The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-09-01
The Loss of Essex.

XOieS JlldA NNpO AAcv9f NSNt-Nf
Salem, Warren, Huntereon, Somer-
set. Atlantic and Gloucester combined.
1t has more Republican votes than
anv Congress district in the State ex-
cept the Ist and lid, and nearly as
many as they 1t has as many repre-
sentatives in the Legislature as Cape
NAV, Ocean, Sussex, Salem, Somer--
set. Atlantic, Gloucester, Cumberland
and Morris The Republicans are
confident of victory, but many feel II
unwise to take single needless
chance.
The loss OF Essex County to the Re
publican party this fall, in the opinion
Of many Republicans, means the loss
of the Legislature and the election OF
Senator Smith. Senator James
smith NAV be counted upon
to use all his resources. financial and
political. and all the skill which his
long experience as politician has
given him to carry Essex Coun-
tv He proposes, sas The Tribune
pointed out, to nominate Mayor Sey-
mour of Newark for Governor, in the
hope that the popularity which
twice enabled the Mayor to carry
that city will be of good service to the
Senator in this emergency lie has
for some time past been giving his
personal attention to the selection OF
candidates for the Legislature and
his intention is to have nominated
men whose character and influence
will not only poll the full Democratic
vote. but will, he hopes, win the dis
satisfied Republican vote as well.
Nothing indeed will be left undone to
insrre his success. He himself be-
lieves in his success, and of the strong
reasons for his faith is that he be-
lieves that there will be disaffection
among the Essex County Republi
cans if, according to the present plan,
they are not to be at all considered
in the coming campaign, and the
county of Union, with less than one
third of the number of Republican
votes and with one quarter its lntiu-
ence in the Legisl lature, is to be allow
ed to carry off the two great prizes OF
the campaign.
Mr.. Voorhees,, these Essex County
people say, may be regarded in Ger
tain sections as the logical candidate,
but prominent Essex County Repub-
licans say quite frankly that his NOM
ination will not satisfy them, and
that it is sure to make it easier for
Senator Smith thanif an Essex man
was chosen in place of the present
Acting Governor. Many Essex Re-
publicans feel that the nomination OF
Senator VOORHEES, is opposed to the
spirit if not the letter of the consti-
tuition, and, outside of this, and the
risk involved of losing Senator
from Union, they do not propose,
they say, to have their past great
service and present vital Importance
ignored without protest and with
out having the leaders of the party
fully understand the risk ks involved
in what is evidently the present pur-
pose toyignore them entirely
This feeling naturally crystalizes on
the candidate for Governor Since
Mr.. Dryden's withdrawal, there has
been q general acceptance of Mr..
K can as the party candidate for the
Senatorship. Mr.. Kean has always
been popular with large number of
Essex Republicans, and they are not
unwilling to see him gain the prize so
dear to his heart, but if Mr.. Voorhees,
is nominated for Governor Essex may
have candidate of her own for Sen
ator. or. what will be of more i'm
portance, q feeling of apathy and in
difference may be developed which
will put in peril the success. of the
party in Essex County.
1t is undeniable that this feeling
exists in Newark, and that it is shared
by men who are most friendly to
Foster NJ. Voorhees, and who, other
things being equal, would like to see
him elected to the Office the duties of
which be has so well discharged as
Acting Governor As The Tribune
had pointed out from time to time,
the circumstances which provoke
this feeling have been the only fac
tors unfavorable to the nomination of
the man whom Union County would
delight to honor The deepening of
this telling within the last few days
makes it practically certain that Es-
sex will be heard from in the conven-
tion. and it is beyond the ken of the
political prophet to determine
how forceful and effective the de-
mand of Essex will be. This much,
however, is certain: There will be a.
contest for the nomination for Gov
ernor, friendly, generous, but the
no less real struggle for the place of
Chief Executive of New-Jersey.