New-York tribune., 1920-10-06
N. ]. Democrats
Vote Down Wet
Plank, 37-3
Women, SoIidly Behind Dry
Cause, Defeat Nugent's
Resolution at the State
Convention in Trenton
Party Split Predicted
Perfect Harmony Rules at
Republican Meeting and
Law Enforcement Urged

TRENTON, ~ j.. Oct. 5.-Strife
broke loose in the State Democratic
Convention this afternoon after clash
betweei the wet and the dry elements
o.: the rtv, and the session closed in q
turmoil, with virtually all of the mem
bers on their feet and shouting to be
heard. Difficulties had been anticipated,
but they developed to far greater pro-
portions than had been feared and, in
consequence a rift has been made in
party harmony that is considered al
most impossible to close in sufficient
time to make possible any sort of
effective campaign in the state.
James r. Nugent, Democratic boss
Of Essex County and an unrelenting
foe Of prohibition, was the storm center
Of the convention. He had served
notice that he would do everything in
his power to get 3 wet plank in the
party platform and as chairman of the
resolutions committee waged vigorous
fight TO accomplish this end. He was
outvoted. however. but appeared on the
floor Of the convention in last ditch
effort 10 attain his purpose.
All Women Are Drys
A...u .Lo raro~- of +bo n,aior;.r ~
-,,ol,,+io~s com,ai+tes ySb;ch
msde no mention of the prohibition
question. Nugent submitted a minority
-. ,,,sc;,7r 10 convention on roc-
tyg0as g taror,-s- 49, a reS,is;on of 4bn Vol
O.aaS Oir - 90 ~ ~ ~ nermit rbo salo If
80 - bser II snnnorr of mo
-, or -, renort he n1ada
go .,ooc5 i, 1rbioh he denorrcaJ
ob;I-.;o,, .,st'gsS es ,iojation IF no 49,
laUai p,O.'i~i i,ae,+;es oe nan yhirh Ar,or;
sue - - - ~ +ba pa,.ol,,+;or
have fought 10 sustain.
Opposition 10 tne adoption Of the
minority report was led by Senator
Simpson. Of Hudson, and he was unan-
imously supported by the women of the
convention, VINO rose en- masse to cry
down such step as that proposed by
Nugent.
Mrs. D. s. Irving. Of Haddonfeld,
candidate for the Assembly on the
Democratic ticket from Camden
County, declared she stood ready TO
abandon her candidacy and the party
If the Nugent report We're adopted.
such action, she insisted, would have
disastrous effect upon the party's
prospects Tor success, as it would
ALLEVIATE the support Of virtually all of
Tie women voters. who make up ap-
proXlmately half of the voters in the
state. Other women reiterated the
views Of Mrs. Irving and insisted that
the party would bc rreparably wrecked
through taking a stand on the wet
side Of ths prohibition question.
Tha vote on the report was attended
By q sc2ne OF the most intense excite
mfnt. Every coantys ballot was chal-
.enged either by one or the other side.
and the total showed the Nugent report
to be beaten BY vote of 81 to 35.
Edwards Is blamed
vi.b bslf - +ho -. e -,
convention e.;Sl clanorino ~ he homg e,.g
Goverrcr F1,,srds 80 ar,,nTa. .lT<.. T..
Chairnsen deo1ared Tho ~ u =
iourned vSere,,nor 4r;onds ~ NJ, Wi,c,a,
erowlfad hove ond nhoroad ~ 60. e--'
ernor With failure TO ''oi giTe the @ ..u,afsp Gfs
3 so-sr. ..9- 5osi i'''''9 ~ give '"e "e'S
Until Tho nis+for,, earn. I'M for oor
sideration tie convention nroceedir tts
ran smoothly. Womer wara friven su7-
stantial reco~nition IN +ba selec+;on ~
aiac-,~- ~. Dl.f; NJ