The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-13
A Careful Review of the Political Prob
abilities in the State Of New Jersey.
The Principal Fight Will Be Made in the Great
Manufacturing Centers, and with Fair
Count the Republicans Will Win.
The Partisan Action of the Trades Fed
GRAFTON Begins to Yield Its Fruit.
Figures Showing the Comparative Popularity
of MatsOn and Hoyey-A Coming Scandal
in Connection with the Third Party.


POLITICS IN NEW JERSEY.
The Outlook Ii Favorable for Republicans.
and They Hope to Carry the State.
Special to the Indianapolis Journsl.
TRENTON, n. j., Aug. 12-Quite as much po-
ltical interest is being shown throughout the
country in the situation in New Jersey at this
time as in any other State in the country The
Republican national committee is turning its
attention to this State, and strong hopes are
entertained that il will be carried for
Harrison and Morton; but 1t is not denied thata
very vigorous campaign will have to be waged
in every county in order to Offset existing con-
ditions which are prejudcial to the Republican
ticket In the first place. New jersey is natur-
ally Democratic, and can be counted upon under
ordinary circumstances in presidential elections
for majority running from seven to eight
thousand.
During the last campaign, four years ago.
Samuel j. Randall threw bmself in the breach
on the discussion of the tariff. and by his person
al influence and assurances that Mr. Cleve-
lands policy was no more free trade than his
own, counteracted to q great extent the power
full effect of Mr.. Blaines orations in tho manu-
featuring eenters Of New Jersey. New Jersey
is naturally . protective State. Its Democratic
representatives in the Senate aud House have
always been ayowed advocates OF the pro-
tective system. Its three largest cities
Newark. Jersey City and Paterson
are filled with manufacturing operatives.
If no other element entered into the present
canvass than the issue between the Republican
platform and the Mills bill there are few who
doubt that. with . fair count. the State would
give overwhelming Republican majority.
Unfortunatel ly for the Republicans New Jersey
Is . hot-bed of Prohibition agitators. 1t is the
homo OF the Prohibition candidate for the presi-
dency, and has been the seat for ten years pa st
Of vigorous agitation Of tho liquor question. At
the last Legislature the passage by the Repub
lican Senate and House of the high-lic icense and
local-option bill, which was vetoed by the DEM
ocratic Governor and passed over his head,
raised storm Of dissension among the Germans
whose effect has not yet been spent Test cases
were promptly made and carried up to the high.
est court, and last week the law was sustained
by the Democratic Court of Appeals by a unani-
NOUS vote OF the judges as TO the constitution
ality OF the hieh-license feature a,d by a vote
OF eight 10 seven as TO the legality OF the local.
option clause. The decision Of the Court of Ap-
pesis is said to have caused a new and most en-
coursging change OF sentiment favorable to the
Republican side. One OF the most prominent Of
New Jersey politicians to-day said:
"Our chances have been increased fully so per
cent by the decision OF the court. The Ger
mans. especially, who are law-abiding people,
now inclined to accept the law il stands
as a bar against more radical temperance legis-
lation. They feel certain that the Republican
party will be In power in the next Legislatures.
and they know that the feeling in the State is a
growing one In favor OF restrictive and temper
ance legislation. The fact that the court which
rendered the decision belongs to the Democrats
party has taken the edge Of the charge that the
high license Dill was q purely partisan and Re-
publican measure.
.'The principal fight 10 New Jersey will be In
Essex and Hudson countiesL Essex county, IN
which Newark Is located, Is the great manu-
featuring county Of the State. and has given
Republican majorities;ss high a. $500. which
have been reduced from local causes to as low q
point as l,500. 1t has very largo German
population and it will be the center of q very
stubborn fight this fall. The tariff issue will
doubtless carry Pasiac county, in which
Paterson is located, by very large majority.
and will have its effect In Hudson, as It will also
in Essex, but the German voters in the two last
mentioned counties need careful LOGGING after,
il they are TO be- kept in line. / am confident,
though, that with proper work this will be &C.
com mpished. and that the careful supervision
"a
Jersey City Is located, and where the most
prodigious frauds are perpetrated at every cleo
ton by the Democratic ballot-box suffers, will
prevent any increase of the Democrats major
ity in that section. AS a rule, the majority
which New jersey gives for the Democratic
ticket II about equal to the Democratic majority
in Hudson county. At the last election. through
the introduction OF patent self-regisierine bal
lot-box, the Democratic majority in Hudson
county was cut down in manner which made
the eyes Of the local politicians bulge out with
surprise. Unless the Jersey City bosses can de-
wise some scheme TO beat the machinery Of the
ballot box at the coming election, we shall have
down the vote to several thousand below what
the Republican majority will be in the rest of
the State"
Dir. William Walter Pheps's candidacy for the
Senate, which will be vigorously prosecuted,
will help the ticket He is q good speaker, q
fine organizer and liberal in the use OF his wealth
for all legitimate purposes of a campaign. He
has only to- carry eight doubtful legislative dis
tricts TO make, with the hold-over members OF
the last Legislature. a clear majority in the next
The rumors that ex-senator Sewell will contend
for the nomination do not seem to be well
founded. although that gentlemen has mbitions,
doubtless, in that direction During the last can
vass, which ended in his defeat. he was under
the most solemn pledges to Mr.. Phelps to assist
him in tho succeeding one in case ho should be
defeated In that. Senator Mcpherson who is a
man OF great wealth, will doubtless spend much
money IN the contest with Mr. Phelps. and the
campaign promises to be lively from one end of
the State to the other. Still there is reasonable
ground OF belief. on the broad issue OF protect-
ing local industries against the assaults which
the Mills bill would make upon them, that New
Jersey, with all other Northern States with the
possible exception of New York will swing
handsomely into line next November. P.sH.