The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-01-17
Smith NOMINATED.
The Essex Candidate to Be
United States Senator
in Blodgett's
Place.
A SNAP CAUCUS HELD.
Governor Abbetl's Name Withdrawn
by His Faithful Followers
With His Own Consents
A SNAP CAUCUS HELD,
Special to The Jersey csty Ns,u,.

rather Unexpectedly 1t Is true. but none
the less effectively, aud James Smith, Jr.,
the foxy leader of the Essex Democracy
carries off the p ize. A joint Democratic
caucus was held last night. and Mr..
Smith was unanimously nominated. SO
cleverly and quickly did the willy Newark
man do his work that no one except those
very close to him knew what was going
on, and the first intimation the outside
public had, was when, at the opening of the
evening session. it was whispered about
the corridors and legislative chambers
that a joint Democratic caucu would be
held at half-past nlne O'Clock. Everybody
at once arrived at the same conclusion.
"Smlth has got enough votes, and Is
going to force Things" they said.
They were right in one respect and
wrong in the other. Mr.. Smith had
enough votes, but was not going to forcs
things, that is if what he said about the
calling of the caucus was true. he said
that when ne came to Trenton last even
ing he found the prevailing opinion OF the
leaders to be that a caucus upon tue oen-
atorial question ought TO be held some
time during the night. SO he went TO
Allan L. McDermost and asked him what
he thought about it. Mr.. McDermott re-
piled that he was wiling. The caucus
might as we'll be held then as at any
time and the thing be over with. Then
Assemblyman Lane, the leader of the
House. and Michael T. Barrett. the leader
Of the Senate, were called IN. and asked
to issue the customary call.
PRELIMINARY CONFERENCES.
After the consultation between Mr..
Smith and Mr.. McDermott. the latter,
Senators Keys of Somerset, and Marsh
of Union, Police Commissioner John 2.
Feeney, Assemblyman Lanning OF Mer-
Ger, Cuyle, Tahen, Carroll, Stout. Ditmar
and Zeller of Hudson and Thompson of
Camden, who remained faithful to Gov
ernor Albeit held a conference. They
went over the situation CAREFUL y elimin-
ating all rainbow hnes and gorgeously-
winged butterflies and came to the con
clusion that the Governor could not win
and determined to Withdraw his name.
1t was not long before this action of the
Governors friends was flying about in
the shape of q DO sitive statement that the
Governor had wi thdrawn A delegation
of correspondent is Immediately sought
him in his private room. He greeted them
with his usual cordially and
did not look at all like a man who had
once again failed to attain the ambition
of his life. He quietly smoked his cigar
and spoke cheerfuily but earnestly. He
said most emphatically that he had not
withdrawn, but had left his cause in the
hands of those who had been loyal to him.
If they thought it best to Withdraw his
name. he was content, and If it was in the
wood that he could win. he was in the
fight until the last minute.
THE CAUCUS
1t was nearly Ten o'clock when the
Joint caucus was called to order ia the
Assembly Chamber. Senator Ba rrett
was made Chairman and Assemblyman
Lane was elected Secretary. Without
any loss of time, the caucus proceeded
to consider the Senatorial question. &
Senator Fred Marsh arose and made a
long speech. He said that Governor
Albeit mad released his friends from
their obligations to him and he. as one of
the Governors friends. hoped that the
nomination of Mr.. Smith won Id be
unanimous
Senator Adrain followed. He said:-
''The choice Of a man to I'LL this high
position is our privilege and delight. /
nominate for the position of United States
Senator james Smith, Jr., of Essex. He
is q young man and in that particular,
many of US are in sympathy with him
His face, his figure and his manner are
all perfectly familiar to you. There is no
man here who, when he casts his vote.
does not know for whom he is casting it.
He has shown his ability in handling
Essex County. and his ability and
sagacity nave not been confined
alone to Essex County but have been
exte nded throughout the whole State.
and | may say that our success in Essex
and the manner of our government
throughout the State have been greatly
controlled by James Smith, jr. He is a
man VINO is in sympathy with the admin
istration OF this country: a man of brains
and a business man, just such a mar as
we desire to be seated in the foremost
lao{ointivo hpAr nf n onuofru 4 Ha 10 a
companionabls gentleman aud a good
fellow in the highest sense of the word"
BARRETT SECONDS.
Senator Adrian's speech was received
with applause, and then Assemblyman
Timothy Barrett of Essex seconded the
nomination in these words:
II don't believe that il needs an elo-
quenr tongue to plead for the advance
ment of James Smith. jr. For tep years
he has been prominent in the affairs of
his party in his city, in his county and in
his State. He has never held other than
local office, n his great power and
inHuence have been gained through his
unselish devotion to the cause of pure
Democracy.
But now his fame has outgrown the
boundary of his native State. He has be-
come a national figure, and il elected to
the United States Senate there will be no
one in that exalted body nearer to the
ruler OIL buiS country Guau JdLG6S Pulltu
Jr. / believe that we should nominate
him as a tribute to the young and
progressive Democracy, who swelled the
rauks of our party at the last election,
and directed the most magnificent victory
ever known IN Democratic annals. Make
him Senator and there will be no voice
more potential thar his. and no Que with
more far reaching influence b an James
Smith, Jr."
There were no more speeches nor anv
more candidates and the roll was inn
mediately called. Everyone voted for
Mr.. Smith and i'll twenty minutes the
whole affair wa over.
VERY JUBILANT.
So sudden and effective was the whole
proceeding that no one found time to be
excited and every one who has seen
Senators elected before declared it was
the tam st fight they ever saw. Barney
Ford, Comptroller Connolly and several
other friends of Mr.. Smith got together
in the Tax Commissioners Office and held
a war dance. fguratively speaking.
They were very jubilant, aud strange a.
it NAV seem, Mr.. Smith was really ratified
A small quantity OF liquid refreshments
was served in the room aud then adjourn
ment was taken to Room 16 in the Tren-
ton House where wine was ordered up by
the tub and Smith aud Albeit men
buried their differences or rather drowned
them in coplons draughts OF gaseous
liquor.
Mr.. Smith did not remain there long.
He complained of feeling i'll. He said
that ne had come dow with a headache
and thought he would go to bed. He re-
Tired early and refused to say anything