The New York herald., 1922-05-08
Favor Wet Republican.

FuvOr wet Republican,.
There is a considerable elemen. in
the G. o. p. organization in New Jersey
which has liberal tendencies. 1t is very
active. 1t holds the belief at present
that a wet Republican would make n
much stronger candidate against Gov.
Edwards than would Senator Freling-
huysen. 1t is concentrating its strength
ut present on City Commissioner Thomas
L. Raymond Of. Newark, who is AIDE
,lared wet. Whether Raymond w6uld
accept is still question. Last winter
group representing factions in the
orga anization in Hudson, Bergen. Pas
sale. Atlantic and Essex counties urged
him to announce his candidacy. He re
fused. Now the movement has been
started all over again and the Impression
prevails, whether It is correct or not
that Senator Edge, whose control of the
organization in the State is pretty COM
rlete. is behind the movement
Senator Edge has not had anything to
say regarding the Raymond candidacy.
Were he to support It. politicians believe,
Senator Frelinghuysen might have a stiff
fight indeed at the primaries in Sep
tembcr. but the fact that the Harding
Administration Is regarded as very
friendly to Frelinghuysen has TO be con-
sidered in this connection and II Is not
thought likely that the Edge organiza-
ton can be lined UP against an Admin
istration candidate. Raymond is fac
tor in the situation, nevertheless be-
cause of his very strong following in
Newark, his great ability as cam
paigner and the unquestioned existence
OF a vigorous wet element in the Repub-
lican party in the State.
George l.. Record of Jersey City has
also entered the lists against Freling-
huysen. Record is a dry. II both he
and Raymond were to enter the primary
against Frelinghuysen the latter would
have the advantage. of course, with the
opposition TO him split.
Former Vote Record.
That Gov. Edwards will be the Demo-
cratic Senatorial candidate Is virtually
assured. In view OF this statement IL IL
interesting to note the pluralities by
which Edwards and Frelinghuysen were
elected: In 1915 Frelinghuysen beat
MARITIME. the Democratic candidate, by
1896. In 1919 Edwards beat Bugbee
the Republican candidate. by 1880
Since Frelinghuysen's election prohibi-
tion has become an issue in fact, It was
the principal Issue in Edwards's cam
paign. When Edge ran for Senator In
1918 his vote was about SIS, 900 below
that given Frellnghuysen two years be-
fore. and his plurality over La Monte
the Democratic candidate. was 25.279.
The possibility OF James r. Nugent
being the Democratic candidate for Gov
ernor and the running mate OF Gov. ED.
wards is entirely new a matter Of the
last few days. a committee has beer
formed TO give Nusent a dinner and
bring him forth as the logical successor
Of Edwards. There may be more i'm this
than appears, because In 1919 Nugent
literally begged Edwards to come out as
a thorough going dry and finally entered
the primaries against him after
Edwards declared himself beating Nu
gent by about. 10000 votes Whatever
feeling may have been engendered by
this contest passed away, however, wher
Edwards nominated Nueent for Prose
outor Of Essex county The State Sem
ate refused TO confirm the nomination.
Hague nv Factor.
How Nugcnt may fare. If he decide,
10 make the race. may rest largely with
Mayor Frank Hague OF Jersey City
whose powers within the organization
arc pretty we'll on a parity with Nu
gents and who has in addition tic repu
tation or having elected Edwards.
on the Republican side Runyon a
present has all the best of it and hil
prospects for the Governorship nomina-
tion are bright, though they may b'
dimmed later. Frclnghuysen faces ap
parently strong. but not united. oppos
ton with the well known reputation
OF Republicans TO get together 70 figh
the common political enemy. II seeni
probable that this opposition will disap
pear or will be overcome.
Then viii follow the contest between
Frelnghuysen and Edwards. both hav
ing substantial pIuralities TO their credi
Nv tho state IN the past. Edwards. al
has been said. Is pronouncedly n VIC
and Frclinghuysen Is firm supporter
OF the dry side OF the issue.