The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-02
POLITICS IN The War
Republicans Believe That
the Defeat Of Spain
Will Help Them.
SENATORIAL CONTEST
Hot Fight 10 BE- Made in Morris,
Bergen and other Doubt
full Counties.
Especial to 1.-THE Jersey city News."l

TRENTON, May 2, 1Sss.-A successful
termination of the war with Spain no
doubt would strengthen the Republican
lines in New Jersey. The Republican
party has control of affairs in the nation
as We'll as in the State, and 1t is held re-
sponsible for all steps taken in the prose-
cution of the war. While it is true that
the Democrats are lending all the assist
ance in their power, yet every movement
that is made is under the direction of the
Republican administration. A brief cam
paign followed by a glorious victory, then
would rebound to the credit Of Republl-
can statesmanship, while a defeat and a
surrender would seriously reflect on the
party in power. 1t is not believed that
is being made to inject poll
tics into war measures, but still 1t will be
impossible to prevent the making Of po-
litical capital by one party or the other
out of the result.
A shrew political observer remarked
the other day tha 1t was idle at the
present time to speculate as 70 eaIiui-
oates for Governor and United states
war. Should 1t last all the Summer ana
longer even it Is hare telling what the
hostilities may develop IN the way o.
heroes who are likely to meet with pubic
favor in the filing of. political offices.
General Grant, who was comparatively
unknow before III Civil War, was twice
elected President of the United States oW-
ing to the great fame he had earned for
himself as the commandment the Union,
army. Joel Parker made a reputation as
mental in having him chosen for thai
office a second time. Many soldiers or the
Civil War who hitherto. had been I'M
known to fame, forged their way to the
front in politics when 1t was over; Gen,
eraI Sewelrs military prowess helped
make him a Republican leader. The late
Chancellor Runyon was q genera IN ne
field made him prominent in public az
fairs. Colonel Toffey of Jersey, City, a
war veteran became very popular after
has held several lucrative offices. Con-
gresham Gardner, another war veteran,
has also lone well in politics.
instances where war veterans have been
well cared for In the line of public ONCE
filing. The deduction from all this sense
of reasoning then, is that the present war
may produce Parkers, Sewells. Runyons,
Toffeys, etc, who will leap forward in
public estimation and be rewarded with
Offices with which mad there not been any
war at all their names would not be men
toned.
Fol- instance. should John Kean join the
army and as e sasa s, Of q u m shd n wIh
of MS ambition to become a United States
senator would be removed. Other pa
triotic Jerseymen who would take up
arms would also be in the direct line of
political reward, and perhaps some of
them would be brought out as candidates
for Governor. The political conventions
to nominate candidates for Governor Will
not be- called for five months yet. In the
meantime G-ubernetorial timber maj be
developed which at present is not thought
Of at all, and which may surprise the po-
AT the present time it seems that two
counties alone are likely. to reap the hon
crs of the naming of the candidates for
the offices of Governor and United States
Senator. The names OF Smith ard Crane
look talisnlanie among the Democrats of
Essex, while Kean and VOORHEES, are in
Union. That is all very well for those
counties. but it is unlikely that the politi-
clans OF the Fest of the State will tanely
submit to such q monopoly. Hudson will
be heard from surely, and South Jersey
will not quietly consent TO a reputation
of its sterling Republicanism. Perhaps it
may develop q war hero who will march
to the front in civil life just the same
as before Spanish bullets.
Politicians are getting uneasy as to the
outcome of the State Senatorial elections
of Atlantic, Cumberland, Ocean, Mercer,
Morris, Bergen and Hudson. In the pres
ent representation the only Democrat is
Mr.. DAILY of Hudson. Eight Republican
To maintain control OF the Senate all the
Republicans need elect are three mem
bers; the Democrats to gain control must
elect five. The chances are in favor of
stances. The counties of Atlantic, Cum-
berland, Ocean and Mercer seldom go
Democratic. Atlantic has not had a Dem
ocratic Senator since 1877. when it was
represented by Hosea F.. Madden. Cum
berland has had only one Democratic Sem
ator since 1877, when it was represented
had only one Democratic Senator in thir-
ty years, and he was Philip P. Baker, who
was in office from 1887 to 1889. Ephraim
P. Emson was the only Democrat elected
the county from 1878 to 1880. Mercer
county's last Democratic Senator was
George O. Vanderbilt. who served from
1884 to 1856. 1t would SEEM. then, that
with good nominations II a sturdy cam
paign that the Republicans are reason
ably certain of holding those counties.
Should they do so then the Senate is
The counties of Morris7and Bergen are
considered doubtful. The former leans
towards the Republicans, and the latter
mas mas : al nensoc Democ crnfS until nn ia shree Sv vesrs
swoop on theaoid CITADEL and succeeded
in winning The distinction Of being the
first Republican Senator ever elected in
that county. He will try again, and while
his prospects for victory@are not as bright
as they were before, yet he expects to
give the Democratic candidate a severe
tussle. As to its representation in the
Senate during the last % or 30 years. Nor
ris county has divided the honors about
equally between the two great parties.
There is an old proverb relating to that
county.yto the effect that as George Rich
ards DIRECTS the county is sure to go. Mr..
however, he KICKS oVer the traces and
Democratic. candidates are elected. 1t is
said that George =. Werts would never
lent support Of Mr.. Richards. It is not
yet known whom he will select this time