The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-25
f.s
READY FOR THE FRAY
Hopeful Democrats Making
Large Gains IN all
Parts of the
State.
BRIGHT CHANCES OF WINNING
Republican Distinctions in Sever
al Counties Completely De-
moralizing the G. 0. ?.
rsDec,a, to ..rhe Jersey city News..l

Especial to 1.-THE Jersey City News.J ~
TRENTON, Oct. Is, 1S97.-The tocsin OF
war has been sounded by the Democraee
State Committee, and the faithful hosts
are expected to march steadily on TO VIC
tory. Senator Daily has performed d
pleasant duty to that party by issuing a
manifesto to the people OF the state, III
which are detailed all the shortcomings OF
the Republican administration. Governor
Griggs falls in for a fair share OF critic
ism, for having made appointments 10
office which were personal, and others at
the dictation of the bosses of his party;
and also for having approved legislative
acts which were inconsistent with the
promises and pledges he had made before
he was elected TO office. The Republican
Legislatures of the last three years are
charged with having i~naugurated a sys-
tenn of gross extravaganza in expendl-
lures, and with having enacted laws
against the best interests of the state
The document is much better written
than most people had expected. 1t is a
political address all the way through, as
il had been intended. Mr.. Daily is an ex-
pert in that line, and the promulgatlon OF
the Democratic war cry could not AVE
been placed in better hands. Not a word
Is SalQ ABOUT the 1lndlCldi QuSStiOA LA eN~
address, and that omission, no doubt, mas
been suggested by wise heads.
The address, nc doubt, will stimulate
the Democrats throughout the State to
energetic action in the present campaign.
Anyhow there is already much animation
in their ranks, and great things are ex-
pected. They are much encouraged IN
their contest for supremacy by the con-
fin,,o1 faatiop fOhtinO Of the R6DuDll-
cans which if kept up until Election Day
will surely result in many agreeable sur
prises for the Democrats. The present
situation. indicates that the Republicans
are in great danger of losing several OF
the six counties in which State Sena-
tors are to be elected. The muddle in
Passaic County is as thick as ever; there
is serious trouble both in Cape May and
Burlington. and in Middlesex, Hunterdon
and Sussex there, is but a faint hope for
Republican success. The bad example set
by the -inharnlpnious Republicans OF Pas,
sale seems to have a far-reacnlng ana
damaging effect upon the fortunes OF the
dominant party. Such a calamitous dis
play of political doings had not been ex-
nected at the home of Vice President 10
BART and Governor Griggs. Still, despite
the dark clouds which hover over the
Republican family in Passaic, governor
Griggs and other leaders do not Despair
of the reelection of Senator Williams.
They believe that he will pull through all
right. even if the county elects a pemo-
cratic Sheriff and some ASSemblymen.
Now. should the Democrats elect SIX
State Senators in one swoop,. what a
great conquest it would be, and no ms
take. 1t would equal some of the old-time
victories. when a harmonious Democracy
rode triumphant shod through Republl-
can counties. Only seven years ago a
Democrats elected seven of the eight Sen
ators. "Morry' Rogers, of Camden, be
ing the only Republican survivor OF that
campaign. In that year Gloucester, So.
lem. Monmouth, Union, Essex, Somerset
and Warren danced to the tune of Demo
cratic music. And the result had peen
unexpected, even by Democrats.
Senator Smith is in charge Of the pres
ent campaign for his party. There is no
Disgusting that fact. He is not making
a Grassland canvass. He never does a
thing like that. There are no pyrotech-
mics about him. He does his work in a
quiet way and he uses his ammunition
able results. He is now in close touch.
and has been for some time, with the
situation in all of the counties which
elect Senators his fall. Those are Pas
sale, Hunterdon. Sussex, Middlesex, Bur
1ington and Cape May. Republican dill
fieulty. is his opportunity, and, no doupi'
dence strengthens his lieutenants in their
performance of the work of the cam
paign. and he expects every man to do
his duty.
While all this may be true as to the
management of the Democratic cam
paign, yet it must not be forgotten that
already been well established. He has
been through many hard-fought cam
wherewithal to keep his legions in ac-
ton, and it stands to reason that this;
the effort of his life, will be. prosecuted
he has a foeman worthy Of his steel in
the person of James Smith. but. then.
he does not feel discouraged; believing
that the Republican party OF New Jersey
will stand by him in his great contest for
This Is a fight of the giants. with the e
to the foothold his party already has
among the hold-over State Senators.
Even sh S,a tn the D sbn0 woni eIee on fyx have nsne
eight in the next Legislature to thirteen
Republicans. In 1899. when a United
hold-over Senators would consist Of seven
Democrats and seven Republicans. In
the fall of next year seven new Sen,
Cumberland. Atlantic, Ocean, Mercer,
Bergen, Morris and Hudson. All these
are normally Republican. with the ex-
however, may be considered doubtful.
The deduction from this line OF reason.
ing, then. would be that the Senate OF
1899 would contain twelve Republicans to
nine Democrats, thus giving only Bergen
and Hudson to the Democrats, and. pro-
riding they elect six Senators this year.
11kdL EHOAlu 10 II StO@SL 1880 AB $500 49,
seouentiy, the real contest for the United
States Senatorship would devolve on
the complexion of the House of Assem-
bly. In this calculation there Is ample
food foreRepublican thought and a strong
hint that the Republicans must bend
their best energies for the election of
most of their candidates for Senator's
this year. The loss of Cape May. Bur-
lurgton and Passaic counties to the Re-
publicans may keep John kean IN private
life and give James Smith another term in
office at Washington.
The Essex county Republicans nave
nominated a strong ticket for County
Clerk and Register of Deeds, and It Is
not a machine ticket. by any means. The
FACTIONS had merry war in the conven-
tion, and the upshot was that the dele
gates turned in and named a ticket to
suit themselves. Former Assemblyman
Skinner. who was nominated for Register
OF Deeds, 10 a very strong man, indeed:
The prospect Is that the Republicans will
sweep the county, and by doing SO elect
q full delegation of Assemblymen. While
Senator Smith would like to see his own
county go Democratic this year, yet he
will not feel sone or disappointed over a
defeat. Next year the Assemblymen who
will be elected will vote for a United
States Senator, and then Mr.. Smith will
probably take a deeper interest in the con-
test at home. Still. without the help Of
Essex his chances for a reelection would
not be dark by any means.
The situation in Mercer is becoming In
teresting. The fight concentrates On the
election of the County Clerk. Barker
Gummere. the present incumbent, who