New-York tribune., 1920-01-17
'Wets' Engineer
Edwards Boom
ForPresidencv
Governor-Elect Moved Into
Strategic Position on Po-
litical Checkerboard hv
1umulty and Cummings
W estern Men Are For Him
Politicians in All Camps Are
Keeping Eye on Dinner
at Newark on Tuesday

politicians in all camps are keeping
weather eye on the boom dinner in
honor OF Governor Edward 7. Ed
wards, of New Jersey, at the Rober+
treat Hotel. in Newark, on Tuesday
night of next week.
Homer Cnlam.n.s. chairman of the
Democratic National Committee: Jo-
seph 2. Tumulty, secretary to the Pres
1dent; Governor Smith of New York
and many other lights of the Demo
cratic party are to be there. The out
standing feature Of the affair ;s that
Governor Edwards is beng moved to
'he klng row on the political checker
board by Messrs. Tumulty and Cum
n'lngs, as Democratic vet hone Tor
inc Presidential nomination.
,, Mr. iumulty saw to it that Senator
towards took the moist end Of the
pronlo't1on issue last fail. at a time
"neh the Republicans were unreadv to
Jake positive stand on the drinl
question In bad Democratic vear
Ea"ards pulled through, showing that
'oSeph Patrick Tumulty as a political
general is to be considered In the
Judgment of prominent Democratic
poi'ticians, Mr.. Tumulty is the one man
VINO knows whether President Wilson
at .he r'ght time is going to say that
dldate to succeed himself.
That Edwards is being seriously con-
sldered as likely candidate for the
democratic nomination for President.
- made evedent by the fact that "wet y
Democrats IN Iowa and Nebraska have
openly declared for him. He has re-
celved requests for permission to use
ms name in other states. New Jersey
Democrats stand ready to print their
convention badges with Wilson'S name
on one side and Edwards on the other.
Following the election in November,
plans were made for the usual in
augural ball at Trenton. but. after
th'nklng 1t over, the Democratic lead
ers decided an inaugural dinner would
be better, as it would afford an oppor
tunity for prominent Democrats to saw
something on current issues Among
those who are expected TO be at the
dinner on Tuesday night are the Rev
Edward s. Lines. Protestant Episcopal
Bishop of the Diocese Of Newark; the
Right Rev. Bishop John J. O'Connor.
Of the Catholic Diocese of Newark.
and the Right Rev. Thomas J. Walsh,
Bishop of Trenton.
Elected on "Wet" Plank
in November Edwards as an adyo-
cate of suffrage, but particularly be-
cause of an anti-prohibition plank in
ms platform, was carried to victory. In
his campaign speeches he promised to
make New Jersey as wet as the At
lantic Ocean," Through his counsel he
has already made several attempts to
beat the Eighteenth Amendment in the
courts, and will, as soon as he assumes
office, take up the fight from his Office
in Trenton.
Throughout the country he became
known as the greatest advocate of
mans right to drink what, where and
when he chose. and it is as result
OF the prominence thus gained that the
"wets" everywhere arc organizing and
setting up the Edwards banners. A
more OR less concerted movement is
on foot to make him a canoloate on a
wet" platform for the Presidency,
thus making the national campaign
similar to that which was waged in
New Jersey. The 'wets" believe that
with a man of Edwards s type leading
in the fight they will be able to carry
on to victory and bring about the ulti-
mate revocation of the Eighteenth
Amendment to the Federal Constitu-
ton