The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-08-29
WHO WON'T BE GOV ERN0R.
THIS, At LEAST, Is Il Bid YEAR FOR
r.. II. SUPERINTENDENES.x

Where the Hon. Rufus BIodgett stands in
the Contest and just What He is Ex-
pectcd TO AccompIish-Au Incidental
Review of Otiser Candidates Chunces.
TRENTON, Aug. 2S.--The fixing by the
State Committeeof the time for the hold
ing of the Democratic Gubernatorial Con-
vention is the formal opening of the cam
paign in the State. But no one needs to
be told that the canvass for the honor the
Convention is to confer had been in fair
state of progress for weeks before. The
only new feature the meeting of the Com
mittee has served 10 inject into the canvass
is the emphasis it lends to the candidacy of
Chairman Rufus Blodgett. Blodgett, when
asked plumply whether be was candidate
for the Governorship or not. said, the other
day, that the newspapers said SO, ''and
they ought to know = and he seemed to be
in delightful state of uncertainty whether
those who are back of him are in earnest or
not.
81 pick up one paper, he went on, sand
it tells me that I'm tender for John T.
Bird. l pick up another, and it tells me
John T. Bird is tender for me. Now,
which am to believe =
He evidently doesn't know whether to
trust the State House Ring, who have put
him in the field, or not. It's matter of
small consequence to him whether they
are sincere or not sincere. If they want
him for dummy he would be Just as
readily at their service as if they wanted
him for standard bearer, though it would,
of course, fatter his pride and pique his
ambition little more to be wanted for a
leader rather than for tool. I don't know
whether Mr.. Blodgett would trust nae if
yentured to enlighten him, but it seems to
me that he should be able to make up his
mind, by the rule of eternal fitness, as to
the part his Crackers" expect him to play
in the canvass. There is no doubt that he
knows that he is the Superintendent of the
New York and Long Branch Railroad, put
there by the joint votes of the Pennsylva-
mia and the New Jersey Central Railroads,
and it seems to me that he ought to know
that the aroused anti-monoroly sentiment
of the people of this State is not making
Governors out of railroad superintendents
NOT of that breed, nor il this year of our
Lord, at any rate. As even a Democratic
nomination could not save him from defeat,
it would seem to follow as matter of
course that his hackers do not intend to
give him the nomination, and that, there
fore, they are only playing him for
dummy.
More than that, he should know from
the nature of the work he is called upon to
do, Just what particular function he is
expected to discharge in the canvass. Con-
gressman Robert s. Green represents a
district that includes Monmouth, Ocean
and Union Counties. He is a brother of
Ashbel Green, whom Kelsey has urged,
as often as opportunity has presented itself
for the last ten years or more, for United
States Senator and under ordinary circum-
stances might, through his brother, have
captured the willy Secretary's support. But
Mcpherson pushed the Congressman to a
foremost place among Democratic candi-
dates for Governor; and that fact set Kei-
sey against him at once. 1t would never
do to let a candidate of McPherson's
choosing ascend to the gubernatorial chair
Kelsey's term viii expire during the next
State Administration; and if Mcpherson
were permitted to name the chief man in
it, Kelsey's name would be Dennis when
the Secretaryship of State Is to be given out
again. Kelsey cares for the ducats, as well
as the influence of the position, even if
they have been reduced from $50 000a year
to $4,000; but over and beyond that, the
RCA5OAo1 OAbbc1ACoS sA1db HAOuiRtcu OLc OEC-
rotary to give the Philadelphia hotel key
hole story to the world year or two ago
would not permit Mcpherson to have any
thing to do with State politics, if Kelsey
can help it. And so the mere fact that
Mcpherson is for Green for Governor puts
Kelsey, in spite of all social and family and
personal influences, irrevoeably against
Green for Governor. Green's support in
the guSernatorial canvass may be presumed
to be warmest among the friends and
neighbors who sent him to Congress to
capture Federal pap for them; and Kelsey
naturally looked around for some one to
counterfeit it. He went to Long Branch.
He saw Blodgett, from his headquarters
there, sending trains without number all
through Green's Congressional district.
They were manned by employees WHO live
in the three counties Green represents at
Washington. What great army of oppo-
nents he could summon against Green if
he could only set these busy railroad boys,
who went everywhere in Green's domain
and met every one of Green constituents,
shouting against him To make them
shout against Green, they must be induced
to shout for some one else; and for whom
would they more readily shout than for
Blodgett, the boss who gave them their
places and can take them away at will?
who gave them their bread and can cut
off the supply the moment they displeased
him Happy thought of the big-headed
Secretary! He announced Blodgett as
candidate for Governor, and the whole of
Green's district rang at once with noisy
railroad chorus for their worthy superin-
tendent. They are still singing his praises.
Even the locomotives puff him; and in
the rhythmic rumble of the speeding train
refrain.
ssBlodgetty Blod. Guv'nor Blod, GUY nor,
Guv'nor, Guv'ner, Blodgett."
OF course all this shouting and the in
fiuence of this horde of brakemen and
conductors, and track walkers, and tele-
graph operators and faguen among their
neighbors are expected to bear their fruit /
in the selection of delegates to the state
Convention who will be for Blodgett rather