The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-13
PARTY SITUATIONS.
Repu blicans Even If Inter-
nally Divided, Present
a Solid Front.
DEMoCRACY's uNHEALED ULCER
Assembly Nominations Already
Discussed in the South
Jersey Counties.
DEM0CRACY's UNHEALED ULCER

Especial to "The Jersey City News."1
TRENTON, Sept. 10, 1S97.-The poll
ticians of both parties have been. durins
the last week or so, fitting around from
place to place. doing a lot of talking
and making themselves very agreeable
all of which is taken as an indication
that the campaign of this year has beer
opened in real earnest. Clam bakes and
outings have been numerous In the upper
end of the State, and the men who rur
the machines have been out in full force
repairing fences and devising schemes
for contemplated ~conquests. Such ac-
tivity SO early in the campaign betokens
hot work when hostilities are at theil
thickest.
The Republican leaders seem all aglow
with confidence. They are not saying
much, but are doing a lot of thinking
At the State Fair on Thursday last the
old war horses bobbed up serenely, and
made their surroundings look pleasant
by their affable manners and kindly
greeting to the crowds who were there
to pay them homage. John Kean smli-
ing and s%phinxlike, was prominent in the
throng, his general demeanor indicating
tina HI felt happy over his bright pros
pect for succeeding James Smith, the erst-
while leader of the Democracy, in the
United States Senate. All attempts to IN
teryiew Mr.. Kean on the situation proved
| futile, owing to his proverbial persistency
in maintaining what is considered by his
friends a discreet silence. Congressman
Pitney, the slated candidate of the Re-
publican party for Governor, was there,
too, and created quite a favorable i'm
preston, although he did not say much
| concerning his own boom, which has been
so We'll nursed by his numerous friends.
In fact, all the Republican leaders of high
and low degree, who were on exhibition
at the fair, looked very happy indeed; so
| much so that one would think that they
owned the political soil of New Jersey
and all there is on it.
On the other hand, a silent, demure-
looking delegation of Democrats, led by
Senator DAILY and former Congressman
Cornish We're present, and, of course, they
did not make much of a stir amid the
crowd of enthusiastic Republicans. The
Hudson Senator was the only one among
them who showed any animation at all.
But it is characteristic of Mr. Daily to
always present a cheerful front, no mat
ter how dark the cloud may be which
iofA5o OFSA AAlo Pat L AtA' AiAS 49,
own way now, and if the element which
is at present in the a%scendency continues
to rule, he will surely be the next Demo-
cratic candidate for Governor. But his
success at the polls must be. considered
very doubtful, indeed, as long as the war
ring factions of the old, victorious De-
mocracy persist in their mission of dis
indignation and ruin.
1t is not SO many years since f%actional
fighting in the Democratic party had a
tendency to increase instead of diminish
its vote. The more numerous the quar-
rels the better chance there then seemed
to be to swell the vote on election day.
In those days the disagreements occurred
principally over men and not party pol
icy. All Democrats were united on the
dates for Office. The situation is torn
into remnants over a question which is
not political, but financial, and owing to
idol, there. is no hope, apparently, for a
reconciliation with the old time leaders,
who, during their management of cam
paigns, never lost a battle.
The Republican organization of the
State seems to be cohesive, aggressive
and defiant. And as long as the Demo
cratic dissensions last, of course the Re
publican fold will be more encouraged as
to victory. But there is such a thing as
over-contidence, which has more than once
led to a party's downfall when least ex-
pected. Three or our years ago the
Democrats suffered defeat in that way.
Oyer-conddence sometimes leads to nomi-
nation Of weak candidates for office, and
DISASTERS the consequence.
The Republicans have already begun.
to make nominations for the Legislature,
Cumberland : county leading off in that
vention of the Republicans of that
county, an oyster grower named Shrop-
shire was named for the Assembly, along
with Mr.. Hunt, against whom there
another term. Among the vanquished
were former Senator Isaac T. Nichols,
who made a most determined fight for
resuscitation as a lawmaker. Mr.. Mich
OILS served two terms in the Assembly
20 years ago, and he was Senate from
Cumberland for six years since that
period. For some reason or other he
has been tabooed by the machine, but
despite that fact he has kicked up a
dust every year in defiance of the leaders.
But this f%actional unpleasantness in Cum
berland has no effect at all on Republic
can prospects. The Republican majority
continues on the increase. and there
seems no nope whatever for a Demo-
cratic candidate. 1t is not so many
send Democratic Representatives to the
Legislature. Philip P. Baker, a dyed-in-
the-woo Democratic, represented it in the
Senate from 1887 to 1889, and the fiery
JdiileS IL Vail SyCktl WAS dll Assembly,
man in 1891. What played havoc with
the Democracy of Cumberland was the
establishment by the late Governor Alb
bett of a County Excise Board.
Now that Cumberland has fired the
first gun in the campaign, other counties
will soon follow in line. Middlesex
County Republicans are preparing to
nominate for State Senator Frank
Pownall, who was formerly Director of
the Board of Freeholders. 1t is believed
that he can reunite the clans and that
former A~ssemblyman Tice and former
Postmaster Carson, the rival leaders,
will smoke the pipe of peace over tins
nomination. The Democrats may nomi-
late as their candidate either Colonel
Bob Adrain or former State Railroad
Assessor collie Keely. Middlesex is a
Democratic county, or used to be, pro-
vided always Miles Ross is in command
and the boys get lots of stuff"
Assemblynfan Borton will probably
walk Off with the Republican nomination
for Senator in Burlington, although ii is
very evident that Senator Parry is Civ
ing him a lively tussle for it. Former
~lssemblyman Packer is mentioned for
the Democratic nomination. The boys"
in burlington on both sides must have
lots of stuff to do the fighting, as we'll
as those in Middiesex.
Former Assemblyman Charley Read
ing. . cousin of the redoubtable tDick"
of that name, is willing to enter tine arena
III Hunterd0n against Senator Kuhl or
any other Democrat who will be nomi-
mated. Charley is a born fighter, and
If he can't be elected Senator in Hunter