The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-11-08
A LIVE DEMOCRACY
The Success of Last Tues
day Has Put New Life
and Blood Into
the Party.
DID NOT TRY FOR THE ASSEMBLY
Willing to Let the Republicans
Have the Legislature and
Make More Fatal
Blunders,
DID NOT TRY FOR THE ASSEMBLY
fsnecta, to ..The Jersey City News,

the election in New Jersey very plainly
demonstrates that the Democrats are
getting together and perfecting an or
6anization. with the, intention OF making
an earnest struggle next year TO regain
control of the Governors office. the Leg
isiature and the next United States SEN
ator, The gain OF five Democratic Sch
stors and nineteen Assemblymen was even
more than some of the leaders of that
party looked for. and. of course, was
q great disappointment to the RepuhN-
cans. In the last Legislature the Re
publicans had a majority on joint ballot
of g., and in the next Legislature they
will nave only 81. The estimated Re
publican majority on the Assembly ticket
this year will not exceed 10000. Nc
Kinley carried the State by sl692. and
two years ago Governor Griggs plurality
was 70. 800. 1t is no wonder. then. the
Democrats feel jubilant over the result
and the Republicans rather respondent.
1t is believed that the Democrats could
have elected more Assemblynen il lacy
had tried. but they did not desire. 50 II
is stated. to control the next House Of
Assembly. They made no effort at all
for success in Essex county. and in
Morris. Bergen and Union apathy pre-
vailed In the Democratic ranks. The
adoption Of tina policy was considered
good politics, because the Democratic
leaders want the Republicans to shoulder
all responsibility for the legislation of
next year. Campaign ammunition can
be made from Republican mistakes,
which the Democrats hope for in the next
Legislature.
The predictions that the Democrats
would elect all of their six Senatorial
candidates were considered wild at the
time. and Republicans ridiculed the idea.
The prophecy came near being fulfilled,
and would have been had not the per-
sonal popularity of Robert r.. Hand
secured his election in Cape May. The
capturing of the rock-ribbed Republican
counties of Burlington and Passaic was
a Democratic feat of more than ordinary
moment. in view of the fact that the
former gave Mckinley a plurality of
4,7sl and the latter 6,157. While it is
true that Republican fractional q~uarrels
in those counties promoted a Democratic
victory, yet 1t must be remembered that
1t could not have beeen achieved without
the united and energetic action of the
Democratic politicians. The return of
Middlesex county to the Democratic fold
shows conclusively that Miles Ross has
resumed active leadership in his party.
Republican discussions gave him a good
opportunity to again demonstrate his
prowess as a politician, and no doubt he
intends to continue his direction of Demo-
cratic politics in his section of the State
during the great campaign of next year.
Sussex county is again counted in the
Democratic column. The whole Demo-
cratic ticket was elected there after a
hard fight. during which Judge Martins
personal popularity was put to a severe
test. Ii proved strons han his official
record and saved him from defeat. Hum
terdon's 1uyulty to the Democratic faith
could not be shaken. despite the earnest
efforts OF the ~redoubtable Reading family
to have 1t counMd in the Republican
column.
The most phenomenal Democratic vic
tory occurred i'll Monmouth county, where
David S. Crater received a majority of
400 for the office of Surrogate and the
Democratic candidate for the Assembly
an average of 5000. Mr.. Crater carried
every township in the county, a feat
tc~4 ANfNi OSNh pa y
fore. What makes that victory more re-
markabIe is the fact of the county hav-
ing been carried by Mckinley by 2.S12.
Mr.. Crater has good reason TO feel proud
of the laurel wreath when the voters
OF Monmouth ounty have placed upon
his intellectual brow.
An naIys of these election figures
is given to show what the Democrats are
capable of doing when their forces are
united and under good leadership. and
also 10 demonstrate how fatal to the
fortunes of the Republicans are dissen-
sions in their ranks. The burying of the
Ratchet by the Democratic clans, the ex-
clusieD from their party councils of the
baneful financial question and the re-
habilitation of their forces. with the in
fusion of new blood. comprised effectual
factors in the recent contests, and I'M
~doubtedly brought about the gains which
have been credited. On the other hand,
the Republicans have learned q lesson
which should guide their future move
ments with caution, and though, expen-
siye as 1t has been, still they can profit
by 1t in the future: Burlington county
farmers are tired of machine politics; in
Middlesex the Republicans are disguised
with the petty quarreis of the rival fac
Assemblyman Tice. County Clerk Conger;
Church. who was defeated for The Sher-
IFS office. and others. are the directors.
Passaic county is frequently in n ferment
over the animosfties displayed by So
called leaders on the Republican side.
whose motto is rule or ruin County
Counsel De Witt c. Bolton, Sheriff Hop
son. Freebooter Van Noordt. Dennis Ma
honey and other Republican lights, it
would seem. have agreed 10 disagree that
the Democratic path to victory may be
cleared of all obstacles.
There is no doubt at all now that SEN
ator Smith is d full -fiedged candidate for
reelection to the National Legislature.
All through the campaign he kept his
eye on the situation and materially help
ed in the election of the five Democratic
Senator's. He outwitied John Kean in
every movement on the political chess
board. That is proved by the result of
the election. Mr.. Smith was ably as
Miles Ross. Allan McDermott. James Nell
son Pidcock. William B. Gourley and
other Democratic Iieutenants of fame and
prestige. The piling up of a Democratic
majority of 5000 shows what the silk
stocking and short hairs of Hudson
q combined onslaught upon the Republic
can breastworks. This record of vote
getting will give the Hudson Democrats
q prior claim on the nomination for Gov
ernor next year. and il is generally un-
derstood that the name of Judge job H.
L~ippincott viii be emblszoned on their
banners.
Essex and Camden counties continue
Bteadfast in the Republican faith. And
Ii Is unlikely that tier inoorings will be
disturbed next year. But even so, the
Democrats feel confident that they can
the Legislature without any help at all
from those counties. Still IL is not to be
supposed that enatn Smith Will not
make an effort 10 carry his own county OF
Essex. That county may be considered
debatable ground when the Democrats
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