The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-20
BURLINGTON FACTION S.
Four cornered Fight for the
Republican Nomination for
State Senator.
Especial to "The Jersey City News."l

Especial to 'sThe Jersey City News."l
MOUNT HOLLY, Sept. 90, 1S97.-At no
time in the history of Burlington county
has there been such fierce contest for a
nomination as is now on for the Sena-
torial selection 1t is badly mixed four
cornered fight, which will probably be
settled at the primaries to be held
tonight The principals in the con-
test are Senator William Parry, who
seeks second term; Assemblyman Geo.
Wildes, who has been three times in the
House of Assembly and who wants to
go higher; Assemblyman Joshua Borton,
who has been two years in the House,
and former Assemblyman Micojab E.
Matlack, who claims he was put aside
for Senator Parry, and now wants what
is due him. The last three named are
running neck and neck. Their friends
are willing to bet that each will be sue
cessful.
1t is doubtful now whether Senator Par
rvs name will come up in the convention,
which is to be held on September 25, at
the Court House. The fight was five-cor-
nered until few days ago, when Colonel
Nathan Haines of Governor Grigg's staff
withdrew from the contest. Haines
wanted the nomination three years ago,
when Parry was nominated. This year
he did not care to make the fight because
of few personal enemies in his own
township, who were going to make the
contest very costly.
The real fight is between Borton, Wildes
and Matlack. The campaign started
good naturedly, but it is getting personal
and bitter now. Nearly all the leaders
are for Borton, who is a lawyer, worth
probably $4,000, and disposed to be liberal
in politics. He is a strong Kean man.
He has gained strength through combina-
tions made with local leaders. Every
postoffice and Federal position has been
promised in return for support The poll
ticians put up the argument that Borton
is near to General Sewell and will be to
Kean if he is made a United States Sena-
tor, and between the two he will have
the control Of the State and Federal pa
tronage, and so the workers are prepar-
ing to get under shelter. 1t is argued
against Borton that he does not live in
the county. His law office is in Camden,
and he spends most of his time in Phila-
delphia, where he is a member of the
Union League. He has a residence in
Moorestown, but he spends little time
there.
Assemblyman George Wildes is making
a door-to-door canvass, telling of his ef-
fcrts as an Assemblyman to get salaries
reduced and to secure a more economical
administration. His low salary issue is
bringing him friends in the rural parts
and even in some of the towns. He is
very popular with the farmers, who ad-
mire his sturdy independence. The
Wildes people are confident that they
will win and that every farmer will come
to his rescue tonight. There will be
a contest in nearly every township be-
tween Borton and Wildes.
Former Assemblyman Matlack figures
that he will go into the convention with
fight to demonstrate his strength with
view of being a candidate for Prosecutor
when the time comes but he found the
situation so mixed that he concluded to
stay, and now he is the hardest working
of the three candidates. Matlack is as
strong . Sewell and Kean man as his
pulled out of the fight Matlack made an
effort to capture Burlington City and
Beverly. The Borton contingent did the
same, and there is now the fiercest kind
of a fight for the control of the delegates.
Matlack claims two-thirds of the Bur-
lington delegates and SO do the Borton
lieutenants. Matlack will have the sup
port Of Northampton Township, where he
lives, and these delegates are to stay with
him, it is said until the third ballot, when
they are to split, nearly all going to Bor-
ton. The Borton people claim that he
will get the nomination on the first bal
lot, but this is generally doubted. 1t
takes ninety-fve votes for a majority,
and with four candidates in there is no
chance of any one man getting that
many. Parry's votes will go to Wildes.
Those who are familiar with the situ-
alton do not hesitate to predict that the
norrjnation will go to Borton on about
mated for Senator, he will be nominated
for Assembly, but as he feels now he will
not take the place. The feeling is that
he will be induced to go to the House for
the fourth time. In all probability he
will have for running mate, Joel Hor-
ner, the director of the Board of Free
holders.
There are three other candidates for
Assembly honors: Samuel Atkinson, for
merly Auditor; Charles Wright and G.
Frank Harvey. Joseph S. Gibson is to
be renominated for Auditor.
The Democrats are talking of either
former Assemblyman Howard E. Packer
and Jerome B. Grigg for Senator.