Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1895-09-26
One OF the Most Exciting Conven-
tions Ever Witnessed
at Trenton.
THE PLATFORM ADOPTED.
The Fight Left No Bitterness---The De-
feated Candidates Pledge the Nomi-
nee Their Support---The Can
didate will Stump the
State on a Platform
of Reform.


of Reform.
TRENTON, N. j., Sept. 19.-Ex-Senator
John w. Griggs, the brainy young law
yer from Passaic county, was nominated
to-day for Governor of New Jersey by
the Republican convention on the third
ballot. The contest between the Kean
and Griggs forces was sharp, and as the
work of taking the ballots proceeded it
grew exciting. It was Griggs Conven-
ton, however, and at the mention of his
name 1900 of the 5000 men packed in Tay-
lor Opera House like so many sardines in
a box, appeared to bring all their lung
power into service.
A pretty scene, one calculated to heal
any sores that may have been opened
during the somewhat bitter contest for
the nomination, was the appearance on
the Opera House stage by the side of the
nominee of Senator Foster M. Voorhees,
and John Kean, two of the four defeated
candidates. The other two defeated can
didates, Elias s. Ward, of Newark, and
Senator Maurice A. Rogers, of Camden,
sent their congratulations, and assured
Mr.. Griggs and the Convention of their
loyal support of the ticket. 1t was
young mems convention, too, and not
within the memory of the oldest cam
paigner has there been, held more en-
thusiastic Republican State Convention
in New Jersey. Mr.. Griggs was the
favorite from the break of day, and he
gained steadily despite the determined
efforts of the Kean forces and the bold
and noisy campaign of the Ward men.
After his nomination Mr.. Griggs es-
tablished a precedent by appearing be-
fore the Convention, and then and there
accepting the nomination and opening
the campaign.
He said he wanted the standards set all
along the line at once, and he promised
to visit every county and city in the
State and talk whenever he could find
men to listen to him.
''I shall not promise you so very
much," he said, "but do promise you
that know legal Senate when see it,
and I am sufficiently well posted in
mathematics to know that 10 is not
majority of 21," he added amid shouts,
laughter and hand clapping, topped off
with three rousing cheers, almost equal
to those he received on being presented
to the Convention. Both Senator Voor
hees and Mr.. Kean also addressed the
Convention, the former receiving per-
feet ovation. In good-natured way,
Mr.. Voorhees, assured the delegates that
had they been half so enthusiastic before
the vote was counted he would have been
the nominee.
Mr.. Voorhees, and Mr.. Kean congratu-
lated the Convention and Mr.. Griggs,
and Mr.. Kean said he would join the
others in opening the campaign at once.
The wierd story of the secret band of
delegates masquerading under the ban
ners of several candidates who were to
break away at the critical moment and
stampede the convention for Maurice A.
Rogers failed to materialize, the Camden
Senator's highest vote being on the first
ballot; when he received 70. Griggs was
given 294,.. ,..Kean, 207; Ward, 1853; Voor-
hees, "a; Gardner, % and Toffey, one vote
on the first ballot Rogers number was
given creditable lift by receiving 81 of
the 55 Camden delegates on the first bal
lot, but upon the second ballot Camden
practically dropped the Senator, giving
him but is votes, while 81 went to Kean
and five to Griggs. On this ballot Allan
tic withdrew Gardner's name and cast
seven for Kean and gave Griggs IL votes.
Cumberland county followed Cam
den and Atlantic's example, and the
delegates were scattered considerably
with the result that Kean's total vote
went up to 24S, with Griggs 1885, Rogers
total vote on second ballot dropped to 30,
and on third ballot it was reduced to four
delegates, and they came from Hudson
county.
Camden made an honest effort to secure
the honor of moving that the nomination
be made unanimous, but Chairman j.
Frank Fort ruled Camden out of order.
1t was clear that Griggs had the nomina-
ton, and the Convention simply went
wild, getting beyond all control of the
Chairman, as it had done at least dozen
times before during tle balloting.
FINALLY Essex county was recognized,