The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-10-31
AS SEEN At TRENTON
Political Situation in the
State Examined and
Summed Up.
THE BALANCE LEANS 10 CRANE
Essex the Pivotal County
Will Be Raided by Voor-
bees This Week.
,pecia, 10 .sThe- Jersey city News.n]

Especial to The Jersey City News. 3.
TRENTON. Oct. 81, 1sss.-The last week
of the political campaign, which Is now
at hand, will develop many interesting
poiats in the situation, which all along
has beer SO perplexing to the leaders and
politicians OF the two great parties. The
rival candidates for Governor ave been
working so hard during the past two
weeks that it is feared they will become
physically exhausted before the closing
of hostiiities. The work of the coming
week, beyond a doubt, will be the hard
est of all. So far Candidate VOORHEES,
has covered the ground pretty thorough
", and he Intends to devote most OF the
time now at his disposal to Essex coun-
". Candidate Crane has several coun-
ties yet to visit, and he expects to have
his canvass well performed by the end
of the week. Although the campaign has
put to the test the staying qualities of
the candidates to a marked extent, and
they nave stood it pretty well. yet on
the part of the voters the same interest
has not been manifested as in former
years. Nor is the galaxy Of stump ora
tors as large or as brilliant as three years
ago, when John w. Griggs was accom-
panied on his whirlwind tour by some of
The best oratorical talent in the State.
The mass meetings then were much larger
and more enthusiastic, and there was
more evidence Of sincerity and earnest
ness among the followers of each party
than the present campaign has Demon
strated. 1t is no wonder, then. that the
politicians are nonpulsed as to the
meaning of this peculiar situation OF af-
fairs.
Apathy among the general masses of
voters, it is feared, prevails to an ominous
degree. Mr.. Voorhees,, in a recent inter
view, gave expression to his feeling that
there was danger ahead for his side un-
less the Republican voters awoke from
the letaargy which seems to envelop
them. He had no doubt at all of a
sweeping victory for his ticket if the
Republican voters did their duty on cleo
lion day. A stay-at-home vote was the
only danger unprecedented.
On the Democratic side, excepting in
a few of the lower counties, the cam
paisn has developed q confidence, in the
result. which is apparently undisturbed
by any dread as to apathy among the
rank and file Of the party. Still. while
there seems to be much activity among
those Democrats who arc ever loyal to
their party, vet there is reason to be-
lieve that Others who are not so much
interested in the result feet somewhat in
different as to the duty they are expected
to perform on election day.
The result will depend upon the indie
pendent vote, which will come from the
vest pocket. Some Of the best informed
politicians inciiue to that belief, and
hence tho uncertainty which seems to
prevail in circles which are not moved
by party bias and prejudice. 1t is easy
enough to got figures on the result from
~hide-bound parties who never see any
merit in the opposite party. He is gem
orally e reckless prophet and a resource
full mathematician. Ills prominence in
the present campaign is easily perceived,
and most of his predictions seem ridicul-
GUS.
From. an independent standpoint, the
augury is that neither party can lay
claim to a positive victory. There are SO
many weak spots in the campaign on
both sides that it hard telling It the
present time which ticket stands the best
chance for success. A leading Republic
can said a day or two ago that he feared
the Republican leaders were not giving
Foster NJ. Voorhees, that loyal support
whiei. was expected Of them. There
was an absence of interest on their part,
he added. which was very G~ispieasing to
the friends of the Republican Gnberna-
torfal candidate. He hoped for the best,
however. and he felt that despite this APP
parent indifference on the part Of those
90 -. 4t-.-o% 47,o& Mr. yTcnrhonS
would be elected by a good majority.
On the other side there is a feeling that
proper attention is not being paid to an
organization Of the Democratic forces in
Cumberland. Camden. Ocean and Bur
Engton counties. Some of the candidates,
who have been nominated by the Demo-
crats in those counties, threaten to with
draw unless financial aid is forthcoming.
a campaign cannot be run without money,
and. as the Democrats in the lower
counties have none of their own to spend,
they naturally look for aid from the
State Committee. It is considered poor
politics to slight counties IN that respect,
where the Democrats are in a minority,
because every vote will count on election
there is no prospect at all for the election
OF candidates for the Legislature. Per
haps his grievance will De remedIed be
fOrp election day.
# e wen understood that the Democrats
are making a stiff fight in Essex, Morris
and Bergen counties. 1t is stated that all
me financial aid asked for IS being cheer
fully supplied for the purpose Of carry
ing these pivotal counties. And the same
earnestness is shown on the Republican
side. While It IS aeknqWiseaged taa e ne
test. vet the Democrats are taking no
chances by permitting Morris and Bergen