New-York tribune., 1878-01-07
POLITICS AT TRENTON.
LEGISLATIVE CAUCUssING.
THE CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT AND SPEAKER
AND THEIR PROSPECTS sEyEIAILY

THE CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT AND SPEAKER
AND THEIR PROSPECTS sEvEIALLY.
FROM AN ocC ,sIoYAL CORRESPONDENT THE THrEUNEl
TRENTON, N. j., Jan. Gas the week closes, tho
struggle over the organization of the Legislature il
still uncertain
Senator Ward claims 3 votes out Of the II in the
Democratic caucus which is TO name President,
and Senator Ward IS not in tie habit OF guessing
at canvass. He seems to be receiving
some valuable assistance from Mr.. Secretary Kelsey
and there not three Democrats III the State
whose assistance is worth much ~ Secretary
Kelsey's Mr. Kelsey comes from the windy hills of
Sussex, and - does Mr.. Warl. And after Mr. Kel'
sey failed to get some wicked newspaper
man who criticised his policy indicted for
libel by an Essex County grand jury
he carried his case to Sussex, and his Old neghbors
rallied to vindicate him. 1t has been determined,
too, that these eyildoers must be tried before Sus
sex Comfy jury. and although all tlis has probably
not the remotes connection with Secretary Kcsey's
support OF Mr. Wari Il H. neverihelasg interesting
to observe that Sussex County is solid.
Senator Ludlow, Of Midllesex, Mr.. Wards sole
competitor, s restrained from making any efforts
in his own behalf by some old-la.hioned scrnples
about the propgictg of ,Lch course, ba; it is need
less to add that Mr. Ward laloys under
such embarrassment, and ths, too, is i'm
Mr. Wards favor And ye; Nj. Ludiow's
friends by no means U.teIly east down,
and they talk my5tcriously and To- fully of some
sudden surprise which they have in store for the
good people Of the State II lrino cf nitro-glyce-
rine sboa'G happen to explode under Mr.. Wards
citadel and blow Mr. Ward ard his confederates
very high IN The air. the great maioutg of respect
able people ia eg-Jcrsey would endure the cal
amity with Christian resignation.
In the House the struggle IN moro pTOmiscuous
exception which is provided for all hold over but
in the Assembly there are clerks of various degree.
and sergeants-at arms and dOoTkoepes to be chosen,
and the adhcrents Of the various applicants for these
positions are complicating matters By combining
and trading and behaving themselves generally like
Democrats.
OF the candidates for Speaker, Major Harris no
longer seems to be careering on to victory with
much momentum The patriots who possess him in
partnership will probably content themselves with
on endcavor to get up corner in votes with the
benign purpose of getting square with somebody;
or what is still likely, they will lay aside all
feeling" and abandon themselves entirely to
efforts which promise definite commercial results
Mr. De Witt, of Warren, has no hope unless he is
picked up to break a deadlock lie is TOO guileless
to dchor, and his friends viii wander about after
the first ballot like sheep without shepherd To
outward appearance Mr. Egan. of Union, has alto
gether the advantage of Mr.. Matthew's, of Bur-
lingtOn, his strongest opponent. Mr. Egan
boasts that lie will be chosen the first ballot,
a consummatioa not altogether improbable. The
less depraycd clements Of society are nursing
sickly hope that at the supreme moment il may
occur even to majority of Democratic Assembly,
men that Mr. Egaus moral stature is not sufficiently
colossal to support the diguitcs and responsible
ltlcs Of the Spcakcrship. But There seems to be-
prevalent impression among the members
that johnny Egan viii look on: for his friends
and unless Mr.. Matthews can get The sold support
of Mr.. dc Wits following and an unsupported
amount of virtue is developed in tho Iill Congress
sional District Mr.. Egan will decorate the Speak
ers chair.
The preliminary caucussing on Monday night viii
no doubt foreshadow the result on Tuesday.