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

resided. Robert S. Hudspeth, was in
tended by his father to follow the profess
sion of the law, and when he was eighteen
years of age, be entered law Office in the
city of New York and as soon as had OBJ
tanned his majority was admitted to the
bar that state. After practicing there
for four years ne applied for admission to
the New Jersey bar and obtained his
license and now occupies an honored and
enviable position, both in New York and
New Jersey, as lawyer and advocate.
Mr. Hudspeth has by jealous effort and
untiring perseverance built up q very large
and lucrative law business. He is the
solicitor for the Greenville Building and
Loan Association, the Green vile Building
and Loan Association No. 2, and the
Bergen Land and Improvement Company
in this state; and four years ago, for the
first time in the history of the city of
Bayonne as city, he received the unan-
imous nomination for the Office of city
attorney for that city, from council that
was tie politically. Ever since he became
q resident of Greenville, even when COM
parative youth, Mr.. Hudspeth took great
interest and actively participated in
politics, but prior to his election last year
to the Assembly, he never held or was
candidate for public Office outside of his
pro fession. The election of Mr. Hudspeth
last year to the Assembly, was one of the
greatest political surprises in the county.
Although he had been requested to allow
his name to be used as q candidate for
Assembly before that convention, he re-
fused on account of his business. A NOM
ination was made but tie candidate was
found ineligible, and the convention at
an adjournsd session, after considering
various possible candidates, concluded
khok he o1ios11a candidate he
strongest in fact in the District, was Mr.
Hudspeih, and appointed committee to
wait on him to tender him the nomination.
Finally, and on the Saturday preceding the
election-three days before election day
he informed the committee that he thought
it was his duty as true American citizen,
if the people demanded that he serve
them in public position, to sub
ordinate personal and business
interests to the public service, and
with that feeling actuating him, and deeply
approaching the honor that was conferred
upon him by nomination, coming, as it
did, unsolicited and unsought, although at
great sacrifice, he would accept it and try,
by all fair and legitimate means, to secure
an election. Mr.. Hudspeth Immediately
went into the campaign with all the earest-
ness and zeal for which he is noted in all
that he undertakes, and was elected by
majority of 81 over his Republican oppo-
nent, Mr.. Heck, who had represented the
District in the Legislature of 1885, and was
a candidate for reelection on the Repubii-
can ticket. This victory of MIR. Hudpeths
was the talk of the town for many weeks,
and its prestige followed him into the Leg
islature. The previous year Mr.. Heck had
defeated his Democratic opponent, Mr..
John w. Mitchell, by majority of 499,
and his reelection was conceded on all
hands; but his defeat simply exemplifes
the uncertainties of politics, and particu-
larly of politics in the Sixth District. What
must have been particularly gratifying
matter to Mr.. Hudspeth was the fact that
he carried the following Republican wards
in the city of Bayonne, viz: the First Ward
by majority of 100 and the Third Ward
b. majority of %, and the Eighth Pre-
cinct or Jersey City, where he lives, aDd
which usually gives large Republican
majority, by majority of 80. Mr.. Huds-
| peth very soon took a commanding posi-
ton in the State Legislature. He allied
himself with the people as against the en-
| eroachments and usurpations of corpora
tons, and soon gained the reputation Of
being one OF the leading anti-monopolists
in the House. While willing to grant them
all the rights and privileges provided by
OOAcAAsASkOAAs
such proper laws as should not trench or
infringe upon the rights of the people, yet
| the moment anything was attempted for
| legislation that proposed or would go be.
yond that line, MIR. lHudspeth imme-
diately took aggressive ground, and by
word and act waged relentless
war against any such effort or invasion
until the obnoxious measure was killed or
SO amended, that its sting was drawn and
the interests of the people preserved. OF
course in such cases il was impossible for
the most Jealous and answering anti
monopollst to defend or amend in the in
terests of the people all of these measures,
but every measure and bill that was
in the interest of the corporations and
against the people, Mr.. Hudspeth per-
astently and eloquently opposed, so much
so in fact that even before the Legislature
adjourned it was a matter of common re-
port in Trenton that if Mr. Hudspeth ever
sought reelection to the Assembly
he would be opposed by all the influences
that these corporations which he had OPP
posed could bring to bear upon his defeat.
MIR. Hudspeth introduced House Bill No.
52, the famous Washington street bridge
bill, and his fight to carry that measure
through the House is TOO fresh in the
minds of the people of this city and
county to require recounting IN these
columns. He asserted, when he intro
duced the bill, that 900 out of every 1000
OF the 100000 of the people of Hudson
county demanded the construction of that
bridge, and that only improper means and
the felt influences of some corporations
interested in defeating the measure could
prevent Its final passage. 1t is well known
that the bill was finally defeated sir.
Hudspeth's persistent and eloquent ad
vocacy OF this measure made him famous,
and the reputation he had borne for
sterling integrity and honesty of purpose,
before he took his seat in the House was