The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1886-10-31

Hon. THOMAS F. NooNAN.
whose Office he spent the last two years of
his studentship, and was admitted TO the
Bar at the February term. 1855, after pass
ing highly creditable examination. his
advent into State politics was as a candi-
date for the Reading cleIkship of the
House of Assembly at the Session of 1852.
and, after close contest, was defeated by
Colonel Timothy A. Byrnes, of Atlantic
County. AT the following session of the
Legislature, regardless of advice to the
contrary and predictions of sure defeat
from all quarters. friendly and otherwise.
be again became an aspirant for the same
petition, and after most energetic, deter
mined and persevering fight. in the face of
almost insurmountable obstacles, he cap
1nred the Democratic caucus nomination.
He was duly elected and made one of the
unquestionably very best Reading clerks
the House has ever had. The following
year, Notwithstanding he met with vigorous
opposition. he was elected by acclamayion,
and at the close of the Session the House
presented him with magnificent gold
watch and chain as testimonial of
their esteem. In 1855 the House was
Republican, as was also the Senate.
Harmony reigned amongst the Repub-
leans in the .souse, and of course the
ION. Thomas F., Jr., did not waste
any time in attempting The inevitably
frnitless task of getting anything there.
But the Republican Senators were split"
Griggs, from Passaic, had received the eau
Gus nomination for President Of the SEN
ate. Senator Schenk, who wanted the
presidency. and who was about to serve
his last year, and was the Oldest member of
the Senate, was determined that Griggs
should not have the presidency, especially
as his, Grigg's, term would not expire that
year and he thus would have an oppor-
unity The next year to satisfy his ambition.
Schenk was the master Of the situation
because the Seaate stood eleven Repub-
licans TO ten Democrats. and he by refus-
ing 10 join the Republicans left them with
out majority.
Tommy, as Mr.. Noonan. was Familiarity
called, was not asleep all thss time.
but was operating wires quite diplomatic
ally. He concinded that Schenk would
moi ssccuusb 20 his Republicans bre,hren.
and that he. Schenk, and the Democrats
twonld make deal, whereby Schenk. by
his own vote and the Democratic votes,
would be elected President and the Demo
orafs get share Of the committees and the
Offices. Tommy drove fer the Senate
leadership and word came over to the
House, when Tommy was shouting the
names of the members-elcct in the organi-
zation of the Assembly, that he had been
elected across the way. The report, how
ever, was false, although il was under
stood that Tommy was 10 be elected. He
may have been victim OF bad faith. AT
all events he himself was not 10 blame !;
and if the Democratic Senators had left
the matter for him TO settle. the result
would be far different, not only as to him.
self, but as to things generally.
The next we knew OF this young gentle
man was his prominent appearance as a
candidate for The General Assembly last
fall, TO which Office he was elected by the
handsome majority of ITO votes.
In the Democratic legislative caucus he
was nominated by several counues for
Speaker of the House, but declined 10 be a
candidate. AT the opening OF the session
he was appointed TO the first Democratic
place on the Committee on Insurance, OF
which r. Wayne Parker was chairman,
and on the Committee on Bill Revision, OF
which w. H. Corbin was chairman, which
last committee was created last session for
the purpose of revising and systemst zlng
All lcx1SldtlOns IL WAS d COiuIuittCC VI
legal and grammatical censorship for
which Mr.. Noonan was peculiarly well
qualified, and on which he rendered very
valuable service.
This year he met with considerable
opposition in his candidacy for renom-
ination, and although it was. generally
understood, and correctly so, that seven
out of the twelve delegates to the conven-
ton were elected in his interest, yet. while
the convention was in session, il was very
doubtful for while whether Mr. Nooian
would be nominated or not, as one of the
seven delegates who had been elected for
him was voting for his opponent.
After number of ballots, however, on
each of which the vote stood six 10 six,
the delegate referred to cast his vote for
Mr.. Noonan, he thus obtaining the nomi-
nation by vote of seven to FIVE. The
nomination was then made unanimous.
The opposition to Mr.. Noonan did not
come from any dislike or depreciation of
him, for ii was cheerfully admitted by all
that he is very worthy gentleman and
that he had made an eminenuy creditable
record at the last session OF the Legisla-
lure. The cause of the opposition was to