The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-08-02
PIVOTAL ESSEX
Coming Political Battles
May Turn on the Situa-
ton in That County.
REPUBLICAN FAMILY QUARRELS
The Factions Hard At 1t over
County Nominations Which
May Give Democrats
a Chance.
REPUBLICAN FAMILY QUARRELs
Ispecial to ..The Jersey city News."l

Especial to 1.-THE Jersey City News-"l
TRENTON. Aug. 2. 1s97.-'As goes Els
sex so goes the State" This used to pe
the war cry of the politicians some years
ago when the vote of the State was ciose
as between the two great parties. Since
Their the State has been carried by the
Republicans on several occasions with.
out the majority recorded for them II
Essex county. The last time the Demo
Gratis carried that county was In 1917
when Cleveland's plurality was l.l3L "a
the next State election the Republican
Assembly ticket a an Overwhelming
majority and Senator Ketcham had a
rather unexpected plurality of 2,4s6 over
Michael T.. Barrett, whose election. had
been generally conceded prior TO the
counting of the ballots. Governor Griggs
received SIG more votes than Chancellor
McGil, and last year McKinley's piu-
rality reached the phenomenal figure OF
22,07S.
The question may be ~pertinently asked
then, How can the Democrats expect TO
succeed in any State campaign unless
they get q majority in Essex or else cut
down its Republican surplus to a ngure
less than 1000? During the last -FOUR
years Essex has proved itself a rock-rlo-
bed Republican county and no DOUBT
To shake It from its moorings would re-
quire a marked political revolution. WINE
it might be possible for the Democrats,
if their forces were united, to keep lne
county within the limit OF a thousand or
so Republican majority, yet It does not
seem at all reasonable 10 suppose that
they could elect a full Assembly delega-
ton. With regard to the Legislature
about the worst thing that has ever nap
pened to the Democrats was when the
Supreme Court declared against the exec
ton of Assemblymen by districts. II the
district method prevailed the Democrats
could always count upon three or four
Assemblymen from Essex even When
the county gave a large Republican ma
jority on the State ticket. At the time
the decision of the Supreme Court was
announced Allan L. McDermott very
tr%uthfully predicted that il would be a
long time indeed before the Democrats
would control another Legislature on
joint ballot.
Still some Democrats indulge a hope
that Essex may, in the near future. turn
out all right for their party. They IN
stance that over a year ago Mayor Sey-'
mour carried the city of Newark by over
1000 majority. and they believe that ne
can carry it again by al increased vote.
There may be some encouragement CLEAN
ed from that reflection, but at the same
time it must be remembered that the
township of East Orange is nearly solid
~ Republican, and that other townships
in the county are also strongly intrench-
ed in their Republican faith. Even If the
city of Newark gave a Democratic ma
jority of 1900 or 5000. still that would not
overcome the big Republican vote of the
other portion of the county.
fractional fighting among the Republic
cans of Essex is not on the wane by
any means. The rival houses of Lentz
and Herold know no peace. The warfare
for supremacy continues with the usual
rancor, and the outlook for a reconcilia-
ton is not encouraging. This is good
news for the Democrats. because that
Republican stronghold can hardly stand
sue a shaking up as the war of the
clans is now giving it.
The trouble over there now is as to
the nomination of candidates for County
Clerk and Register of Deeds. So uncer-
tain are the Republican managers as to
the wisdom of the choice to be made in
each case, owing to fractional warfare,
that it is reported Mr.. Riker Will not
resign his position of Register before he
takes hold of the Supreme Court Clerk
ship. One wing of the party has slated
for the nomination for Register Freder- !
lex Kuhn, of Newark, and for County !
Clerk, Joseph Ellor, of East Orange. This
does not suit the army of aspirants for
the places, and they are up in arms
against the leaders for their informed |
Another arrangement is, in the event of
Mr.. Riker holding on to the office of Reg
lister until after the election, for him then
to resign and ave the Governor appoint
year. In view of the big Republican vote
in Essex county it seems hardly credible
themselves in so much trouble and con-
fusion over county Offices. All eyes are, |
then, upon Essex county, and the Repub- |
liean leaders Of the State feel anxious
BILE. Should the Democrats carry Essex !
az of yore, then a Republican victory
next year on the State ticket would be
very doubtful indeed.
The Democrats cannot capture the Leg |
islature unless they get six or seven
members in Essex. On the legislative
dulge the hope that they viii elect As |
semblymen as follows, that is If they are 4
in a condition to make an earnest contest: |
don, 2; Warren, 2; Monmouth, 8; Middle
sex, 8. That would be a total of "a. |
Should they elect II in Essex then they
would have the Legislature on joint bal
lot very probably. And besides they |
would have the counties of Union. Somer- |
set, Cape May, Passaic and Salem to fall
members.
LAS goes Essex SO goes the State,"
may be truly repeated in this years as
well as in next years campaigns. Should
fractional ~squabbles continue to disrupt
the Republican organization in that coun- |
ty, the Democratic skies will surely |
brighten, and not only will Governor |
Senator.
This is a review of midsummer politics, !
1t is true, but nevertheless the condi- |
tions in Essex County are extraordinary
for this time of the year, as every politi-
clan there seems to be at his wits ends |
devising new schemes and there is as
much exciting discussion as If the cam
paign was nearly at its height. 1t is a
dull day, indeed, when politics is not the
subject for debate in Essex as well as. in |
Hudson county |
The death Of Judge William L.. Dayton,
of the Court of Errors dAppeals, gives |
to the Governor am additional appoint-I
ment in the judicial branch: The late
Judge Dayton was q Republican. and It
also be a Republican, and probably from !
Mercer county. 81
At the time that Judge Dayton wasj
appointed there weff a numbefs Of Welt
known Republicans sdcsirous OF Occurring |
judicial recognition, pronninentySa pnong
them being General&Janaess F. Rushing, 4
who has since been made a cotnrnissioner
ment does not nave to be made until
pexf 0pfober when the Colrf Of TyrrorSf