate.
So many complications are involved in
the bitter struggles in both parties that
an accurate prediction of the outcome IL
unusually difficult. The situation as
viewed by politicians generally seems
he that state Comptroller Newton A. X.
Rugbee holds the whip hand In the Re-
publican race and that State Senator I'D
ward 1. Edwards Of Jersey City will cap
ture the Democratic pennant The sue
cess OF Mr. Bugbee in the preliminary
struggle is looked upon as more certain
than that of Senator Edwards. who IL
now confronted by a strong undercur-
rent Of sentiment in favor of James r.
Nueent Of Essex county.
The Nugent movement admittedly has
bean gaining strength rapidly during the
last two weeks, and political leaders who
a month ago could see nothing but the
nomination Of Senator Edwards are now
worried to an extent that many of them
are unwilling to admit. Mr.. Nugent has
made personal liberty his watchword
from the outset of the campaign and the
Issue has proved popular one to voters
in each party.
Spectacular Features mt Finish.
Spectacular features have been added
10 the closing days OF the campaign by
the mob violence attending the operation
OF the zone fare system on Public Ser
vice lines which became effective last
Sunday. Resentment in many quarters
against the coming system has quick
ened the interest in public utility regu-
lation as an issue and has prompted sew
era Of the seven candidates TO declare
strongly in favor OF some change in the
present system. This has taken the form
siargely a attacks upon the Public IT'LL
ity Commission as now constituted, and
more specifically upon its action In sane
tioning the zone fare plan.
On the Republican side Warren c..
Kink Of Bound Brook has made public
utility regulation almost the sole issue
from the start of his campaign. The I'M
popularity of the zoning plan has given
to Mr.. King an opportunity or which he
has been quick to avail himself, although
with doubtful effect.
Mr.. Nugent, on the Democratic side,
also has come out souarely against the
Eoning plan, this being practically his
first declaration on public utility regula-
ton as an issue. Mr.. Edwards had al
ready made the subject one of his cam
palgn planks and. like Mr.. King, de-
caree for an elective rather than an APP
pointive public utility commission.
Views at the various political mead
quarters as to the result of the pri-
mares were as divergent to-day as the
candidates in the field. All eyes were
turned to Essex and Hudson as prob
ably the decisive battle-ground for both
parties. :,
A striking example OF the wide d.
versity of opinion as to results was
offered by the situation at the Edwards
and Nugent headquarters. Mr.. Edwards
claimed that he will carry nineteen OF
the twenty-one counties in the state
Although not mentioning the two ,whlcn
he might lose he clearly had in mind
Essex and Passaic, the former the home
county Of Mr.. Nugent and the latter
one in which Mr.. Nugent has admittedly
q strong following. The Edwards forces
claim majorities of 10000 in Jersey
City, 5000 in Hoboken, 5000 In Ba-
yonne and $500 in North Hudson.
total of $500, and a net majority OF
not less than $4,000 in the entire county.
They would concede only 5000 majority
for Mr.. Nugent in Essex county.
Claims Made by Nugent.
As against these claims Mr. Nugent
himself predicted that he would get
practically an even break with Mr.. Ed
wards in Hudson and that Essex will
give him not less than 10000 or 10000
plurality, with the probability of a
higher figure being reached. The Nu-
gent followers figure the Essex leader
will cut into the Edwards vote in Jersey
City and Bayonne. that Mr.. Nugent VIII
have pluralities in the West Hudson
towns such as Harrison, Kearny ana
East Newark, which. coupled with a
considerable sentiment for him In the
North Hudson cities. will reduce Mr.
Edwards's Wanted plurality in Hudson
10 a minimum.
Large pluralities are predicted by MT.
Nugent and his followers in Essex. Pas
sale and Union. Mr.. Nugent also ex-
poets pluralities in the south Jersey
counties and along the shore, where an
active campaign has been made in his
behalf His friends to-day predicted he
will carry twenty counties, conceding
only Hudson to Mr.. Edwards.
At Bugbee headquarters the claim was
made that Mr.. Bugbee will carry the
State by about 10000 plurality over his
nearest opponent on the Republican side.
Nineteen counties were claimed for Mr..
Bugbee, tho exceptions being Essex.
where Thomas L. Raymond, former
Mayor Of Newark, is expected to head
the list, and Union, the home county OF
Gov William N. Runyon. The Bugbee
followers concede to Mr.. Raymond a
plurality OF not more than $500 in Essex
and admit that Gov. Runyon will carry
Union by from 900 to $500.
Estimates at the Bugbee headquarters
give Mr. Bugbee the following plurali-
ties In the various counties Atlantic.
$500 Bergen, 1000 Burlington. 1000;
Camden, 1000; Cape May, 500; Cumber-
land, 1000 Gloucester, 1000; Hudson,
5000 Hunterdon, 500: Mercer. 1000
MiddleseX, 500 Monmouth, 1900; Nor
rls' 5000; Ocean. 500; Passaic. 1900;
salem. 500 Somerset 500: Sussex, 500:
warren 500. From the resulting total
o. $4,000 is deducted the 1000 conceded
10 GOV Runyon in Union upon the as
sumption that he will be the second man
on the Republican ticket.
NO estimates were obtainable in Gov
munyon's headquarters az Westfield
where the prediction was made that the
Governor VIII carry the State by a safe
margin, Gov. Runyon has not had the
organization backing OF his competitors
pu' relies upon the conservative senti