The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-01-28
Democrats Not Quite Pre-
pared to Nominate Hep
penheimer and Gray.
HUDSON FORCES PosTPONEMENT.
'Jere" Cleveland aud Van Cieef as
a Rival Ticket-BOtli Sides
Confident.

Speaker only two weeks ago had q rude
awakening yesterday. They found that
they had not first lien on the whole
Legislature, aud they were a good deal
surprised at the discovery.
As / informed your readers in my extra
despatch yesterday. Mr.. George r. Gray,
of Newark. the candidate of the Ber-
gen combine" for State Treasurer, was
ON hand Monday evening. conducting
himself after the most approved manner
Of candidates. Miles Ross. of New
Brunswick, Mr.. Jim" Smith, Jr., of
y Newark, aud Congressman Pldcock
II and other Speaker-makers were on hand,
i manufacturing votes for Mr.. Gray and
General Heppenheimer in their own pleas
ing way.
Mr.. Gray made his headquarters in
| Room 46, OF the Trenton House, the same
<room ia which most OF the work that
4nade Mr.. Bergen Speaker was done, and
lfutil eariy morning that room was the
Mecca for the thirsty. The same plan of
ihissionary work which worked SO beautf-
Yully In the Bergen Mullone campaign
Eyas pursued, ana at four O'Clock In the
ImornIng IL was reported that enough con-
yerts had been made to assure the ca ucus
nomination Tor the slate.
"A GRAND COUP"
There grand coup was determined
uDon. lt was known that many of the
opponents Of Mr.. Gray and General Hep
Denheimer would be absent from the
morning session, and 1t was resolved to
hold joint caucus at noon, but not to
announce it until just before the twelve
O'clock adjournment The slate was to
be sprung upon the caucus and rushed
through before the opposition, could
realize what was going on. The joint
meeting was 10 be held on Wednesday,
n fs.r Int ma . III
was to progress as lovely as bridal pro-
cessiOn.
So confident were the Speaker-makers
of the success of their plans that they all
congratulated Mr.. Gray and called him
Mr.. Treasurer Mr. Ross and Mr.. Pid-
COCK went home early Yesterday morn
Ing. but Mr.. Smith remained TO see the
fun out.
The Senate adjourned some time before
the House. ana President Adrain an
nounced the joint caucus, but as soon as
''iOlnt caucus" was uttered, every one
knew what was In the wind and the op-
ponents of the slate began preparations
Tor bartle.
Forty-eight Senators and Assemblymen
attended the caucus. Some routine mat
ters were settled first of all, such as
y agreeing 10 have committee on partisan
LEGISLATION, TO De composed OF four mem
bers. to be appointed hereafter by the
chair. Then Senator Mcdonald moved
that ths caucus adjourn TO next Tuesday
An amendment was offered to make it
Monday evening.
Mr.. Mcdonald in speaking on the aues-
tion said he did not think 1t right that
the caucus should 20 off hand into the
nomination Of men 10 ill the important
offices Of State Treasurer and Comptroi-
Ter. The notice tor the caucus WAS too
short altogether. The members were Ill
prepared. to transact such business at that
time. The caucus was not properly or
gaDized, he maintained, no rules had
besn adoDted. He denounced also the
manner in which the caucus had been
sprung upon the members. He had not
been consulted. and he knew OF others
who had not been spoken to upon
the subject. He saw no reason why they
should not have been conferred with. He
also argued that several OF the members
were absent, and the delegations from
the various counties wanted to consult to-
gether. They should, if possible, vote as
uuit, and in order TO do that they should
have time TO confer.
Mr.. Mullone and Mr. DAILY followed
Senator Mcdonald and spoke in the same
vein. Their speeches seemed to carry con-
yictlon- The amendment was adopted
and Senator McDonald's motion to ad-
journ was carried by a vote of 81 to IL.
HARD, COLD WORLD.
The Speaker makers ana their friends
were sore distressed. Mr.. Smith and Mr..
GRAY lclb III a lOI new dIk dQQ SEN
ator and Colonel Barrett suffered a relapse
of a jumping toothache which troubled
him on Monday. IL necessitated his inn
mediate departure for Newark TO consult
a dentist.
The opponents of the slate were jubi-
liant. Expansive smiles spread over their
faces, and they winked at each otner sig.
nificantly. In spite of all that Is said the
result surprised both sides, and in the
opinion Of many has broken the slate.
The Speaker makers, however, declare
that il has benefited them, inasmuch as it
will give them more time in which 10 pur-
sue their missionary work.
Senator Moses Everitt and Colonel
John Van Cleef looked more clipper and
cheerful yesterday afternoon than they
kave this week. Knowing ones say that
the failure of the caucus TO nominate has
greatly improved their chances aud that
The prizes are nearer their grasp than
they have been before. Senator Everitt,s
friends say that he does not really car Q
Cor the Office and would not feel sighted
il the lightning passed MIN by.
THE scheme which those opposed to So
called leaders have devised for downing
Gray and Reppenheimer," said one of the
initiated to me last evening, lis unique.
They propose 10 spring the name of
'Jere" Cleveland. the present Treasurer
OF Jersey City, upon The caucus as can
didate for State Treasurer, and they ex-
pect 10 have him nominated, too. Then.
when IL zones TO name the Comptroller. |
they will say. Well we haven't anything
against Heppenhelmer personally, but |
Hudson can't have everything, and so we
wit have to name Colonel John Van
Cleef.' You stick u pin IN what say and |
see how near right / am. OF course / |
don't say that they will succeed, but they
will come pretty near il.
However correct my friend may be it is |
certain that the general opinion about !
the capital this morning is that Colonel |
Heppenheimer is doomed. There are |
mysterious whispers of Il dark horse and |
some say ne will be Edward Humphries.
OF Glen Gardner. a protege of the great |
and only Pideock. But Humphries mas |
been a candidtIe tor almost everything |
of late, ana it is hinted that his comp |
trollershiD aspirations are for no other |
purpose tnan to boom his candidacy for |
Sheriff of Hunterdon county next fail.
The caucus next Monday night will be |
intensely animated ana there are many |
who believe mat whea the sun takes ats |
first peep at the copper sheaIhed dome of 1
the state House the members will be |
caucussins still.
Jerseys tirst Congressman.
Clarence w. Bowen, Secretary Of the |