The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-04-27
ANDERSON BEATEN
Protest Of the Assemblymen
Against His Confirma-
ton AS Prison Sup
erYisor.
sKIRM'ssAGGREssIEE OPPOSITION
1t Looks as if sewell Would Be
Unable to Carry Out the
Alleged Deal.

HpCc1Ut 10 Inc jersey CItD IeIS.
TRENTON, April 81, 1s94-The fierce strug-
gle which has been going on for the past
two weeks between the Sewen and anti
Sewell republicans over the nomination of
Major Anderson to be Supervisor of the
State Prison has placed the G.. O. P. in a ce-
cidedly large hole. The friends of the
doughty Major made q desperate attempt to
secure his confirmation and failed most dis
mally. All day long, backed by the iniu-
ences of the great Camden leader and the
State Committee, they labored Increasingly
with Senators Skirm and Ketcham to with
draw their opposition. The anti. Sewellites
labored just as industriously to prevent con-
irmation, with a much better degree of sue
cess. Speaker Holt, the candidate of the
anti-Sewell men for the position, assisted by
A~ssemhlymen Storrs, Olcott and Codding,
were the most active workers against the
Major among the Assembiymen. So bitter
did the contest become that the Speaker
went so far as to hold back the bills of those
who favored the Major.
Other anti-Sewell men absented themselves
from the Chamber SO that in case the Sewel
men should make a fuss and insist upon hay
ing their bills taken up there would not be
enough republicans present to pass them.
1t was this state of affairs which compelled
Leader McEwan to adjourn the House at
four o'clock for the week when the pro-
gramme then mapped out contemplated a
late afternoon and evening session. There
were not sufficient republicans to carry
through q measure.
he held any Sewell bills back or that those
opposed to the Majors confirmation had
forced an adjournment for the purpose OF
coercing Senators into opposing Anderson.
In spite of all this, Major Anderson con-
tinued to grow stronger, and in the after
noon Assemblyman Storrs drew up a remon-
trance against the Majors confirmation,
and circulated it among the Republican
members for signatures. He secured
twenty-one signatures.
THE REMoNSTRANcE.
This is the remonstrance and the signers:--
To the Honorable the Republican members of
the Senate of the state ofNsto Jersey:
The undersigned Republican members of the
House of Assembly respectfully show that being
in no way Interested Ia the support OF any can
didats for the office of Supervisor of the State
Prison, they most respectfully protest against
the confirmation OF Mr.. Edward j.. Anderson Tor
that Office.
We view with surprise the selection of a re-
publican by q Democratic Governor against the
manifest wishes OF q large portion OF the Re
publican party and apprehend that it Is intended
rather to breed dissension in the ranks Of that
party than to further the welfare OF, the public
service.
The united voice of the press of the State
since the nomination was made clearly shows
that it is act favored by or acceptable TO the
people of the state. We therefore aga IN very
respectfully protest against the confirmation OF
the nomination.
Thomas McEwan, Charles B. Storrs, Charles
Coddiug, William }. Lewis, E. l. Ross. John
Gospel, George P. Oicort, William, Watso1,
Charles B. Duncan, T. A. Murphey, John G.
Eisele, T. P. Edwards, George w. Harding, v.
stanger, John N. Burger. Charles A. Baker.
David D. Denise. William I. Exton.
The friends of the Major insisted that an
executive session should be held last night.
The labor of the enemv worried them, and
they realized that if the Major was to be
confirmed, it would have to be done quickly.
Some were SO thoroughly alarmed that they
declared that if the deed was not Ion then
it never would be. They succeeded in having
q conference called, which met in President
Rogers room at eight o'clock, and lasted for
| over an hour. All the Republican Senators
were present, including Mr.. Bradley.
The protest of the A~ssemblymen was read
by Senator Stokes, and apparently made a
decided impression. Then followed an in
formal ballot upon the question of confirma-
ton. Senator Bradley and three others cast
blank ballots. Three ballots followed with
a like result. Then Senators Skirm and
Ketcham made brief speeches, in which they
declared that the confirmation of the
Major meant a disruption of the
Republican party, and the undoing
of all the good which had been accomplished
at the last two elections. They said that
their opposition to Major Anderson was for
the welfare of the Republican party. Mr..
Skirm said that all the influential republic
cans of his county were opposed to confrna-
ton, and Senator Ketcham declared that he
had been requested by the County Commit
tee of Essex to do all in his power to prevent
the Majors election. The friends of the
Major counselled harmony, and Senator
Skirm said he was in favor of harmony, too,
but harmony and Anderson were incom-
patible.
line, wien it was decided to take another
| ballot which should be Indicative of the real
sentiment of the Senators, and every Sena-
| tor was requested to vote. The result was
six for confirmation, FIVE against and one
blank, Senator Bradley casting the blank,
as he did on every ballot. Messrs. Skirm,
| Ketcham. Packer and Hoffman were the
| Senators voting against the Major.s
The Anderson men were much c~hagrined
at the result, and they recognized the danger
of holding IN executive session then, es-
| pecialIy so since it was known that on a
pinch Mr.. Bradley would be against the
Major.
SESSION POSTPONED.
So Mr.. VOORHEES, suggested that the
executive session be postponed until some
| time next week, and that another conference
be held early in the week The Union Sena-
tor wanted to test public sentiment on the
question as it is said chat the republicans of
Union are as strongly opposed to the Majors
confirmation as are those of Essex, Pasaic
| or Mercer. This was agreed to, and the con-
ference adjourned. Major Anderson said
that he was not defeated yet, and that he
| would be confirmed. His friends, however,
were much cast { own, and admitted that the
situation looked pretty blue for the old Re.
publican war horse. Every po~stponement of
the executive session encourages the opposi-
ton and adds to their strength.
Governor Werts is heartily sick of the en-
tire affair. What he will do in case the
Major is rejected is p~roblematlc. Some say
he will make the Republicans elect a man of
their own choosing in joint meeting. in
which case Speaker Holt will capture the
prize. Others say that he viii send the name
Of a democrat to the Senate, who will prob
ably be James NJ. Seymour, the present
Supervisor. The friends OF General Sewell
emphatically denied that he ~instigated the
nomination Of Major Anderson. or that he
has made any deal with the Governor. They
say that Franklin Murphy is responsible for
the whole rumpus, that he suggested the
Majors name to the Governor, and urged
his appointment on the ground of his long
and faithful services to the Republican
-.o-+1 T,a Garva1I VI INC hsf+or in THAR.