The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-05-08
WARM.
Passaic County Politicians
Fast Nearing Boil
ing Point.
FALL PROSPECTS EXCITE THEM,
The Fight for the Shrieyalty Is
e--Beckwith Will Probably
Go to Congress Again.
LII PROSPECTS EXCITE THEM,
Special to the Jersey cfty Menus.

Special to the jersey city Ne,cs.
PATERSON. May s, 1S9o.-One of the
most important questions of the present
day is the candidacy for Sheriff Of
Passaic county next fall The Paterson
charter election is hardly over, but even
before it took place the more important
question was the fall campaign. Now
that the municipal election is over, little
else is talked of in politics but the COM
ing contest for the shrievalty of this
county. There is little doubt that Sur
rogate King will be renominated by the
Republicans. There is no more popular
Office holder in the county than Mr.. King
and the Democrats in all probability will
make no nomination against him, but
strive for the other two important offices
to be allied. That of Coroner amounts to
SO little, now that there is a County Ply
sician, that nothing is heard on this sub
ject, and the contest may be said to be
only on Congressman and Sheriff. For
Congress there is little doubt of the re-
nomination of Mr.. Beckwith.
There was some talk about the Demo-
Gratis nominating Mayor Barnert for Con-
gress in order to make room for the NOM
ination of ex-Alderman Ryan for Mayor
next spring, but Mr.. Barnert acts like
man who is thoroughly disgusted with
pUllllCS dS lnlRub CtEtdluly D6 GARtCl6Q
from the experience he has had, and it is
not believed that he would stir hand to
secure the nomination even for SO high
an Office rs Congressman
ALL WANT TO BE SHERIFF.
The main fight undoubtedly is as to
Sheriff. The office is supposed to be q
lucrative one, despite the assertions of
some persons who have held it. 1t is one
of considerable political significance, and
consequently both parties will make o
strong fight With mention of the Of
flee of Sheriff naturally comes that of the
name of ex-Alderman Joseph H. Quack-
enbuSh.
Some time ago it seemed to be conceded
all around that Mr.. Quackenbush would
be the Republican nominee, and that he
could easily get the nomination If
he desired it. But, to say the
about his candidacy. In fact, some of his
warmest friends go SO far as to say that
he will not look for the nomination and
that very shortly he will announce that
the lists are open to all as far as he is
concerned. Mr. Quackenbush may not
be q candidate, ana on this a great deal
will depend, for there are at least half
dozen aspiring politicians who would like
to be Sheriff but who would not enter the
fight against Mr.. Quackenbush. There is
some talk about Mr.. Thomas r. Watson,
ex-Sheritf Van Voorhees, ex-Sheriff Cox,
Mr.. John HI. Habben, Mr.. john T. Buck
ley and others, but it is a question
whether any Of these would consider the
office worth making anything like live
1y fight for. II Mr. Quackenbush were to
announce that he is not q candidate there
would be a material change in the situa-
tion in less than week, for his support
ers would flock to other candidates and
new ones would spring up But until
such an announcement Is made or until
it is definitely established that none will
be, there will be little or no change in the
situation.
THE DEMOCRATIC oUTLooL
On the Democratic side things are alto
gether different, for there are plenty of
candidates. Among some it seems to be
conceded that Mr.. Richard Rossiter will
be the nominee, but this assumption is
simply based on the fact that Mr.. Rossiter
is doing great deal of work. .'Dick'' is
personally very, popular, add If personal
popularity would elect he ought to get.
there. The friends of Mr.. John f. Smith
are talking about him and he has lots of
them to do the talking, and also the hard
work in the campaign. Ex-Judge Frank
Van Cleve is mentioned. He is more than
mentioned; he is being groomed by. the
adherents of Sheriff Cadmus, to which set
ne belongs Although they have not the
upper hand in the Democratic camp there
have been dissenSionS among the Jackson
facJion and perhaps it would be good
politics to heal these dlSSenSionS by the
nomination of man who does not belong
to that faction, and in this light Mr.. Van
Cleve would be very available. Frank
is good fellow in every way and when
the Office of Sheriff is mentioned he
smiles just as ne does when
any other topic is being discussed. 1t is
very certain that the talk about his NOM
ination does not disturb the serene
equanimity of his mind; if Judge Inglis
or Jack" Ackerman were to ask him to
take trip with them to Washington or
some other place, and if the people were
to ask him to be Sheriff it would be hard
to tell which invitation he would accept.
Whether Mr. Van Cleve carries enough
guns to be nominated is another question,
and far to serious to discuss In connection
with the matter, for If he gets the nomin-
alton it will, come like one of his smiles,
reaching from his chin to the back of his
bald head-all smile and good nature,
without even suspicion of trouble or bad
feeling Mr.. Albert ID. Winfield is also
spoken of, and some people say that he
wants the nomination and that his
usual pleasant disposition has been in
creased at least ten per cent, so that it is
away above par. Mr.. Winfield would
make an earnestfght, bntthe odds would
be too heavy for him.