The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-01
TROUBLE IN SIGHT
General Attack on Corpor-
atoms All Along the
Line at Trenton.
DEEP GAME OF POLITICAL CHESS
Governor Griggs and John Kean
Playing for the United
States Senatorship.
DEEP GAME OF POLITICAL CHESS
speetol TO the yerscp Cstp Neacs.

Epceiol to the Jerscv Catg Neacs.
TRENTON. Feb. /, 1Ss7.-The political
sky is clouding. With all doubt re-
moved as to Senator Stokes chances for
appointment as Secretary Of State, as
candidly indicated by General Sewell to
Stokes Cumberland county friends at
the interview in Camden on Saturday,
the way is apparently clear for Governor
Grigg to send in the name of Secretary
Kelsey's successor to the Senate at Iren-
ton tonight. The question that was not
settled by that interview was as to the
cause for the sidetracking OF Stokes, and
who was back of it. A deep games of
political chess Is on in New Jersey n5w,
and it will not be finished until the re-
turns of the November election in 1898
are counted. n the names of the sena-
tors and Assemblymen for the Legislature
Of 1899 are known The prize is a seat
in the United States Senate, and the
players are Senator Sewell and the Cow
ernor. Every move is being made, and
will continue to be watched with UNI
abated interest during the months tina
intervene. and this Secretaryship OF Stare
is one of the most important.
Some weeks ago, on one o. the Tues
days before the Legislature convened,
when the Republican politicians, big and
little. gathered at the State Capital. Gem
eral Sewel had a lengthy interview with
Governor Griggs in the Executive cham
Der. 1t was surmised then that the con-
ference related to the appointment of a
successor to David Baird in the State
p paana q was asse o1e 81 t Il m obyea have e. BEEN en-
talk, but 1t has since developed that the
5Wo more important posts of Attorney
Geueral ard Secretary of State, together
with other vacancies, became the subiecfs
OF deep discussion, and that Stokes fate
vas then and there settled. Genera Sewell
Grey, the well known Camden .-yp
as Attorney General. and it is surmised
that, IN order to make Mr.. Gray's selec-
Stokes behind. as the Governor Insisted
d rs potn these 1ne plums could not be
a aeauent sri fn South jersey fsy The sub
Stokes appointment and the persistent
attitude Of his friends and ardent sup
great leaders. Still. the ss atarda .ne ,nf fMo
view, with General Sewelfs assuranees
nat nat the bright and brainy Cumberland
son, was not wholly satisfactory.
stokes term will expire before a vote
HIS Hjs ss5c Saken u I,in United States senator.
Wnen the most important moves on the
cne eo will be made. The question
d dayurai NV arl nsss. Stokes is turned
u ~ oA Lac lld1u WOIh AMI
saseessosS How win the Mln c eeaabts hii
to u sefy -, mep 4ha an feel when they com
Senator and two Observation-Disclosures
votes for the big prize?
has one be sh1ng sa ia certain e despite all that
hean is and will continue to be a can
qla na Tor the succession to Senate
the other day by a Camden leader VIZ
IS familiar enough with the Union counfv
PAP .aa har TO give authority to his u~tterance.
den man, when John Keanss sole am
pltlcn was to be Governor of New Jer-
s sfyar ! ne was nominated and defeated
and amply of his means, not only in thai
campaign. but in other fights of his party
1or supremacy in the State. When he
LOST the prize of the nomination in 1895.
and John w. Griggs walked off with it.
John Kean was the first to step out upon
me platform and assure the delegates
the ticket and he gained sturdy friends
VINO VIII never forget his heroic act. He
stooo sseaafast throughout thai campaign
ana MS purse. strings were cheerfuliy
unloosened to help provide the sinews OF
war. He does not care to be Governor
s sow, He desires Re to be United States
win. General Sewell Is his friend, and
when The time comes for the lineup for
side" ~ neans
It may be that the selection of a secre-
tary of State outside Cumberland county
machine In that end Of the State. IT
will be remembered that Senator Stokes
was q strong adherent of Senator voor-
the convention Of 1896. and made a
. speech ~seconding his nomination. In
that same convention was one Griggs
who won in the face of determined OPP
position, and Nichols may be the basis
Of that building. Still, Nichols has SO
far been entirely ignored in the distribu-
ton of State patronage.
Ihe selection of Amos Gibbs for mem
may be counted another move of Gov
Gibbs Is a wealthy resident of Mt. Holly.
who was not seeking the position, but
senator parry desired him, and so his
some quarters that Editor Augustus w.
Barber. of the Woodbury. .'Constitution,s
had the support Of General sewelI for
not get 1t is set down In those same
quarters as q strong prop for the Griggs
mae machia aea n burlington Senator P,arry's
him.
While this interesting game is going on
after the Legislature adjourns to national
affairs, for the seat Of war will be trans
fe : red; to Washington With Hobart
congressman and a Republican United
States Senator, much Hd. patronage is ex-
pecse 1e g com + e Pa Ne bas Jersey seyd IN the next
Senator sewell viii have. charge Of this,
and hat the Vice President win, keep
programme remains to be seen.
So far the present session of the Legis-
lature has been productive of considera-
BILE antf-corporation legislation. Both POI
bills calculated to keep the representa-
tives of the railroads, telephone compa-