The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-09-29
VIM WALTER PHELps's NOMINATION.
Obtaiued by Secret Work Aver he Had Told
Mr., Hiii he Would Not He Candidate.

The Republicans Of the Fifth New Jersey
District are by no means united in the nomina-
ton OF William Walter Phelps for Congress.
and the friends Of John HILL his rival in
Wednesdays Convention. are indignant at the
means used ito secure his defeat. Hill repre-.
sented the district for three terms beginning
with 1867. and was again elected in 1880. He
would have liked another term. as he frankly
told the Convention on Wednesday. and his
supporters claim that the mass OF tho party
throughout the district desired and expected
his denomination. No other name was men,
toned until Mr. Phelps's return from Europe
suggested the possibility OF his becoming a
candidate. But Mr.. Phelps had no sooner ar
rived than he telegraphed Mr.. Hill that no de-
sired to see him. and when they met. after
saying that some OF his friends had urged
him to run. assured the Congressman
be a candidate. This assurance was repeated ted
IN letters which Mr.. Phelps wrote State Senator
Hobart and Mayor Miller Of Morristown, and
was circulated by the newspapers throughout
and believing that tho feeling In favor Of sivna;
him the delegates. his friends made no special
effort to secure large attendance at the eau
eyer they SIe to their
that agents Of Mr.. Phelps had been secretly but
actively a. work in Bergen Snd passaie coun
had the underground work been done that the
Bergen County primaries all went for Phelps.
while he carried all but seven Of the delegates
from Passaic County. The Phelps managers
made no effort In Morris County. where Mr..
Hill lives and its delegation was unanimously
for him. but was outvoted nearly two to one By
Passaic and Bergen.
Mr.. Hills friends are thoroughly indignant
at what they denounce as the put up Job OF
the Phelps men. The Morris County deega-
ton left the Convention fighting mad" to
use the words OF a prominent Republican. and
the indications yesterday were very strong
that the disaflection will prove serious. The
district Is close ono, and has been carried by
was elected by 1.6O1 plurality in 1880. but this
was largely due to the fact that the silk inter-
est of tho district. which il extensive and in
1uential was overwhelmingly in his favor. In
the present campaign this interest promises to
be as strongly against the Republican candi-
date. The manufacturers have never liked
Phelps. whose treatment Of them when he was
in Congress ten years ago disguised many OF
them.
On the othcr hand the Democrats have NOM
mated In John Ryle n man who has been all his
life connected with the silk industry. since he
began work in the mills II poor boy from Mac
clesfield. He is man OF intelligence and force.
and will DO heartily supported by the mass Of
ready begun to organize movement for his
election. All the Republicans concode that Mr..
Ryle Is an exceptionally strong candidate. and
some prominent leaders privately admit their
belief that he will BIO elected Tho Phelps
leaders concede that there is serious disafiection
in tho party. but declare that their candidates
money will pull him through.