The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-10
POLITICS AT TRENTON.
Griggs and Kean Keeping
Close Watch on Each
Other.
FIGHTS OYER STATE SENATORSHIpS
The Governor Has Batch Of
Eetoes Up His Sleeve
Teachers Turned Down.
FIGHTS OYER STATE SENATORSHIpS
Especial to ..The Jersey city News."l

GriggS and John kean are the only can
didates mentioned on the Republican side
for United States Senator 1t is safe to
predict that either of these leaders will
in the event of Republican success next
year, succeed James Smith in the highest
law-making body of the nation. Frank
lin Murphy as a candidate is not serious
ly considered. His health is poor and it
is probable that during the heat of the
campaign he will be found taking life easy
III foreign mission or else travelling for
recuperation. Even if Mr. Murphy be-
came an active candidate it is not believed
that he would cut much of swath as
against Governor Griggs and Mr. Kean
When Mr.. Murphy's adherents' bolted the
nomination of General Sewell for Senator
in 1894 his standing as party man was
irretrievably damaged His appointment
to foreign mission, however would not
raise any objection.
Governor Griggs' friends would like
very much to get Mr.. Kean out of the
way by inducing him to become a candi-
date for Governor. That would make
plain sailing for the sturdy statesman
from Passaic. But Mr.. Kean says he
does not want to be Governor, his am
bition being to become a United States
Senator. Twice already has he been
baked while trying to reach the Ex-
ecutive chair. and he feels that is is un-
reasonable to ask him to make a third
attempt. He has not yet had chance
at the United States Senatorship when
his party was in power, and he asserts
that the time is now ripe for the an
nouncement of his candidacy That is
his ambition, and he will not be side
tracked for any consideration. BY this
time, no doubt, Governor Griggs is fully
conscious of Mr. Kean's intention and
consequently the battle between these
rival leaders is already in progress.
Posepecting for votes has been going on
since last fall when eight State Senators
were chosen. six of whom, it is stated,
are committed to Mr. Kean Those
are Messrs. Miller, Stanger, johnson of
Camden, Reed. Francis and Ketcham. If
that is true then Mr. Kean has very
good start in the race. Next fall Sen
ators will be elected in Cape May. Bur-
Hngton, Middlesex, Sussex, Hunterdon
and Passaic. All are now represented
by Republicans excepting Hunterdon. 1t
is not SO certain that the Republicans
viii retain control of all those counties
because Sussex and Middlesex are natu-
rally Democratic, and Hunterdorl is not
much ofa field for Republican campaign
ing. Burlington is about the only safe
Republican county of the lot Cape May
is fighting ground, and Passaie is also
debatable.
Already the Republicans of Burlington
are in the thick of a fight over the nomi-
nation for Senator. John Kean has
powerful following, which is bent upon
nominating Assemblyman Borton while
the Griggs adherents are insisting upon
the denomination of Senator Parry. AS
sernblyman Wildes is also a candidate.
but it is reported that he will be induced
to withdraw in consideration of his get
ting a fourth term in the Assembly.
which is something unprecedented in that
county. The struggle between Parry and
Borton is interesting, and may become
very exciting before the close. General
SewelPs friends are for Borton, because
in the event of his election Kean would
get his vote. Senator Parry insists that
courtesy entities him to denomination.
He says he is not pledged to any candi-
date for United States Senator. He
points to his record in the Legislature as
a loyal party man, and in view of that
he does not clearly understand why he
H.
the Assembly Mr. Borton made numerous
friends, and no one questions his fidelity
as Republican or his ability to fill the
office of State Senator. But it is simniy
a fight between Kean and Griggs, and
not personally between Parry and Bor-
ton, Mr.. kean wants to secure the vote
OF the new Senator from Burlington and
his friends contend that he must have it,
1t is pretty contest as 1t stands, and
there will be more, Of it, perhaps of the
pyrotechnic order, before the close of the
Unless hp-
come entangled in fierce factional strug-
gle the Democrats will not stand the
their candidate for Senator in old Bur-
lington.
Passaic County will be the scene of
a fierce battle for supremacy between
the candidates for Senator of both par
ties. Senator Williams will be renomi-
mated. and as the county is largely Re-
publican he expects a reelection. His
Mayor Braun, Of Paterson. He is a
wealthy brewer, and two years ago his
majority for Mayor was over 3,000 and
that, that in a Republican city. too. The
Passaic County politics. No brewer who
has ever run for office there has been
defeated; John Hunchliffe carried the
and has just been elected Mayor Of
Paterson. When the brewers combine
they sweep everything before them
When one of their number enters a
u,
does. Unless he sees victory ahead he
will not be a candidate In view Of
these facts, then, it would seem that
If Mr.. Bran accepts the Democratic
nomination for Senator Mr. Williams
will have hard road to hoe for a re-
election. And Passaic is Governor
Grfggs' own county too. Should he be
repudiated in his own home, then the
question may be pertinerltly asked. What
chance would he have against John
kean. or, for that matter. any other can
didate for United States Senator? Mr.
Kean himself had a sad experience Of
home reputation when he was a candi-
date for Governor against Mr.. Griggs.
VIII the tables be turned during the
contest which is now ragoing between
these gladiators by Mr.. Griggs meeting
with defeat, owing principally to his
county having gone back on him? But
then, Mr.. kean may be in the same boat
very likely, because it Is doubtful if the
Senator from his own county. Foster
Voorhees, will agree to support him.
II the Democrats would only get to-
gether and present an old-time solid
would be useless for the Republicans to
indulge in calculations and for Mr. Kean
and Mr.. Griggs to worry themselves
over vote-getting. But the prospect
seems blue for Democratic harrnonv
The gulf is as wide as ever between the
gold men and the silver adherents Of
the old Democracy.
Governor Griggs will be at the State
House tomorrow, and the scores of poll-
ticians who are regular weekly visitors
on Governors day are hoping that he
will dispose of many of the n1easures re-
ceiving the approval of the recent Legis-
lature and Stiil awaiting his action