The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-12-28

COMBINE WORRIED
Essex and Hudson Repub-
1icans Don't Like Tues
days Conference.
THINK IT WAS AIMED AT THEM
They Confer Themselves and Come
Down a Peg or Two-All at Sea
Over the Comptrollership.
THINK IT WAS AIMED AT THEM

49, ~ VAL AN ~ o
at the Hotel Windsor, at which twelve of the
forty Republican members of the Assembly
got together in secret session and solemnly
pledged themselves to a certain line of action
during the coming session, would cause more
merriment than alarm among the members
from Hudson and Essex if it were not for
one thing. Nine counties We're represented
at the conference, and each representative
claimed to have the authority to speak for
all the members in his county. The nine
were:-PaSsaic, Cumberland, Warren, Cam
den, Burlington, Monmouth. Bergen, Cape
May and Mercer. 1t will be noticed that
Essex and Hudson were not represented, and
it is said that the main object of The confer
ence was to form among the minor counties
an alliance offensive and defensive against
Hudson and Essex.
The recent meetings of the members from
the two great counties, at which they took 1t
for granted that they owned the Legislature
and began quarrelling among themselves
over the distribution OF the spoils, disguised
the members of the smaller counties. They
hotly resented Hudson and Essex AFRO
gance, and began to arrange for a comblna.
ton among themselves, the sole object OF
which should be the downing OF the two first
class counties, and Tuesdays conference was
the first appearance of that movement on
the surface.
HUDSON AND ESSEX IN BACK SEATS.
Hudson and Essex combined have only
twelve out of the forty Assemblymen, while
the nine counties represented at Tuesdays
conference have fifteen, or three more than
enough to affect the two larger counties. Ii
this combination holds together and succeeds
in attracting to them other of the smaller
counties, as it is confidently stated they can
do, the citizens of the State will have pre-
sented to them, for the first time in many
years, the novel spectacle of Essex and Hud-
son occupying the back seat usually allotted
to the obscure districts from the southern
part of the State.
But much doubt is expressed as to the pos
sibility of these county members" holding
together any great length of time, and right
there is where much of the strength of Essex
and Hudson lies as a combination Being
the only two cities of their class in the State,
what effects one effect the other and the
interest of one is the interest of both. 1t is
therefore absolutely necessary for them to
work together as a general thing for mutual
advantage and protection and to have much
TO gain and everything to lose by fighting
each other. On the other hand the smaller
counties are divided into three classes, and,
but few of them have only a very little in
common. What is the advantage of one is
more often the detriment of the other, n
they are constantly at war among them
selves and looking about for opportunities to
make a combination with some of the large
COunIleS WHICH VIII Help bLem 10 SECURE
some law they want or defeat some
measure they don't want. This
it is which warranted Hudson and Essex in
feeling secure in their usurpation of the
right to run the Legislature to suit them
selves and they felt confident in securing
enough allies among the smaller counties to
do just what they pleased.
Nevertheless the secret session here On
Tuesday has caused them considerable I'M
easiness as they do not know what pledges
the confers gave each other to stand to-
gether and present an unbroken front to the
first class counties.
ESSEX STILL C~oNFERRIFG.
However uneasy the Essex men may feel,
they are not making any great public exhi-
bition of their feelings. On the same day
the country members met at Trenton, Sena-
tor Ketcham and Assemblymen Wool
sey, Eisele, Murphy, Duncan, Ed
wards, Stores and olcott met
In Mr.. Eisele's office in Newark, and also
discussed the situation" They don't say
much of what they did. but it is understood
gu good authority that they came down sew
eral rungs from the high place they have
been occupying upon the legislative ladder.
Mr.. Woolsey had not as much to say as for
merly about his chances for the Speakership.
Nevertheless, he must consider his chances
bright, for he magnanimously declared that
he would withdraw from the fight if it could
be, made to appear to him that such a course
on his part would be to the general Ivan
tage of the party at large.
There is also much talk lately about re-
considering the endorsement of George B.
Swain orStateT but that arouses
considerable suspicion in the breasts of those
who looking upon Essex as very much of a
grab all. Mr.. Swain is Major Carl LentZ's
brother-in-law, and his election as State
Treasurer was supposed 10 be one of the few
things which are as sure as death and taxes.
He is backed by Gaddis and the SeweIl men.
and M one has of Late heard onu o1ao mo
TONED in opposition to him. The conference
came to no agreement as to the State
COMPREHENSIVE. The Essex men have
not as yet endorsed either Sammy
Dickinson, Vim. Hancock of Mercer or John
Uhich, of Plainfield, although the claims of
each were presented and discussed. Know
ing ones said that this nomination will be
held by the Essex men to make the best
dicker with whom they can. Whoever of
the three, or not of the three for that matter,
who can give Essex the most will receive the
votes of her Senator and seven Assembly
men for State Comptroller.
OFFICERS CONSIDERED WITH FAVOR.
From all appearances these men are looked
upon with favor by the Essex members for
these officers=Rogers. of Camden. for Presi-
dent of the Senate; Holt, of PaSsaic, for
Speaker of the House; Potts, Of Hudson, for
Clerk of the House; Swain, of Essex, for
Treasurer; Hancock, of Mercer, for Comp
troller.
Inc is Out one canuluaUe 1Or the secretary
ship Of the Senate, and Wilbur A. Mott is
that candidate. 1t seems to be agreed that
unless Mr.. Mott gets the position it will go
to another country.
Edgar Williams, proprietor and editor of
the Orange Journal and South Orange
Bulletin, is booked for the Engrossing Clerk
ship in the House.
for the Office OF Sergeant-at-Arnls it was
agreed that an excellent choice would be
Christopher Blake, of I%rvington. Essex ap-
pears magnanimously to be willing to let the
journal clerkship go to a man named
Swayzee, of Sussex county.
TO lei AGAIN.
There is to be a gathering of Republican
Senators and ~Assemblymen at Republican
headquarters, Newark, some time next week,
probably on Wednesday or Thursday, when
many things now in doubt will be adjusted.
There is some talk of a general reduction
of official salaries, beginning with the Cover
nor and going well Town the list. The Cover
nor and eight Supreme Court Justices and
the Chancellor get $4,000 a year each. The