Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-12-31
THE SENATE PRESIDENCY.

AS the time approaches for the Leg
islature to convene an increasing inter-
est in the organization is being mani
tested by the State press and Republi-
can politicians generally. Especially is
this the case with regard to the Senate,
for the Presidency of which Senators
Nichols, of Cumberland, and Griggs,
of Passaic, are making an active can
vass. Both of these gentlemen are well
qualified for the Office; both are sound
in the Republican faith, deservedly pop
ular with their colleagues, and the Sc
lection of either would give entire sat
isfaction to the party and the people
There are reasons to our mind, how
ever, why the former should be Sc
lected to preside over the Senate at
this time, in preference to any other
member of that body. Senator Nichols
is now serving his last year of a second
term, which when completed will have
rounded out eight years of continuous
service in the Legislature. 1t has been
customary for many years past to
honor those Senators with this office
who have been longest in the service,
and especially so when they come to
reach the last years of their terms.
Republicans and Democrats alike have
adopted this usage, although it has
been recognized more distinctly as a
Republican custom. Senators Taylor,
of Essex; BEETLE, and Sewell, of Cam
den; Vail, of Union; Hobart, of Passaic;
and Gardner, of Atlantic, are exempli-
tications of this practice, and have oc-
cupied the Presidents chair during the
last years of their terms. Nichols, with
the exception of Youngblood, of Nor
ris, is the only member of the present
Senate now on the last year of his
second term, and as the Morris Sena-
tor has confessedly no likelihood or ex-
pectation Of being chosen, the Cum
berland Senator is in the natural line
of succession. Gardner, of Atlantic,
of service is longer than that of Sena
tor Nichols, has already been its pre-
siding officer, and under just such cir
cumstances as those which it is claimed
should secure Nichols the office now.
Senator Nichols, of Cumberland, rep
resents a staunch Republican county
which has not failed for twenty-five
years to return Republican to the
Senate, and one which, as well, has
never, since the adoption of the new
Constitution in 1874, been honored with
the Presidency of that body. Passaic
county, on the other hand, has had
the Presidency three times since that
date-Canfield, in 1851; Buckley, in
1867, and Hobart, in 1882 In view of
these facts the Republicans at this end
of the State naturally think that Sena-
tor Griggs should give way at this time
and allow the position to go to Cum
berland county, where in the fitness
ofthings it can be very properly claimed
to belong. Senator Griggs claims
are largely a matter of sentiment,
growing as they do out of the Schenck-
Youngblood coup d etdt of last Winter
by which he was wrongfully defeated
for the office. and through which an
other was made successful. This, how
ever, was no fault of the Cumberland
Senator, who not only was not can
didate, but on the contrary, earnestly
supported Mr.. Griggs in the caucus
and on the floor of the Senate. Taking
all things into consideration we think
the Passaic Senator could we'll afford
to await another year, when the Sen
ate, to a moral certainty, will be Re
publican, and when he would be the
unanimous choice of his party. Sena-
tor Nichols will in all probability have
no such opportunity. Camden Courier.
A Tennessee Democrat, who is not
altogether in harmony with the Ad-
minis trotiop on tho Civil Sorvioo C,,oC