Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1898-09-21
A LETTER FROM THE
CITY BY THE SEA.
Visiting firemen and Iron
Hall Delegates make
things lively.
ATLANTIC CITY FOR NATIONAL CONVENTIONS,
ATLANTIC CRY FOR NATIONAL CONVENTIONS
SOME POLITICAL GOSSIP CONCERNING CAN
NER.

The past week has been one of pro-
cessions, parades, and conventions and
much good feed has been slowed away
in the stomachs of visiting delegations.
The annual Firemen's parade brought
down a good many handsome compan-
les with their bands, and the convention
of delegations from the Iron Hall Lod-
ges throughout the country brought
several hundred prominent people
many OF whom had Dev5r been here be-
fore. Together they made things quite
lively-and they came at a time when
they could get solid comfort and find
cool, agreeable weather. This is fast
becoming the,,great convention city of
the Country-ior it has the best Of
railroad communication and unequalled
hotel facilities. 1t will be remembered
that, sometime ago, l called attention
to Atlantic City as the proper place to
hold the great political Conventions to
nominate candidates for the Presidency
in 1900. repeat what | said then that
there is no other place where so many
people can be comfortably housed with
in one mile of the hall whree the conven-
tion should be held. The expenditure of
a few thousand dollars upon either of
our big piers would make hall large
enough to hold the Convention, and the
immediate surroundings are an almost
solid mass of hotels and boarding
houses. So far as room and accOmmo-
dations are concerned we have both.
And then think of great Ocean Pier as
a place for comfort as compared with
the halls where conventions have been
held in our big western cities in the clos
ing week in June, or the first week or
two in July. With open windows, and
the breezs sweeping through from the
sea, there would be comfort indeed for
all concerned. l believe it to be entirely
reasonable to repeat that there is no
b. tier place, and do not see why the
Republican National Convention, at
least, should not be held here. Many OF
the leading Republican Senators, Con-
gressmen, and visiting statesmen
have been here, from time to time, and
are familiar with Atlantic CIty's advan-
tages. Such men IS Senators Quay,
Penrose, Sewell, Burrows and many
Others, together with the powerful
"pulP' of the great Pennsylvania Rail-
road, ought to exert in fuence enough to
steer the Convention this way. | believe
that concerted action upon their part
would do it. Will they move in the
matter? Who will suggest it to them
and ask them to go ahead
Speaking of the National political con-
ventions serves to remind me that small
er ones are close at hand. This week
the Republican State Convention will be
LID hx.+
Acting Governor Voorhees, has had the
path cleared for him and he will get the
nomination without a contest-pro-
badly by reclamation. hear, however,
that there was lot of friction "behind
the scenes" some two, or three weeks
ago, when some of the State leaders
undertook to crowd him off the track.
Then it was, am told, that the Cover
nor's friends read the riot act, and in
formed certain people that if he was not
renominated there would be "crape on
the door" all over the State in Novem-
ber. The ultimatum had its desired
effect, and those high up in the party
Councils v ho wanted to dispose the
brilliant young Governor had to fuce a
serious situation, and didn't dare to do
what they wanted to. That is the
Republican gubernatorial situation, in
a nutshell, as told to me by man who
has himself lived in the State House at
Trenton, The brief candidacy of that
other bright young man, Mahlon HI.
P.tney, which lasted only for q week,
was only little bit of horse play to let
certain people down easy, and to enter
him seriously for the Governors race
three years hence. Oh how those unac-
quained with political intrigue would
stare if they could pull aside the cur
tain and get square peep behind the
scenes
In the Republican Senatorial race
Samuel Fl. Kelley seems likely to cap
ture majority of this Gty's delegates
if public talk is any Indication. That he
will carry his own Ward, the Fourth, is
certain, and the third is nearly or quito
certain. That would give him 1S votes
as a starte with an even chance of the
other two with 10 votes. 1t is fact
that Kelley has majority Of the real
hard wide-awake workers, but he has
no newspaper backing here. The old
"ripg" has issued orders for them to
"holler" for 'Lew." Evans, and like de-
lighted children they obey the masters
call. All the office-holders, at Mays
Landing, are also shouting the same
chorus, and between the instructed
newspapers and the shouting Office
holders it Is hoped by those who cannot
ssuse" him to down Mr.. Kelley. But il
NAV turn out that those who do not
own newspapers or hold Office may
have something to say concerning the
nomination. The people throughout
| the County may take notion not to be
| dictated to and take the reins themsel
yes. In event Samuel I'll. Kelley is
likely to be the nominee and he would
win theelection in a walk. Next Satur
| day willtell the story.
For the Assembly the ''orders" have
| been issued to renomiuate AssemblymaI
| Ashley-who is undoubtedly the very
weakest candidate that would be likely
| to have his claims considered in Con
| vention.
| For Coroner there is to be a contest,
| and Justice Charles u DeHart has an
nounced himself as candidate to sue
ceed Coroner Mclaughlin. Charley" il
q genial and popular man, and woult
.ssit'' on dead man in first-class style
He has many friends here and may vii
the prize, but the present incumbent vii
not yield without putting up stubborn
fight at the caucuses.
The Democrats are letting thing
drift and have not yet, apparently
focused upon any particular man TO
anything They do not yet know
where they are "at'' for Governor and
suppose they have not yet received thei
"orders." It must be said TO thei