New Jersey delegates 34–1 for Dewey
Only Senator Hawkes opposes New Yorker as Edge champions latter as nominee
Chicago, Illinois – (June 25)
With Senator Albert W. Hawkes of Montclair, New Jersey, the lone dissenter, the New Jersey delegation to the Republican National Convention recorded itself as 34–1 for Governor Dewey for President at a caucus held this noon at the Hotel Blackstone. Senator Hawks voted for Governor Bricker of Ohio.
There was almost another Bricker vote in the New Jersey delegation. On the first rollcall, Thomas A. Mathis of Toms River cast his vote for Governor Edge of New Jersey, who was presiding.
Governor Edge rose and said, “Look, we’ve been through all that and I’m not a candidate.”
“Is Dewey?” asked Mr. Mathis. Then he added, “Make it Bricker for me.”
When the rollcall was completed and no other Bricker votes had appeared, Mr. Mathis again rose and asked permission to make one more change in his vote. He voted for Mr. Dewey, amid applause.
Governor Edge, after organization of the delegation had been completed, made a short speech in which he noted that he was expressing only his own opinion, and that he did not expect anyone to be bound by it, but that he thought the delegation ought to be for Governor Dewey.
Governor Edge said:
I feel, as a result of the preliminary actions thus far, that it is pretty well settled that the distinguished Governor of New York, Thomas Dewey, will be the nominee of this convention. I expect to vote for him on the first ballot. If things develop beyond that, we can then further consider our viewpoint.
It is not a question of getting on the bandwagon. It is a question of showing to the electorate around the country the confidence and the unanimity of the party’s mood. I feel that New Jersey should not straddle, but should take a definite position. It is the best thing to do, and I do it with confidence.
The group voted to send a telegram of good cheer to Mrs. Edna B. Conklin, one of the delegates-at-large, who has been unable to attend the convention because of illness.
New Jersey’s delegation ran into room trouble, with no one apparently getting what had been ordered. Governor Edge had received the suite and an extra room, and tonight only had the extra room. His suite had been appropriated by a woman delegate from a Western state, who refused to move out. Others experienced similar difficulties.