New-York tribune., 1920-09-29
Wet and Dry Issue
1n Jersey Ignored
BY Women Voters
Primary Election Returns
Held Up by so Per Cent
Increase i'm Ballots Cast by
the Newly Er1franchised
Special Dispatch to The Trtbun,

TRENTON, N. j., Sept. 2S.-Returns
of to-day's primary election in New
Jersey, the first in which women took
part, were so meagerelate tonight that
positive results could not be deter
mined from them, except in a few lso-
lated instances. Lateness of the re-
turns was due to two reasons, that the
polls did not close until 9 o'clock and
that women voting added about so per
cent 70 the work of election officers as
compared with former years.
In all sections of the state, except
in Hudson and Essex counties, where
the leading parties, the primary vote
was light, which was contrary to the
expectations based upon the heavy reg
istration of women on the first registry
day and on the number of clean-cut
contests between wet and dry candi-
dates. Not more than SO per cent of
the women who registered and who
were eligible to vote went to the polls
Their absence was due in part to q
desire to delay selection of party
affiliation until the general election.
Most of Women Republicans
A large majority of the women who
did vote marked their ballots in the
Republican boxes, thus declaring them
selves Republicans, and because of this
republican state leaders here are con-
fldent that between 65 and IS per cent
OF the women voters will vote the Re-
publican ticket at the general election
Democratic leaders attribute the lack
OF Democratic women voters at the
primary to absence of important con-
tests on the party ticket.
So far as the early returns showed
anything. they indicated that in the
Republican districts the bulk of the
Women's vote was Republican,, and
there was like condition in the Demo
cratic districts. One Of the surprising
indications of the early returns in
New Jersey was that apparently little
consideration was given to the liouor
issue in the selection of candidates.
In the 4th District Representative
E. Z. Hutchinson, of Trenton, has been
nominated with large lead over the
highest of three wet opponents, who
split the wet vote, while Hutchinson
got the dry support almost to voter
This was regarded as more or less
wet district, Charles Browne, of Prince
ton is the Democratic nominee in the
sth, 9th and 10th districts. In Hudson
and Essex counties the organization
Republican and Democratic candidates
AVA OoHSAGSS NdNE DSeH nom mlnaCeC.
Liquor Issue Mostly Ignored
In most instances the men chosen
got the organization support, irrespec-
tive Of their stand on the liquor ques-
ton. In both parties the primary vot-
ing was more matter Of party loyalty
than anything else.
In the I'd District, where the hottest
wet and dry Congressional fight was
conducted between Representative Isaac
Bacharach. of Atlantic City, and State
Senator William H. Bright, of Wild
wood, Bacharach cot the Republican or
ganization support and apparently has
won by comfortable margin, polling
heavily in Atlantic City, his home.
Bright's campaign was financially aid
ed by the New Jersey Anti-Saloon
League, which contributed $4,000 Can
didates for Congressional nomination
in North Jersey supported by the
league also were beaten, according to
best reports obtainable here tonight.