New-York tribune., 1920-10-09
Clash in the Democratic
Ranks Over Edwards's
Support of Dry Plank
Disrupts State Machine
Nuggent Charges
Double CROSSING
Politicians Say They Were
Counted Out in Vote at
Party State Convention


TRENTON, N. j., Oct. s.-The Demo
Gratis of New Jersey are dcmoraized
and discouraged. The Republicans
stand to carry the state by from 100 900
to 10000. They also are likely to gain
the Representative in the Newark dis
trict
Governor Edward I. Edwards, of Jer-
sey City. elected year ago on a prom
Use to make New Jersey las wet as the
Atlantic Ocean," now is charged by
James R. Nugent. the boss of Essex
County, with "laying down" on the
people who elected him by refraining
from going TO San Francisco. as he
promised, and fighting Colonel Bryan
in open convention. Nugent also ac
cused Edwards of double e-crossing mis-
supporters when on Tuesday last he
swung his support to the drys in the
state convention, over which he pre-
sided.
The organization men, especially
those from Boss Nugent's bailiwicE
now say that if Governor Edwards
wants to make a dry campaign this
year in New Jersey, to accommodate
Governor Cox, who since his Far West
ern speaking trip has become dry
advocate, he is welcome to do it. but
they will not help him.
Governor Edwards's support of the
drys at the state convention in Trenton
on Tuesday is still the talk of the poll
ticians all over the state. A singular
feature OF the situation is that no one
as yet has been able to figure it out
how the Governor came to turn his
somersault.
Elected on Wet Platform
Last year he attracted nationwide
attention by making straight fight as
a vet, and was elected in a state which
Las heen going Republican of late
years by handy margin-about $4,000.
In his campaign speeches he waxed
eloquent over the prohibition law.
Supported by James r. Nugent, who
really organized his victory, Governor
Edwards early became a candidate for
the Democ&tic nomination for Presi-
dent and again put to the front his
determination to make fight for the
vets IN the San Francisco convention.
i will go to the San Francisco con-
ventlon and make a fight on the con-
ventlon floor against the 18th Amend
ment and the Volstead act" he said
to the reporters fer the New York
papers at his campaign headquarters
IN the Commodore Hotel. Just 'cfore
the delegates started for the Pacific
Coast the Governor said that it might
be difficult for him to attend the ma
tional convention, as the Republicans
were IN control of the state Legislature
and might put over something on him
Il ne left his post at the state capital.
But the Republican leaders assured
him that they would not take snap
action and that if he wanted to go to
San Francisco to go ahead. Edwards
did not go. His delegates, under the
direction Of Nugent, Judge Besson and
the Governors brother helped to bring
about the nomination Of Governor Cox,
declaring him to be just as good wet
as Governor Edwards himself
Nugent Was Satisfied with Cox
Nugent, as we'll as Charles T.
Murphy, Governor Alfred Z. Smith of
New York and other we'll known local
wet leaders, went home satisfied that
Cox was like Edwards--plenty wet, and
tnat one was as good vote getter as
the other among the algamated
Brotherhood of "h'isters."
-. Because Of these things and others
like them the action of Governor Ed
wards in Trenton on Tuesday last in
swinging against the vets came as a
distinct shock. The Hudson County
Continued page four)