New-York tribune., 1895-09-19
THE EVE OF A GREAT BATTLE
EXCITEMENT RUNS HIGH IN THE NEW
JERSEY CAPITAL.
JOHN W. GRTGGs SEEMS TO HAVE WINNING
LEAD AMONG THE DELEGATES. AND HE is
LIKELY TO BE THE REPUBLICAN NoMr-
NEE FOR GovERNoR-KEAN. WARD


LIKELY TO BE THE REPUBLICAN NoMr-
NEE FOR GovERNoR-KEAN. WARD
AND VOORHEES, STILL HOPEFUL
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Trenton. n. j., Sept. 1s.-There has never been
such a Republican gathering on the eve OF a
State convention in New-Jersey as that which
crowds the hotels and streets of the capital to-
night. The assurance of victory in November Is
found on every tongue. and convention un-
equalled in point of enthusiasm will meet at
noon tomorrow in Taylors Opera House The
accommodations of the big theatre will be taxed
far beyond its capacity. The delegates them
selves number s42. and they. with several hun
dred privileged spectators the State Committee
and the newspaper men, will fill the hall There
are several thousand other persons who will be
grieyously disappointed.
The convention will be organized temporarily
at ~ o'clock and 1t will appoint committees and
take a recess for an hour. There is but one
nomination to be made that for Governor The
balloting will proceed Immediately after the COM
mittee reports have been made. result will
be reached late in the afternoon. and then the
enthusiasm which tonight is man!festing itself
In songs cheers. speeches and loud discussion
for five candidates will unite In behalf OF one.
The candidates arrived early and took posses
sion Of their apartments in the Trenton House.
Ex-senator John w. Griggs came with ex-Sena-
tor Hobart and cloud Of witnesses from among
his neigh5orhood in Passaic County John kean'
Of Union with fewer personal friends accom-
nanying him but with a large contingent await
Ing his presence was promptly on nand Less
consnicuous were the three other candidates,
Elias s. Ward Of Essex; Foster NJ Voorhees,, Of
Union and Maurice A. Rogers Of Camden. All
had hosts Of visitors early in the afternoon. and
as the night drew on the canvass became IN
tense.
sEWEIL NOT INTERFERING
Senator Sewell took possession OF his old
room No 100 early in the evening. but ne dis
couraged the usual crowd there. To tribune
representative he repeated his former deciara-
tion that he did not mean TO interfere on oe-
| half Of any candidate at any time
1--WE have not had assurance Of Republican
| victory for long time before" he said, and
| now that 1t is within our grasp. we want
| nomination made freely and without any signs
| of bossism There Is no boss Of the Republican
| party in New-Jersey.
| The fact that several Of General Sewers
| lieutenants were hustling for Mr.. Kean was
| mentioned and it was pointed out that others
sewen repeatedly declared that he was not
aiding one candidate above another and that
the assertions of Kean men that he was work
ing with them had no foundation in fact
The drift of sentiment here tonight may,
and vet II NAV not foretell the action of the
convention Tomorrow but 1t certainly looks as
| ~ IL favored the nomination of ex-senator
| C,rggs. Some of Mr.. Griggss friends were dis
| aonointed at finding that Mr.. Kean was still
| fighting hard although n large majority OF MS
| own county had declared in favor or senator
Voorhees, and against Kean, but the moral
effect OF Unions vote seems 10 De eN-
tremely potent with other counties Senator
Grggs's friends declare that he has enough
votes now to nominate him. but more than one
ballot will be taken before that result Is
reached although it seems probable In the END
The Ia votes Of Essex will stand fast by the
local candidate Mr. Ward and Mr. Noorhees
claims 100 supporters. including twenty-nine OF
the forty-two in Union. Mr.. Rogers expects 10
have about ninety and he hopes for even more
This will leave about five hundred to be DIVIDED
between Griggs and Kean. or these Griggs VIII
receive over three hundred. it is expected ana
Kean the rest, or under two hundred according
to current figuring. Kean's hopes are IN receV-
ing a large part OF the Essex vote and all OF the
| Rogers strength. On the other hand, Grig8s
wonld get much Of Essex should Ward fall out,
and substantially all of the voorhees,, which To-
gether would land him handsome winner
GRIGGss STRONG LEAD.
| Griggs has certainly a much shorter distance to
travel than Kean. and there Is, moreover
strong popular sentiment behind his candidacy
which Is manifest here tonight. and 1t Is iikeiv
to influence delegates. Senator Griggs and Sena-
tor Hobart both feel confident that the Passaic
candidate will win. Reports Of some attempts at
manipulatIon OF delegates have been received at
their headquarters but as they are not likely 10
succeed not much heed is given TO them.
Congressman Kean said tonight tnat ne eX-
pected to be nominated. and he refused TO adinlt
that the Union detection was fatal To MS pros
poets, instancing the support which had oeen
given to him from other counties since Union
County declared against him.
Mr. Ward expects to have MS LOS Essex votes
from the first to the last. and his friends say that
as a nomination cannot be made without assist
ance from Essex the tendency Will be In ms faVor
as the contest Is prolonged The situation re-
mains unsettled tonight. and as most OF the Es-
sex and Hudson delegates will not reach here until
morning more definite results cannot De lOretolu
hut the indications are favorable to Senator
Griggs and the feeling that his nomination would
satisfy the party generally is the influence when
is turning men to his support
THE TEMPORARY ORGANIZATION.
The state Committee met at 1890 o'clock to-
night and selected the following men to serve as
temporary officers OF the convention: Chairman,
Congressman Mahlon Ptney. Of the IVth District
secretary. John Y. Foster. of Essex; assistant
secretaries J. Herbert Potts of Hudson: Charles
r Bacon OF Camden Thomas X. BeNeridge. or
PassaIc: Alexander G. Yard Of Mercer; Henry
Hewson Of Sussex: 4. Barber. Of Gloucester.
and l.. r. Peae, Of Essex.
RIVAL, COLORED CONVENTIONS.
Trenton. y. j.. Sept. is.-Two State conventions
OF coored men were held here to-day. at Tay