The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-12-19


ocal questions. 81.
Davis and Mclaughlin in the Sena-
toriaI Contest.
In a Trenton letter on Friday, the
Newark Daily Advertiser spoke OF
Jailer Robert Davis of this city and
County Clerk Dennis Mclaughlin as
acting in complete harmony in the
matter of the appointment of a sheriff
for this county, and also as being both
in favor of Governor Abbett's cleo
ton to the United States Senate, and
as.working earnestly to bring about
that result.
This is altogether untrue. It dis
plays an entire ignorance of the in
side facts of Hudson County politics.
The truth may as well be told now as
at any other time, and here it is.
Robert Davis and Dennis Nc
Laughlin are not in harmony. There
is almost a state of open conflict be-
tween them and between their re-
spective followings. Robert Davis is
not in favor of Governor Abbett's
election to the United States Senate.
He has never been. During the
recent campaign he was well known
to be hostile to him. He tried to CON
troll the Assembly nominations adj
versely to him, but failed. He is now
In favor of anyone to beat Governor
Albeit. and he has placed himself at
the disposal of James Smith, Jr., of
Newark, pledging all the support he
ear give if that gentleman will enter
the field. Mr.. Davis was not con-
suited in respect to the appointment
of Sheriff McPhillips's successor. II he
had been, Mr.. Stanton would never
have had the office.
On the contrary. County Clerk Nc
Laughlin is now, and has always been,
honestly, squarely, and uncompromis-
ingly in favor of Governor Albeit.
He enrolled himself under the
Governors standard three years ago,
and he has never swerved in his
fidelity. This is characteristic of Mr..
Mclaughlin. He has given his
promise, and he may be relied upon
to stand by his friends to the very
end. Mr.. Mclaughlin is now and
always has been, when he chose to
exert his influence, the most powerful
leader OF the Democracy in Hudson.
Most of the prominence which Mr..
Davis has had, has been a mere mat
ter of liberation. Mr.. Davis has
thought it wise, in the past, to keep
in line with Mr.. Mclaughlin. When
there seemed to be danger of differ
ence he has always either surrendered
or effected a compromise. But it
seems as if now, at last, there was a
definitive rupture and Mr.. Davis had
made up his mind to go his own way
and hoe his own row.
AL the Newark papers, the New
York World and The JERSEY Cry
NEWS told last week of the visits of
Mr.. Davis to Comptroller Connolly of
Newark. Mr.. Connolly is the first
lieutenant, the chief political man
ager for Mr.. Smith. As the World
put it, he is to Mr.. Smith what Allan
i. McDermott is to Governor Albeit.
Subsequently to these visits, Messrs.
Connolly and Davis had a conference
in New York. 1t was about this same
time that MI. Davis put his foot down
fat and announced that he was
against the Governor. 1t certainly
does not take much fnesse to see
where he has offered his services and
where he expects to bestow them, If
he gets the opportunity.
So much for the fact; as for the re-
suit, it is simply this:-Mr. Davis may
lit is by no means sure-be able to
deprive Governor Albeit of one vote
in Hudson County. There is one
Assemblyman, whom. it is believed.
Mr.. Davis can control. The rest are
absolutely and totally beyond his