The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-11-15
HARD TRIALS FOR G. OF.
Now the Republicans are
Fighting Over the Or
ganization of the
Legislature.
MISTAKES MEAN SURE DISASTER
The Party's Five Year Lease of
Power Has Done II More
Harm Than Good-Es-
sex Quarrels.
MISTAKES MEAN SURE DISASTER

ers are forced to the conclusion mat un-
less the next Legislature makes q record
acceptable TO the people their party Will
he in imminent danger of defeat next
year. The Republican majority on the
Assembly ticket this year is a little over
5000. This shows a marked reduction IN
the Republican vote as compared with
former wears. And in the five counties
which elected Democratic Senators the
Republican loss has been even greater
All of this goes to show a significant
change in New Jersey. Voters of an indie
pendent turn of mind, it is very evident.
are ever ready to rebuke the party in
power when provocation Is given, ana
there is no mistaking the fact that they
are strong enough to turn the tide at any
State election.
1t is true that at the late election a
lgiht vote was polled throughout the
State. That fact may be taken as an
indication of Indifference as to the re-
suit by the stay-at-home voters. But
still if the dominant party had proved
itself popular the presumption Is that the
great mass of voters would have taken
a deeper interest in the election, and they
would have gone to the polls in larger
numbers.
The Republican party is about to enter
upon its fifth consecutive year of control
of State affairs. During four years that
party has had a large majority IN the
Legislature, and a Republican Governor
has been in office two years. Next year
the same condition of things will exist,
with the exception that the Legislature
will not be so largely Republican as
heretofore. Since the great political up
heaval in 1898 and until this year the
Democratic organization has been IN a
moribund condition. Its leaders had lost
heart, and the rank and file became de-
moralized. In the meantime the Repup-
licans, flushed with victory at every
election, went ahead with legislatlone
which they considered for the best IN
terests of the State, and the Governor
fined the vacant offices with true and
stalwart members of his party. Now
and again murmurings of dissatisfaction
at the Republican record were heard
throughout the State, and the Democrats
began to think that the time was ripe
for a reorganization OF their forces. Both
wings of their party Tapped together. and
burying the money question for the time
being they made a preliminary contest
which produced even more of a victory
than they had expected.
Speaking of the situation, q Republican
organ ays:-
Now it remains with the Republicans
themselves. in some degree, if there is to
be another Democratic victory next year,
when so much will be at stake. viii the
Republicans make any more mistakes in
- -4o1+;Nnn1 III rrnla
again crop up to jeopardize their sue
cess at the polls? are questions which
are now very pertinent. The Demo
Gratis are on the warpath, and every
mistake made by the Republicans will
be watched closely and used to the best
advantage of the Democratic party. SEN
ator Smith is in command of the Demo-
cratic forces, and Miles Ross. Allan Nc
Dermott, James n. Pidcock, William B..
Gourlsy. bob" Davis, Colonel Price,
Jonathan H. Blackwell and other old
time leaders have enlisted In the war
for the determination OF the republican
enemy. Sweet M one more seems
to prevail among those Democratlc cnleI-
tains. They are intent upon capturing the
next Governor and the Legislature which
will choose q successor to Mr.. Smith.
On the Republican side General SeWell
is still in command of the forces. His
end of the State seems to be all right,
so far, with the exception of Burlington
County. where his party received sucn a
Union seems solid for that AMBITIOUS
statesman, but that fact is perhaps Que
more to Democratic apathy there than
any other cause. Franklin Murphy, who
would like to be either Governor or
United States Senator, feels well pleased
over the apparent impreEnab iiity OF Essex
County as a Republican fortress. Passalc
County's Republican organization has
gone all to pieces, and even the Influences
of Vice President Hobart and Governor
GrigEs are not strong enough 70 eslns
tions. The Republicans are not a happy
family by any means, and to pave the
way for a victory IN the great contest OF
John Kean one of the hardest tasks of
their lives to perform.
To get the Legislature in shipshape
for business then gives the Republicans
some anxiety. There are SO many candi-
dates for office, as usual, that 1t seems
impossible to make elections. without
causing heartburnings. AS a recognition
of his merit and long and faithful service.
and also in the interest of rIno and
goodwill, there seems a disposition among
the powers that be 70 aye rosa eaa M
Mr.. Voorhees, has not announced him
self as a candidate for the office, and 1t is
not believed that he would enter INTO q
struggle to get IT.. The friends Of Sena-
tor Skirm would like very much to see
him chosen as presiding officer, especially
as hQ Is about to close his term OF ser
vice. and he will not again be a. candidate
for Senator He would not be averse
himself to an acceptance of the position
If offered TO him, but as long as Senator
Voorhees,, name is mentioned in connec-
tion with the honor General Sk3rm does
NOT care ID be a candidate. He and Sen
afor VOORHEES, are close. personal friends.
IT looks. then, as if the Union County
senator will be chosen to the second high
est office in the State. and by q unani-
NOUS vote of the Republican senators.
Senator Stokes SO prenlets-
The Speakership contest lies between
Mr. Porter of Essex and Mr.. Watkins of
Ciorccster. So far the later seems to be
ahead III the race. This is owing to- the
failure OF the Essex county members to
get together and declare unanimously TOR
Mr.. Porter. 1t has been nearly always
me way with Essex e3uIlty Republicans
ID be divided as to- legislative offices.
There are many spoils-seeSers from that
comfy tfose who want tosbe sergeant-at-
arms. clerks. doorkeepers, etc. that the
members Of the delegation cannot possibly
having 5neifkown political fortunes at
stake. mite on a candidate for Speaker.
Should thesSpeakersnip 80 to tilat county.
then TIE ambitious of the small army of
ofEce-seeke~s would be blasted, And then
again Major Carl Lentz does not favor Mr..
Porter for Speaker He does not like him..
because Mr.. Porter refused 70 vote for
the Majors pet scheme of legislation last
winter. The Major. wants George Powell
appointed Sergeant-at-ArmS. To bring
about his success the Major. 1t is said.
is willing to formsany combination. Last
year the Major opposed the Essex coun-