The sun., 1919-09-24
BUGBEE is WINNER
In JERSEY PRIMARY
Edwards Captures Democratic
Nomination for Gov
ernOrship.
SEVEN IN BITTER CONTEST
Prohibition, Suffrage and
Traction Big Issues of
State Race.

troller, was nominated for Cover
nor Of New Jersey at the Republican
primaries yesterday. He defeated Will
, lam N. Runyon, acting Governor;
Thomas l.. Raymond. City Commissioner
Of Newark, and Warren G. King Of
Bound Brook, president of the New Jer-
sey Manufacturers Council.
The returns from 974 election districts
out of a total OF 2,011 in the state indi-
Gated this morning that Bugbee was run
ming far ahead of Runyon. Raymond
was bad third and King worse fourth.
The figures gave Bugbee S1.679 and
Runyon 26,43l Raymond 14,304.
Notwithstanding earlier figures indl-
eating Bugbee's nomination, supporters
Of Gov. Runyon in messages from
Trenton insisted, they had received
cheerful news Indicating that the GOV
ernor had a chance to capture the nomi-
nation after all They declared the
race looked very much like "a nip and
tuck" affair.
, Vincent Nash, the Governors secre-
tary. declared that although it was
claimed Bugbee was running ahead in
Hudson county. for instance, advices
from election experts showed that Run
yon was leading in that county. SINH
lar advices from other counties to the
Governor greatly encouraged the Gov
ernor's friends.
Edwards Wins Nomination.
Edward I. Edwards, State Senator of
Hudson county, won the gubernatorial
domination at the Democratic primaries,
conducted simultaneously at the same
polling places by the general election
officers. His plurality was estimated at
10000. He showed his political heels to
James r. NuSent, leader OF the Essex
county Democracy, who was yearning
10 be hailed as State leader. and to
Frank NJ. McDermit. an Essex county
lawyer who long has had the habit of
running for nominations with no sue
cess that ever has been noticed. The
Democrats three cornered contest was
just as lively as the Republicans four
cornered one.
The vote in 914 election districts
gave Edwards 2S.01S; Nugent, 1882.
The nomination of Edwards would
give Frank Hague of Jersey City undis-
puted claim as the Democratic State
leader.
In Essex county Nugent, who declared
that he was against prohibition, ran
. to / against Edwards, who also re-
fused to be classed among the ''drys."
In Hudson-Edwards's home county
Edwards has plurality of between 22,-
7 900 and $4,000 over Nugent. which will
help q lot in the final additions of re-
turns from the State. Edwards's own
voting precinct. the Sixth district of the
Ninth Ward, Jersey City. gave Edwards
ITO, Nugent, 4.
The polls opened at ~ 80 p. NJ. and
closed at P. NJ. The count of the bal
in n
Of the State well on into the morning
hours.
The Republican fight early narrowed
down to a test of strength between Gov.
Runyon and Bugbee. The Governor
stood squarely on the prohibition ques-
tion and had the support of the Anti
Saloon League, the church folks and
many Republicans. who are not satisfied
with the work of the men who are run
ming the state organization. Bugbee,
who had the backing of the majority of
the county organizations, contended
curing the campaign that the question
of the enforcement of the Eighteenth
Amendment wasn't up to the new Gov
ernor for decision.
Democrats All Wet.
The Democratic voters didn't have a
change to express their sympathes for
tho prohibition cause. Nugent was wet
for all he was worth and so was Ed
wards. Essex and Hudson counties.
from which the candidates hail, have
long Dragged of being New Jerseys wet
test spots. Nugent injected some excite
,nent on the side into the campaign by
putting plank in his platform opposing
woman suffrage. Edwards made him
self popular with the wives Of many
Democratic voters by welcoming them as
future voters
The candidates and their immediate
followers in the various factions started
on the campaign at fever heat on the
issue they then had handy. hut II re-
mained for the new zoning law to stir
up the voters of both parties in real
eernest in the closing days. All hands
saw in the primaries a possible way to
get square with the Public Utilities Com
mission for issuing the order making
trolley riding expensive and more or
less unpleasant by voting for the nomi-
nation of Governor who would not re-
appoint the board.
All the candidates went on record in
opposition of the zoning system and the
present commissioners were able to get
j. little consolation out of all the things
Baid about their action.
NFhe Democratic candidates made q
J.reat point of favoring the election OF
Public Utility Commissioners by votes
of the people instead of appointment by
Governor.