New-York tribune., 1896-01-08
THE CONTEST WAKES WARM
FIGHT FOR THE SPEAKERSHIP PROMISES
10 BECOME HISTORIC
CONFERENCE TO SETTLE THE PRESIDENCY OF
NIGHT-COLONEL. TOFFEY AGAINST

NIGHT-COLONEI. TOFFEY AGAINST
ANNEXATION TO NEWARK.
Trenton. Jan. CspeciaD.-Thls was day Of
conferences and contentious between the politicians
at the State House. First the Derousse men and
then the Skinner would get together. Both
factions were here in greater force than on any
Governors Day since the November election, and
the friends OF each appeared to be preparing for
the last supreme effort. Each faction displayed a
determination to win calculated to inst confidence
into the waverng ones and so earnest have the
friends OF each become that this contest for the
Speakership Will be recorded In New-Jersey polit-
ical history as OF the hardest fought battles
ever known
The position Of those statesmen anxious to drop
the winning side has passed from the amusing
to the pitabie. The youths unacquainted with
the ways and wiles of the old practical politician.
many of whom have absolutely no personal inter
est in the fight except to 20 under the wire neck
and neck with the winner. do not understand
things. They nonpIussed. Here the budding
statesman meets the big men Of the party whose
opinion. ne has been taught while acquiring his
political eiucation is very valuable In such simple
things as contest for the Speakershp. The first
10 whom he is introduced may tell him that skinner
VIII surely win. In almost the same minute a poll
c!an of equal prominence vii. solemn,y advise the
youthful statesman to pin his faith TO Mr.. De-
rousse ne will surely he the Speaker OF the
next House. The face of the innocent is
study after he has interviewed several leaders. and
when asked to name the successful candidate he
is prompt to answer that he does know And
his perplexed expression is conclusive proof that
the youthful lawmakcr is telling the whole truth
AS matter of fact there is practically c5anse
in the Speakership contest from last week The
conference OF the Skinner IN New-Yorli the
other day was something OF a surprise TO the De-
rousse men. and tended to stiffen the joints OF
of Mr.. skinners weaker supporters. Mr..
Skinner claims twenty -four votes. and MIR. De-
rousse claims twenty-five votes. Some one Is being
deceived or else the candidates attempting to
deceive each other for there but forty-four Re-
publican Assembymen.
Senator Stokes said to-day that Senator Noorheess
chances in the contest for the presidency OF the
Senate had considerably increased during the last
few weeks Senator Thompson was here with his
friend Senator Rogers, Who appears to be engineer
ing Tnompsons campaign. ana he said h. is sure
OF winning. Ii agreed that the Senator's should
hold A conference AT the Windsor Hotel next Friday
night At this conference the presidency Will be
settled
night will be followed Monday by a caucus AT
which a.. the minor officers Of the Senate VIII be
chosen senator \oorhees readily aervei 70 tho
couped with Senator Stokes's statement to-day. the
friends OF senator VOORHEES, hint at surprise Tor
ScndtOr Thompson.
candidacy ior sergeant arms oi me h)gse Is
having such an important Influence upon the speak
eisNip contest. was here to-day. ana h" seems con
hIen; II securing the prize wlh tne al ol
Assembiyman Christie. who has deserted his home
Iiifrct T. Hobart ana Colonel John J. .Toney
hore meet their friends and they wilsf away an
hour or TWO discussing proposed legislation. but
neither hal anything 10 say with reference To the
senate and House contests. Colonel ToH,y e. out
spoken IN his opposition - legislation tenl.ne
to- dismember Hudson county. Tho proposed biz 70
annex Harrison ana k'arny to Newark VIII meet
OlpOSitiOn.