The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-04-22
LOSING His GRIP.
Camden Republicans Or
ganize to Beat Gen
era1 SeWe11.
speeial 70 be Jerseg 90 Nelcs.


who are aware of the fact that General
William J. Sewell, who has cracked the
boss's lash over the Republican party for
years, has a big fight on his hands for SUI
premacy here at his own home. The
forces are being now arrayed for the bat
tie in the party ranks, and the clash will
come this fall. Sewell is beginning to
realize his danger and is preparing to
crush to the earth the opposition. which
has already given indications of surpris-
ing strength in several preliminary skir-
mishes which have taken place.
To properly understand the situation it
is necessary to briefly review the matters
at stake.
AN IMPORTANT CONTEST.
The most important election in Camden
county for the past six years will be held
this fall. A State Senator will be elected
to succeed George Pfeiffer, the democrat
who slipped into the seat three years ago
during the three-cornered fight in which
ex-senator Richard Herring, Sewell's
man. and Edward Dudley, son of Thomas
81. Dudley, Sewell's bitterest foe, were
ihe clashing republican candidates. A
Sheriff to succeed David Baird in an
Office worth $50, 900 for the term will also
be elected. Robert f. S. Heath, the
Democratic Register of Deeds, goes out
capture that place, which is good for five
years and is worth $4,000 clear for the
term. A County CLERK, to succeed Ed
ward Burrough, who took such an in
terest in saving Chalkley Leconey from
the gallows, will be elected. Burrough
has made himself SO unpopular by his
overzealousness in the Leconey trial that
he has no show for reelection; but tn
Republicans expect to elect his successor
for five years. The salary is 81 900 year
and fees. Then three Assemblymen, be-
sides Coroners, Freeholders and other
minor county officers, are to be chosen.
THE DICTATOR.
Ex-senator Sewell has heretofore die
tated the nominations for these impor-
tant offices. He is especially interested
this time in the election of successor to
Senator Pfeiffer. as the new Senator will
vote for United States Senator in 1899
to succeed Rufus Blodgett. He finds that
this fall he not only can not dictate the
nominations without opposition, but the
chances are that he will be overwhelmed
by the revolt of the young and dis
affected elements of his party who are
tired of being driven under mis- lash and
feeding on husks, while the toadies and
corporation time servers are given all the
fat official plums.
This is not merely spasmodic and
personal revolt against the bossism of
SeWell, such as was eX-ConSul Thomas
II. Dudley's fight three years ago. 1t IS
an ably-led, far-reaching and Well-dlsci-
plined movement to free the Republican
party in Camden county, at least, from
the deSpOtic sway of General Sewell
despite the powerful corporation in
| fiuences which he has at his command.
LEADER MORGAN
The head of this movement is a young
but brainy and cautious political leader,
| j. w lizard Morgan, City Solicitor OF Cam
den, chairman of the County Executive
| Committee, and man who is destined to
make his mark in the politics of the
State. He was born politician and his
| experience in that line has been Of the
| practical rather than of the theoretical
sort. His father, Randall e. Morgan, was
| for several terms Sheriff of Camden coun-
| ty, and his brother, Eli B. Morgan, could
give points TO even some of your shrewd-
est Essex county politicians
When Willard Morgan five years ago
wrested the city government from the
| hands of the Democrats and began to
gather about him some of the brightest
young men and active workers in the Re-
publican ranks, he was of such little ac-
count in Senator Sewell's estimation that
the Pennsylvania Railroad boss hardly
deigned to notice the young upstart, ex-
cept to observe that he was an active
young fellow who would be useful in
carrying out orders.
Morgan obeyed Sewell's beck and nod
and faithfully carried out the orders the
boss gave him. Meantime he strengthen
ed himself and by instituting reforms in
the city government gained the conf
dence of his party and the people, Sc
cured control of the Board of Education
and Board of Freeholders, and finally
captured the County Executive Commit
tee. Last fall he could have represented
his district in the State Executive Com
mittee, but as the time was not yet ripe
for open revolt against Sewell he allowed
Sheriff David Baird, an Irishman and
trusted lieutenant of General Sewell, to
have the place.
BACKING BERGEN TO WIN.
The younger element of the Republi-
can party, of which Solicitor Morgan is
the popular and trusted leader, made the
| fight which won for Christopher A. Ber-
| gen the congressional nomination in che
| fall of 1888, Notwithstanding the, opposi-
| tion of ex-senator Sewell, who wanted
| Congressman Hires renominated
Willard Morgan and the young Repub-
licans worked like Trojans in that cam
| paign. They rolled up the magnificent
majority of over $500 in Camden county
| for Bergen and Harrison. 1t was General
| Sewell, however, who took the credit for
their work. NO sooner was the vote
counted than he telegraphed it to Ben
| jamin Harrison with his congratula-
lions. He had himself interviewed ex-
pressly to boast of "the magnificent ma
| jority of the First Congressional district, ("
and, Pharisee-like, said that if the Re-
4 publicans of North Jersey had done half
| as well the State would have been swept
| out of the Democratic column
After Harrison had been inaugurated
| and the official guillotine got into work
| ing order, the men who had done such
| gallant work for the Republican cause
| expected some reward. j. Willard Nor
| gan and the young republicans wanted
| Robert u. Barber made postmaster of
Camden The veterans had candidate
in the person of William G. Hansell, VINO
! had the Endorsement of Quay. The dis
| gust of both of these elements of the
party can be better imagined than de-
| scribed when the President ignored theiI
claims entirely and gave the office. solely
on the recommendation of ex-senator
Sewell, TO William j. Browning q com
paratively obscure and generally unpop'
ular young man to whom it appears
| Sewell had promised the place.
| WORKING REPUBLICANS IGNORED.
This was but the beginning of other
disappointments of a like character
5ewell kept President Harrisou's ear and
awarded the Office to his followers an6
corporation tools. Claims of party serv
ice and ante-election promises were alike
ignored. Only those who bent the knee
to Sewell could hope for reward.
The murmurs of discomfort here in tht
party ranks grew in volume, and wheI
General Sewell issued his orders for tn,
Assembly nominations last fall many o
the young and hot headed followers o
| Citv Snlicff0r M0rpan vVara aaoar for al