The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-11-18
DISCUSSED JOHN KEAN
The Manner in Which He Lost
Two Votes in MiddleseX
and Burlington Makes
Him Tired.
A letter from Trenton to the Newark

A letter from Trenton to the Newark
Sunday Calr' of last Sunday says
The result of the Senatorial contests in
two counties of New Jersey brought bit
ter disappointment TO John Kean, who
Senator would be elected who in 1899
would vote for him for United States Sen
atorA The candidates had been selected
by his chosen representatives, he had fur
nished the money to insure the nominal
ton of the right man in one of the coun-
ties, and he was assured that both men
would certainly be returned at the polls.
Now MI. kean is wondering whether it is
his own ~unpopularity that is to blame for
the defeat of the men whom he so sorely
needed or whether he has made a mistake
in choosing his agents.
The two counties referred to are Bur-
lington and Midalesex. and while the re-
stances which brought about Republican
defeat differ considerably.
Burlington county is naturally Republic
can by anywhere from 500 to 1000 major
ity, but that majority is made up of stur-
dy independent voters, who do their own
thinking, and who detest bossism. They
are Stalwart Republicans, too, but they
hold their self-respeet above party and re-
bel at packed primaries and forced nomi-
nations. The rank and file of the party
this fall wanted either ~Assemblyman
Wildes for Senator or else Senator Parry
renominated. Both men had made records
that commended themselves to the tax
payers, anu either WOulu nave Decn sat
isfactory to the party at large. Neither
man, however, would pledge himself in
advance to support John Kean for Sena-
tor, and hence Kean's friends in the
county were against them and united on
ASsemblyman Joshua S. BOrton, a Cam
den lawyer, with a sleeping place in
Burlington eounty Ex-United States
the school fund; Robert c. Hutchinson,
Steward of the ~poorhouse; Theodore G..
Gaskill, and all the Republican postmas-
fGrC i " thn IN n m nd in fOr lnrfn3 E
Prior to the convention another candidate
for the nomination, whose past services
gave him a right to expect help, called on
John Kean to solicit his support. He was
briefly informed that w. Budd Deacon
had always acted as Mr.. Kean's manager
IN huntingdon county and would continue
to Ill that position. BOrton was nominal
ed in the convention and then the trouble
began.
Six years ago the same men who this
year were for Borton had selected Robert
c.. Hutchinson as the Republican candi-
date for Senator. They were so certain
of having things their own way that they
in consequence were deeply chagrined and
disappointed when at the convention
Hutchinson was beaten and ex-Sherin N.
w. c. Hays, of Burlington, an anti
Seweil man, was nominated. MI. Hays
made a vigorous canvass, but the men
who had opposed him at the convention
continued their enmity on election day
and he was defeated. Then arose a storm
of wrath among the Republicans of Bur-
lington, which drove Budd Deacon to
cover. and not again until this fall has
he dared enter politics.
When it became known that he was
John Kean's recognized agent, and as
such was responsible for Borton's nomi-
nation. there was a general resurrection
of ~tomahawks and sealping knives that
had been buried for six years. Men who
remembered how Hays had been assas-
sinated vowed that Borton should share
his fate. Budd Deacon, they declared.
must be taught a lesson that would last
him for all time. 1t was not that they
had anything. in particular against John
Kean or against Borton, but they were
determined hat Budd Deacon should
never again pose as a leader in Burling-
ton county.
At first Deacon and his confederates
made light of the detection, then they be-
gan to threaten, and finally to plead, but
threats and entreaties were alike unavailo
ing and Borton was defeated by over 500
majority, while the remainder of the Re-
publican ticket was elected by over l,H0.
For this loss of a Republican Senator in
Burlington the party can thank john
Kean and the men whom he chose to
represent him.
The result in Middlesex was quite as
much a surprise to the Democratic lead
ers as to the Republicans. Middlesex
politics are notorious and neither party
has a monopoly of the nortoriety. The
Democratic party machinery is run by
Miles Ross and his lieutenants. while
Robert Carson and Theodore Strong. look
after the Republican end, and 1t is gen
orally DelleVeu IHdt the SlSCllUHS die lev
when there is not a deal by which some
candidates on both tickets get it in the
solar plexus. This year the understand
ing was that the Republicans should
have the Senator, the Democrats the Sur
rogate. and the Assemblymen might
look out for themselves. To carry out
their end of the bargain the Democrats
nominated for Senator ex-Mayor James
III. Van Cleef. They had put him up for
the same position three years ago and
knocked him down so easily that they
had no doubt of being able to do it again.
Then the Republicans, to carry out their
end of the bargain, turned down ex-As-
semblyman Edward w. Hicks, who had
been promised the nomination for Surro-
gate and whose popularity made him an
unsafe candidate, and named in his stead
South r. Harrington of Perth Amboy. a
man with a vulnerable record. Thus far
everything had been carried out as
agreed upon by the leaders, but upon cleo
ton day the voters took a hand in the
game. The disguised Republicans refused
to go to the polls and the Democrats de-
clined to be sold out. Van Cleef. finding
he could expect nothing from the party
managers, made a hustling personal eau
Gus and was elected by a good. majority.
Ever since Carson and Strong have been
trying to explain to John kean how the
wicked Democrats went back on lnelr
bargain, but it is said that Mr.. kean has
about concluded that If he is ever to be
Senator he must get some new mama
gers.