The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-06-23
&%5FA-y#E No. e#H-
SIT DOWN HARD ON SILVER
State Democratic Committee
Ignores Bryan and the
Chicago Platform.
POLICY OF RECONCILIATION
Talk Of Possible Candidates
Develops Much Strength for
Benjamin F. Lee.
'OLIcY OF RECONCILIATION

ZT a.
day. Clarence Atkinson and one or two
other of his stripe. was about the Tren-
ton House all day arguing on the slight
est provocation, and with any one who
would listen to him, that no one should
be in any way recognized by the COM
mittee except regulars, and that the only
standard of regularity was devotion 10
the Chicago platform of 1896, and its
prophet, William Jennings Bryan. Most
men would have thought that they had
been snubbed, but Atkinson can stand a
good deal. While the members of the
committee and the very few outsiders
who were present gathered about the no.
tel IN small groups before the meeting, the
Gu~bernatorial nomination was the chief
topic of conversation.
1t was stated that when Senator Smith
had his conversation with the member
days Jersey City News" the Senator
suggested that Benjamin F. Lee would
make a good candidate
This led up to the discussion which DEM
onstrated that a considerable amount OF
outside interest had been manifested in
regard to what action the committee
should take at the meeting today.
More than one of the members told how
he had been summoned to the home of
senator Smith and advised that it would
be well to have the State convention cali
ed today, and called for an early date.
This was news to those Committeeman
who had not been requested to call at the
home Of the Senator, and they asked IT
---4L.-- st. n,o1 hoan c,rcarfod
Nothing further than the fact that
Benjamin F. Lee would make a very ac-
ceptable candidate for Governor" was
the reply of one of the comni tteemen
concerned.
This retort precipitated a general dis
cussion in relation to the question OF can
dfdates, and the positive expression on
the part of the majority that it was not
within the province of an individual, or
even the State Committee, much less any
othes branch of the party organization
except the State convention, to indorse
any candidate for Governor or any other
position. Mr.. Lee was charged with hay
ing openly admitted that he had voted
against the regular Democratic nominees
in 1896, and it was asserted that no can
didate, no matter what his backing might
be, could receive the support of the party
or expect to win under such circum-
stances.
Senator Daily of Hudson. who is regard
ed as an avowed candidate upo strict
party lines, Including al Endorsement OF
the Chicago platform, was present
throughout the meeting and that pre-
vented an open expression of preference
for a candidate. Nothing further was
said than tha the candidate must be a
regularly acknowledged Democrat, and
that it would be unwise and dangerous to
permit the casting of the vote of a county
or a Congressional district for a favorite
son. The effect of such a move, it was
held, would be to render it possible to de-
feat a candidate that might win.
Asked who that candidate might be,
members of the committee said that the
most available selection would be Mayor
James M. Seymour of Newark To win
in November, they argued, it was abso-
lutely essential to carry Essex county,
and their opinion was that no candidate
mentioned could make a better showing
there thar the Mayor of Newark.
If Mayor Seymour will accept the nom
nation aid Committeeman Keys, of
Somerset county, there is very little
doubt of his being the candidate, and l
hin he would win. That is the way
they feel down in Somerset, and from
what / can learn it is the same all over
the State"
My long afiliation with Senate DAILY
makes the latter my CHOICE remarked
Senator Kuhl, but up our way it looks
as if Mayor Seymour of Newark can have
the delegation provided he will accept the
nomination"
1.-THE Fourth Congressional District is
in the fight to win, as it always has
been.s said Johnston Cornish, of Warren,
land we want q candidate for Governor
who can carry Essex county. 1t looks as
if James NJ. Seymour. of Newark, wa the
man, and IL SO he should get the nomi-
nation"
IF the voters of Mercer knew that Sey-
mour will accept the nomination he will
get the Mercer delegation" said Com
mitteeeman Lanning, and Braun, of Pas
safe, Pugh. of Bergen, and Fowler, OF
Sussex, expressed similar sentiments.
There was no talk Of an Essex candi-
date among the South Jersey delegation.
ssWhat we want is to win,'' remarked
Committeeman Paul, of Camden, "and
We want the United States Senator as
we'll as the Governor.
Mayor Seymour looks like the most
available man to carry Essex county, and
inasmuch as we want the Essex Assem-
blymen to control the Legislature, ] an
for the man that can carry the county
Friends of Johnston Cornish and Sena-
| tor Daily asserted that both would loom
up as formidable Gubernatorial candi-
| dates. While Mr.. DAILY admitted that he
was In the race to stay, the gentleman
| from Warren was adverse TO discussing
| his candidacy for either Governor or Con
gresham further than to say that he
| would talk when the proper time arrived
senator Daily having blocked Senator
| Smiths scheme to name the date of thu
convention there was little left to bt
done except to names the Democratic
members Of the County Election Boards
Chairman Price that so fal
as he knew there was only one county IL
which there was any differences over thu
appointment of members of the election
| board. Camden county was the only one
SO far as he knew. in which there wa:
any put
In that instance, it was explained b,
committeeman Paul that the directors K
his recommendations for member Of th'
eeunty boards Of elections came from AZ