Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1920-04-26
State Interest in Primary EIec-
ton is Held by G. o. P. Be-
cause of big Four" Contest

BIZ Special Correspondent
TRENTON, April 26:-Interest in
t0morrow's state wide primary elec-'
tion for delegates to the two national
political conventions is being monop-
olized by the Republican party be-
cause of the big contest within the
ranks of that organization for places
on the big four" and the fact that
future leadership may hinge largely
upon the result and because General
Leonard Wood and Hiram Johnson.
leading rivals for the Republican
presidential nomination. will have
their first real test of strength in an
eastern state when the Republican
voters go to the polls tomorrow
There will be no fight ON the Demo-
cratic big four" and there are prac-
tically few contests for district dele
gates among the Democrats.
On the other hand the Republicans
Will have to settle a fight In every
one but the First District, David
Baird's bailiwick. The Democrats
will have contests TO decide in the
First, Third, Fourth and Seventh dis
tricts.
The fact that ten candidates are
entered for the Republican free for
all and that some of the strongest
vote eetters in the party rangs are
contending for the four places as
delegates-at- large has rendered spec
ulation almost futile as TO whom the
four winners will be- The wisest of
the political sages in the STATE today
admitted that no accurate forecast OF
the result of the primary for the q.
0. p. big four" coHld be made.
1t Is quite likely. however, that the
Wood slate for the four places of
honor to Chicago win be smashed
especially since Messrs. Stokes,
Griggs. Runyon and Raymond, who
are pledged to the general, did not
arrange to have their four names
bracketed on the Republican ballot.
The two men most likely to split the
big four" are, of course, United
States Senators Frelinghuysen and
Edge. 1t is generally conceded that
the fight will be settled by the pick
ing of these four men, with the
chances seeming to favor Messrs
Stokes, Edge, Runyon and Raymond.
Frelinghuysen is regarded as having
n good chance to nose out elther OF
the last two mentioned, but former
Governor Griggs is not picked to
come within the charmed circle.
Edge and Frelinghuysen are running
unpledged, declaring they VIII sup
port the choice expressed Tor pfesl-
dent by the voters
The two candidates for the big
four" pledged to Hiram johnson.
namely Milford l.. Ballard ana
Thomas II. Layden are not regarded
as having a chance unless there should
develop landslide for the California
Senator. Two negro candidates Syl-
" ester l.. Corrothers and Issac II. Nut
ter. running unpledged. are also count
led ont.
The Democratic slate for the big
four" to San Francisco Will sail
through unopposed. They are Cover
lnor Edwards, Mayor Frank Hague, of
Jersey city, Mayor Il. w. Donnelly'
FTrenton, and James X. Nugent with
the exception of the Executive HIM
self. all will run pledged to the Ed
wards candidacy for President
1t will be interesting TO see what
the showing of Johnson VIII be IN New
Jersey tomorrow. He has been coming
strong for some weeks and there Is
feeling that he will give General Wood
a real contest in this State, despite the
fact that the general has many OF the
leading and organization Republicans
backing him. Both Woods and John-
sons names will be printed on the
ballot for the voters to express thelf
preference.
In all but the fourth district there
will be Wood candidates for delegates.
In nine districts candidates are run
ming pledged to Johnson, the excep-
lions being the first, second and fourth
districts. United States Senator war
rem G.. Harding is being supported py
two candidates in the twelfth district,
this being the only place where the
Ohio Senator's name is on the ticket,
he having withdrawn 1t sometime
back.
On the Democratic side The candi-
dates for district delegates are run
ming in the main unpledged, the ex-
ceptions having endorsed Governor
Edwards However. the entire dele
CATION is expected to so to San FRAN
cisco backing the governor.
Such prominent Republicans as COZ.
Austen Colgate and former Senator
Everett Colby. both of Essex county
are running as candidates in the ninth
and tenth districts respectively pledg-
ed to Wood.
The future leadership OF the Rcpub-
lican Party in New Jersey hinges to a
extent upon the work OF
the Edge forces for the Senator per-
sonafly and in the districts where ms
supporters are working for candidates
put in the field by them. 1t has been
said that it is a fight between State
Chairman Stokes and the Junior sena-
tor, but the former has declared that
he is not seeking ascendency within
the party in running for the Dig
fOur,'