The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-08
FTFVE+<
COMPLICATED GAME
Governor Griggs Getting
Deeper Into the Mire in
His Struggle for the
U. S. Senate.
THE INTERNATIONAL FIGHT
Bill to Correct Alleged Asylum
Abuses-Gossip from the
State Capital.
Special 10 tnc Jerscp Citu Nous.

Special TO the jersey Citu NespeL
TRENTON. Feb. s, 1Ss7.-In the deep
end Interesting game of political chess
which is now fairly under way in
this State the odds seem to be in favor
of the man who has controlled the des-
TIMES of the Republican party for 50
many years. who is just 10Y more pow
erful than ever. This week at Trenton
will probably demonstrate whether he is
TO be c~heckmated by the Governor, or
whether the latter is to allow the present
moves in the hope of getting some more
important ones toward the close of the
game. If it really is to be a square com,
test between United States Senator Sewell
and Governor Gr.ggs, then the latter
might as well begin now to line up his
forces for the fray, for the history of
New Jersey politics contains no match.
for the Republicans leader of today when
the question of fighting is taken into COM
sheraton. Can Griggs therefore afford,
al this time. TO openly a~ntagoraize him?
is the question hat is being asked in all
parts Of the State. The general opinion
is that he not only cannot, but that he
has no desire to come out ~squarely IN
oppesi bion, since the General has not SAX
he would oppose the Governors ambition
towards the United States Senatorship.
Still many things may happen in two
years. Death might steal IN and change
the whole programme mapped out by the
Republicans. who. flushed with recent VIC
torres. count everything theirs for years
and years to come. The turn of a sim
gle day may reiegate them to the rear
and bring their Democratic enemies so
strongly to the front that no Republican
VII succeed James Smith. Yet these are
contingencies upon which no. good. prac-
tical politician even dwells for a mo-
ment. Death. particularly, is the last
thing on earth to consider in such a CON
nection. and as for a change in the poll
tical complexion of the State Legislature
of 1899. why, 'twould be called rank trea-
son for a Republican to even hint at ii.
The appointments sent in by Governor
Griggs will therefore serve as a baron
eter to show the range of pressure. To-
morrow night he may send to the Senate
the names of the new Secretary of State,
the Commissioner of Banking and Insur-
ance, the Attorney General and the Law
Judge for Camden County. OF the latter
appointment the Chief Executive has
heard so much that he is almost sick of
1t and has about reached the conclusion
that ex-Judge Armstrong has been made
the target of personal abuse. Armstrong
Is supposed to have the Endorsement of
General sewell. Certainly the Republf-
can leaders of Camden county nave done
all in their power to show the Governor
that he is the logical candidate in point
OF ability. experience and party service,
and that the opposition to him comes from
16R am Manila NIB 60 a.
movement N Camden and did SO much
to break down the Republican party orr
ganlzatlon IN that city. Sheriff Baird
comes here every Monday night. d the
Governor Srs holds him In very kind remem-
orance Tot the excellent work he and the
rest OF the Camden leaders did In the
of 1895. Under all these dr.
th ~ II any other name goes in for
me camden Law Judgeship, 1t win midi
cate that Governor Grlggs has decided 10
put a block in the party machinery IN
ana where he holds the greatest strength
and power. It is more than likely that
Anmstrong viii be named.
me same conditions with relation TO
the Camden Judgeship exist in fine. con-
sideratlon of the Banking Commissioner
snip William Bellies name has been
usea IN that connection. and it is not
necessary to refer to the fact that he ;e
General SewePs selection, and that he
comes from Camden county, which he
mas represented in the State Cornmfftee
l0r years He is one of Senator Sew
eh's ablest lieutenants, and has stood at
the head of the party organization for
SO long that a campaign without him
seems like a dream of antiquity. IN the
same line comes the Attorney General
ship, which is also by common accept
ance, to come to Camden county, in the
appointment of Samuel H. Grey, and
winch General Sewell is credited with
having arranged. Now. if all these names
come out CT the Governors hands 1t NAV
De set down as settled that he and Sena-
other.
OF action, which would seem to bode no
good for John Kean in his training for
senatorial honors, the sage of Union coun-
ay has as broad and genial a smile in it's
contemplation as though 1t were a matter
OF course. Mr.. Kean is of a naturally sun
shiny disposition, but he is a hard worker
and q deep thinker, all the same. More
over. ne has the aid Of some of the
shrewdest political workers In the State;
men who are next to the voters, and who
know every move hat is made on
chessboard and it's relation to the next
move. He is not scrambling around in the
dark while the big game is in progress.
Indeed, it is stated that ne can safely
count upon six of the eight Senators who
were elected last fall to vote for him in
the caucus of 1899.
AS to the effect Of all this upon the
G-ubernatoria race 1t is hard to tell.
The logical candidate of the Kepubli.
LdttS II loeudlOT ROSTER NJ. voorhees,, OF
Union. but Judge J.. Franklin Fort was
once considered a formidable candidate,
and only his appointment as Law Judge
of Essex has taken him temporarily from
the eyes of the people. His friends say
that his appointment, has by no means
iesSessed his chances, andst that when the
time comes he will be seen as very much
in the race. Somebody has made Sena-
tor Stokes of Cumberland a probable cam
didate, in view of his sidetracking for
Secretary of State. but South Jersey is
mot likely to get anything so high in. the
Chairman Fraklln Murphy, a man who
has done 50 much to aid the Organization
IN its campaign. lie was a candidate in
yentacn arrived, and the solid votes of
Essex Was held for the late Elias s..
Ward. Here. by the way. was where
death made a great change In the outlook
for 1898. Elias g.. Ward promised to
loom up as the most formidable of can