The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-05-07
LAST uIGHR RUMORS.
Only a Few Delegates on Hand
Fight Against Queen
and Hudson.
soccial to the Jersey City Ne,rs.


TRENTON. May 7, 1S96-Although
only a handful of the delegates
to the convention to elect four delegates
at large to the Chicago Convention were
in town last night, enough transpired be-
fore the evening was over to make things
quite lively. Most of the leaders.were on
hand early. Among the first to arrive
was United States Senator James Smith.
who went to the room usually occupied
by General Sewell, and proceeded to re-
ceive the rank and file of the party with
tfgs Senatorial grace ana dignity. Among
tale first to greet him were ex-senator Win
ton of Bergen, Nelson Pidcock, boss of
the Fourth district; ex-Congressman
Johnston Cornish, ex-senator William ].
Keys, ex-Assenbly man William j. Thomp-
son. ex-Assemblyman William r. Pin
tard; ex-senator Elias Drake of Morris
ex-Speaker James ]. Bergen, Paul queen
of Hunterdon. Abram De Ronde, member
of the State Committee from Bergen:
Senator Richard Kuhl OF Hunterdon and
several lesser lights of the State Democ-
racy
Mr. Bergen, who has been selected by
the State Committee to be temporary
and permanent chairman OF the conven-
tion, also opened headquarters and cordial
2y received all who called upon him. The
event of the evening was the meeting Of
the State Committee and the election of
United States Senator James Smith to
succeed Edward F. C. Young as Chairman
of the committee. It was aseertained
before the committee ,,et that the Senator
woull consent to take the position. Then
the committee went into session behind
closed doors. The resignation of Mr.
ft.
then Mr.. Smith was elected his successor.
Afessrs. Lindabury, Cornish and Blod-
gett were appointed a. committee to wait
upon Mr.. Smith and apprise him of his
election. The committee proceeded to
Room 100 where the Senator was stand
ing surrounded by a small group of ad-
mirirg constituents. When the commit
tee approached the group they withdrew
to a respectable distance. Mr.. Blodgett
shook the Senator's hand warmly, and
Mr.. Lindabury and Mr.. Cornish followed
his example. The four gentlemen con
yersed together in stlbdued tan,s which
did not reach the nearest man. Suddenly
the Senator exclaimed, "On those condi-
tfons. gentlemen, on those conditions
only" Then he took Mr. Lindabury's
arm and followed by Mr.. Blodgett and
Mr.. Cornish arm in arm, proceeded to
the room in which the committee was in
session The election of Mr.. Smith was
approved generally by those present, and
1T was SAID that his selection would heal
the differences in the party and would
restore harmony. 1t was at first thought
that Judge Howard Hays of Newark
would resign and make way for Mr.
Smith. 1t was decided, however, to make
Mr.. Smith additional member, and SO
instead of making the committee smaller
as the party appears to demand it was
made larger. The committee had moth
ing to say about resigning singly or in
body.
The committees session after that was
brief and the business consisted mainly
in making the arrangements for today's
convention.
While this was going on an effort was
made to compromise the contest over the
Craftsmanship of the organization. The
proposition was made to Mr.. Bergen that
he be content with the temporary chair
manship and allow Mr.. Queen to be made
the permanent Mr.. Bergen said as far
as he was personally concerned he was
perfectly willing to do anything that
would restore harmony in the party, as
he was opposed to all dissensions and
quarrels. The party could not afford to
quarrel this year above all others, and
must, If it hoped to have the electoral
vote Of the State east for the Denaocrctic
nominees. present a united and harmon
ious front to the enemy.
The Somerset delegates and those who
support them objected most strenuously
to any such compromise They said that
they objected most strenuously to making
any concessions to Hudson county, which
was becoming altogether too arrogant,
and thought because she gave Mr.. McGill
large majority she was entitled to
everything. They declared that Mr.
Bergen must stick even if there should be
fieat If for no other reason than to-
rebuks Hudson arrogance. They were
rontident that they could win. They had