The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-16
PORTER GIVES. IT UP.
WithdraWs From the Speak
ership Fight in a Caus-
tic ValedictoTy.
PAYS HIS RESPECTS 10 MAJOR LEN7z
The Essex Mans Withdrawal Is
All in the Interests of Har-
mony and for the Good
of His County.
PAYS HIS RESPECTS 10 MAJOR LENTZ

George W. w. Porter has formally an
nounced his withdrawal from the Speak
ership contest, and he has SO notified
Assemblyman Watkins, of Gloucester,
who is now the only candidate for the
position. That practically settles the or
ganization of the House so far as the
important offices are concerned, with the
single exception of Clerk, for which there
are at present two avowed candidates,
one from this county and one from Union
county. Mr.. Porter, in announcing his
withdrawal, among other things said:-
After the latest Intellectual attempt of
our delegation to unite in caucus on the
Speakership question, or any other ques-
ton for that matter, / feel impelled, in
justice to the county, those of my col
leagues who have persistently refused to
desert me and myself, to withdraw from
the contest with the hope OF effecting
harmony and going to Trenton with a
united instead of a disorganized delega-
ton. I am ready to go into a caucus
and not a conference, as some of my col
leagues seem to prefer, and, unlike them,
1 will vote with the majority in a de-
mand for any offices to which they think
the county is entitled. Personally, / be-
ileVe lldl because OIL our numerical Sldiiu-
ing, Essex should be accorded any rea-
sonable demand made. If the majority
DEGREES tina the county is entitled to the
Clerk, Bill Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms,
/ am with the majority.
sBut I want to see the question of
patronage settled without any further de-
lay. The session will open in less than
four weeks, and the delegation should
even now be in a position to discuss
and formulate plans with reference to the
real object for which we are elected
that of Observation-Disclosures of being
wrangling over Offices.
81 entered the Speakership contest be-
cause I considered the county entitled to
the position, and because none OF my
colleagues aspired to the office. / did
not do so wholly of my own volition
and not until many of the leading Re
puDlicans of the county had urged me to
do so, and until | had been assured OF
the support of a majority of my col
leagues.
'in entering the contest I did not deem
it necessary TO ask the PERMISSION OF MI:
Lentz or to crave his support, either.
knew he was not ove,-friendly disposed
toward me, through his having asserted
before the close of the last session that L
would be a 'one-termer' only. AT the
oal7S ~ ~ -
unsolicited on my part, Mr.. LentZ an
nouneed his intention to keep his hands
off. Had he done so. Essex county wouid
have the Speaker of the next House OF
Assembly. / believed him sincere, and 50
did a majority of my colleagues, for seven
of them in caucus agreed to support me
for Speaker. A few days later an allony-
NOUS attack on my personal and political
character was published with a view OF
inducing my colleagues to desert me.
The article in question was ATTRIBUTED, .py
a 49, 49, x7-hSo1 fi1hlichn6 If tn an AS
Every one of my colleagues denied the
authority, and l concluded that 1T enamat-
ed from Mr.. Lentz. My suspicion was
verified a few lays later when the article
was reproduced almost verbatim in the
same paper in an accredited interview
with Mr.. Lentz. Since then, by threats
of political humiliation and in divers
other ways MIR. Lentz succeeded IN IN
duefng some of the Assemblynen who had
pledged me their support, to desert and
write to Mr.. Watkins agreeing to vote Tor
him. Two of my supporters, Assembly
men Bauman and Steddig, remained firm,
refusing to be influenced by threats or
promises to desert the county's- choice
for Speaker as long as | remained IN the
race. 1t is no fault of theirs that Essex
county will not be accorded the distinction
of electing a Speaker.
For those who deserted me l nave only
the most Kindly feelings, and do not
blame them in the least, for, | suppose,
they were unable to Withstand the pres
sure welded by Mr.. Lentz. WIZ go INTO
caucus Friday night, or any other time,
and vote cheerfuly for any candidate
agreed upon by the majority. and trust
all of my colleagues will act in the same
manner. By doing SO we will be able to
demonstrate that Essex can unite and re-
move much of the unpleasant criticism 10
which we have been subjected Tor con-
trary action
change in the official slate agreed upon
Monday, which included Charles N. Cod
ding, of Union, for Clerk. Senator SEVEN
has declared that if Essex united in a de-
mand for the Clerkship, and agreed upon
a candidate, the county should have the
Office. He said the same thing In REFER
euce to the Speakership, but at the time
he knew that i've of the Essex members
had pledged their support to watkins Tor
Speaker.
by the leaders that he was wanted Tor the
place. The argument advanced was that
MIR. Watkins, the slated CANDIDATE for
Speaker. lacked the experience so essen
tial to properly conduct the affa1rs OF a
House with a large and aggressive minor
l as.,.na Fer c that rass for { Clerk srkoR Mas a held eS &
be absolutely necessary, and Mr.. Coddlng
was selected as the most available candl-
date.
Thomas II. Jones of Essex was slated for
Clerk. Charles H. Hopkins of Morris for
hamper OF. Union for Journal Clerk. To
place Codding, a general change would
have to be made. 1t would not do to have
the Clerk and Journal Clerk both from
linton county, and Hulskamper was asked
10. and he agreed to take a minor position
with the understanding that Coddfng
would make good the difference in salary.
Hopkins was to give up the Assistant
Clerksnip for that of Journal Clerk, and
Essex was to be conceded the Assistant
Clerkship.
eITs assertion that Essex could nave the
clerkship if united. Mr.. Codding may be
forced to drop out and permit the original
Drogramme TO be carried out. In such an
event 1t is probable, but not certain, that
Mr.. Jones will secure the position OF
Clerk Of the House. Thursday night he
claimed the Individual pledges of eight
Of the Essex meTnbers-all but Porter,
Baufnan and Steddig. These three will
vote with the majority, and If Jones holds
the eight who promised their support. he
will doubtless win.
ed for Samuel A Smith. former County
yanced is that If three positions-like
Clerk. Bill Clerk and Sergeaft-at-Arms-
are conceded to the county 1t would be
unfair to give the Clerk and Bill Clerk to
the townships, and leave Sergeant-at-
Arms only for the city. Clifford r. Baker,
If Orange, is slated for Bill Clerk, and
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Fairchild of Orange, for the
-Chairmanship of the Committee on Rail-
roads and Canals. which carries with it
the appointment of a Clerk.
To give Clinton the Clerk of the House
In addition would leave the seven mem
lhers from Newark only the position of
Axrrr nd tho fhAry nav mot