Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1895-09-26
and she moved that the nomination be
made unanimous, and this was done.
The Convention Hall.


added to the heat, which would have
proved unbearable but for the swayiug of
hundreds of fans. The opera house was
decorated with fe3toons of the national
, colors and long streamers of red, white
and blue trained from the proscenium
arch.
The big counties of Essex and Hudson
| had the parquet seats. Camden's delega-
| ton was on the right Of the circle, fanked
by Passaic, Gloucester and Burlington.
Over on the left were Mercer, Hunterdon
| and Middlesex. The smaller counties
were seated in the balcony. On the stage
| were three hundred prominent Repub-
licans from all parts of the State.
Preliminary Work.
The preliminary work of the conven-
ton was speedily attended to. DIR. Thos.
Hanlon, of Pennington Seminary, in
| voked the divine blessing and Congress
man Mahlon HI. Pitney, of the Fourth
| district, took the gavel as temporary
chairman. He made an eloquent speech
and stirred the delegates to enthusiastic
applause by his reference to the Senate
steal, the pardoning of the Hudson coun-
| ty ballot box suffers and the Guttenburg
''Big Four"
The secretaries were named and the
vice presidents and members of the Com
mittees on Permanent Organization,
Credentials and Rules announced, and
then the convention adjourned until 2
O'Clock.
The perspiring delegates filed out to
engage in catch-as- -catch-can wrestle for
dinner. Guests at the hotels found that
they had to take chances with the crowd
to whom dinner tickets had been sold,
and many man who had suite Of
rooms at hotel was glad to catch sand
wich at lunch counter.
Judge J. Frank Fort assumed charge
of the convention as permanent chair
man when the delegates got together
again at quarter after 2 o'clock. Judge
Fort was a Griggs man, but he presided
fairly and impartially. He held the con-
vention down to business despite several
attempts to stampede it. When his red,
white and blue ivory gavel failed to sup
press the pandemoninm he welded big
iron hammer and made deep dents with
it in the heavy oak table at his right.
Naming the Candidats.
The counties were called alphabetically
for nominations, and Atlantic started off
with Congressman John J. Gardner's
name, which was presented by lawyer J.
E. P. Abbott.
He was interrupted by the vociferous
Ward men in the Essex delegation, who
persisted in shouting for their man.
Chairman Fort finally pounded some
sense into the Ward men, and Lawyer
Abbott was allowed to conclude his
speech. The five minute rule was en-
forced. William e. Johnson, of Bergen
county, presented Griggs' name, although
the regular nominating speech was made
by Colonel Joseph w. Congdon, when
Passaic was reached. Griggs' name was
the signal for great outburst of ap-
plause. Fans were waved and delegates
in their shirt sleeves shouted themselves
hoarse.
Ex-Assemblyman Joseph M. Engard,
of Camden, placed on nomination Senator
Maurice A. Rogers.
President of the Senate E. G. Stokes, of
Cumberland, presented the name of Sena-
tor voorhees,, of Union, who, he said, ap-
than any other candidate for the nonina-
ton.
John S. Gibson, of Essex, placed in
nomination Elias S. Ward, of that county.
Mr. Gibson referred to the large Republic
can majorities given by Essex and asked
| that Essex's unanimous support of Mr..
Ward be given consideration by the con-
vention.
Griggs' nomination was seconded by
Flavel MCGEE, of Hudson, and ex-Sena-
tor Taylor, of Mercer.
John Kean was the last candidate
placed in nomination, and his name was
greeted with a storm of applause. j.
Martin Role, Union county farmer,
made the speech. He told how Kean ran
nearly 5000 ahead of his ticket last year,
and said: "Place him at the head of the
ticket again this year and you will place
winner, and don't you forget it."
The first ballot resulted: Griggs, 294;
Kean, 207; Ward, 16S; Voorhees,, "A;
Rogers, 70; Gardner, 23; Toffey, l.; blank,
l.
On the second ballot, the Atlantic
county delegation dropped Gardner, the
vote resulting: Griggs, 33S; Kean, 2!S;
Ward, 166; Voorhees,, 65; Rogers, 80;
Toffey, /.
The Essex county people wanted the
chairman TO pass their county on this
ballot, but he declined to do so, and they
thereupon gave their 154 votes to Ward,
as on the first ballot.
The third and last ballot was taken
amid much confusion, although Chair
man Fort, by his firmness, prevented
any misunderstanding of the vote of the
various counties.
At the conclusion of the roll-call there
was a scramble to change the vote or
nearly half the counties. On the straight