The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-11-22
TIE NEXT LEGIsLATURE.


of the two Houses.
TRENTON, Nov. 14.-The contest for the
places within the gift of the next legisla-
ture has already begun. Griggs of Passaic,
thinks he has got the Senate Presidency in
his hands this time. Young blood can't
defeat him because Young blood doesn't
hold the balance of power between the two
parties this time; but he NAV find other
distinctions. Griggs is just about entering
upon new term, and the elder heads
among his Senatorial colleagues may con-
clude that he can afford to wait till 1887 or
1888 Tor promotion. Senator Nichols is
anxious to round off his six years of service
with the dignity of the presiding officer,
and he is apt to give Mr.. Griggs pretty
lively race for the place. Then, besides, Mr..
Griggs is such nice man for the floor
such an eloquent and voluble debater; SO
efficient in rapping the other party over
the knuckles, that it would be a shame,
absolutely cruel to choke him into silence
by putting him in the chair. Nicholss
forte is not his oratory, but his energy as
worker. He can be of service to the party
and mis- friends both in the chair and out
of it.
Jo. Hume wants to be Secretary of the
Senate this time. He has served along ap
premiership in the subordinate Journal
Clerkship, and thinks he has earned promo
ton by the care and diligence az well as in
telligence with which he has discharged his
duties. JOS not particularly pretty, but
he's awful nice and very popular; and he
will make formidable antagonist for Nc
Sherry to fight. For notwithstanding the
fact that McSherry has g retired from
politics he is willing to go back to capture
the Senate Secretaryship. He was Presi.
dent Schenck's Private Secretary last Fall,
has Just been laid out for State Senator,
and will make his canvass on the one
ground of sympathy. He calls it promo
ton. But Hume stands higher in the line
of promotion. How would it do to promote
Hume to the Secretaryship? and McSherry
to the Journal Clerkship?
On the other side of the hall Armstrong
wants to be Speaker again. Corbin, OF
Union, and Parker, of Essex, are after it,
too. They are all pretty smart fellows.
Armstrong, Intellectually, is the weakest of
the three; Corbin the brainiest. Parker is
the best declaimer. Corbin has a subtle
mind. He can split hairs with perfect pre-
cision, and with matchlees skill He sees
all the big points, but none of the little ones
miss him. He is given to refnements-
logical refnements, mean. Parker is
somewhat vapid, but man of brains with
al. The speech he made in the House last
winter in favor of the removal of the State
Capitol to Newark was fine piece of ora
tory. But he is too self-conscious. His
awful conceit spoils him. He travels too
much on his blue blood, and his fathers
name. cit is the son of Cortlandt Parker
who is talking now, is the suggestion one
reads in his air and manner when no de-
iyers himself It is possible that he may
not be unacceptable to the powers that be,
and he will probably make no small show
ing in the contest for the place. 1t seems
to me as though Armstrong will be third
man in the race. The influence that
backed him last winter may not deem it
wise to take an active hand for him this
winter. The Senatorial contest is too close
at hand. Activity in political matters
breeds antagonisms; and harmony, good
will. peace offering will be the cry of the
winter session. Parker may lead in the
race. If he does Corbin will be close
second The clerks of the last House are
entitled to second terms by party usage,
and will probably meet with no opposition
worth talking about. Ours.