The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-01-19
LEGISLATIVE PERSONNEL
Extracts From the Biog-
raphies Of the States
Present Lawmakers.
WHAT THEY PRIDE THEMSELVES UPON
Foster and Braun the Modest
Senators Monmouth Fur
nishes the Infant and
Warren the Grand
father Members.
WHAT THEY PRIDE THEMSELVES UPON
Ispecla1 . rrhe Jeraey city News."1

liz LElCtt3 L -
Manual much interesting information is
gathered touching the lives and achieve
ments of the distinguished Jerseymen
who collectively make up the Legislature
for the session of 1899. AS the data for
these sketches was furnished by the sub
jects themselves, its accuracy cannot be
| impeached. and where praise is bestowed
or commentator given, it may be taken
for granted that it is deserved, because
who should know so well as the au-
photographer himself? The News has
| already told Of the various occupations
by which the members of the Legisla-
ture earned a livelihood before the APP
probation of their fellow-citizens elevated
them to the dignity of lawmakers II
now remains to record some OF the
causes. as told by themselves. that have
brought about their present greatness
Naturally, from his many years OF
ofice-holding and prominence in public
affairs. Senator Allan L. McDermott. of
Hudson. requires more space than any
other Senator to recount his career. Sen
ator MeDermott is a product of the
Hub" where he was born March 80. 1854.
His father was a poet and his mother a +
member of zone of the oldest families IN
New England" Senator McDermott ad-
mits that ne once cherished a poetic fancy
himself. and that verses from his pen
nave appeared in print. He forsook
literary paths for law and politics, ana
if he has ever had cause to regret IL
does not say so. Reference is made to
his steadfast friendship for Leon ALBEIT
quotations are given to show how much
his services as a member OF the state
BOARD off Assessors and the Jersey City
Board of Finance were appreciated. ana
he proudly avows that although he was
chairman of the New Jersey delegation
at the Chicago convention he refused
to accept the platform adopted by that
convention.
while Senator McDermott holds the
record for extreme length in his dog
raphv. Senators Foster of Hunterdon anu
Braun of Passaic divide the honors Tor
brevity. Each is condensed into a hail
dozen lines, giving the date of birth ana
occupation. Before becoming Senator
Mr.. Foster had been a member OF the
Town Committee and Mr.. Braun had
been Mayor of Paterson.
Senator Lewis Evans of Atlantic prides
himself on having begun life as a mes
senger boy. He was born in Atlantic
county in 1912, and was County Clerk Tor
ten years. Johnson, of Bergen; johnson,
If Camden; PARKER, of Burlington;
Stokes. of Cumberland; Ketcham, of Es-
sex. and Barber, of Warren, have moth
ing new to offer since last year. Sen
ator Hand, Of Cape May, conveys the
gratifying assurance that his many
friends. .sin their appreciation of his
abilities, are of the unanimous opinion
that in politics, as well as in business, he
is in the foremost rank of e~nterprising
citizens
Senator Stranger, of Gloucester, is the
only man from that county ever elected
four times to the Assembly, and then
"his many friends, recognizing his ster-
ling qualities and faithful service,
showed their appreciation by electing him
to the Senate. Senator Miller, Of Salem,
is also a victim of his friends. He had
always refused to accept office, although
often solicited, but the pressure that ne
should run for Senator was slrreslstl-
ble." Senator Hutchinson, of Mercer, is
modest in his self-portrait, but Senator
Van Cleef. of Middlesex. points with
pride to his three terms as Mayor OF
New Brunswick and to his membership
in the Holland Society. Senator Francis
of m tells of his active connec-
tion with the local affairs of Long
Branch. and he is the only Senator who
refers with pride to his zeal in church
work. Senator Pitney, of Norris. cam
didly admits that he made a priilaht
record in Congress and was one of the
most influential members ever sent from
| New Jersey.
Senator George Greeley Smith, of Ocean.
plumes himself upon his relationship to
Horace Greeley, and Senator Reed, Of
Somerset, that his home town gave him
the largest majority ever cast there for
any candidate on any ticket. Senator
Martin. of Sussex, has been quite an
office holder in his time. and Senator
Gross, of Union. has been a Judge and
Speaker of the House of Assembly.
Eight of the Senators are college men.
johnson, of Bergen; Ketcham, Pitney and
Cross owe allegiance to Princeton; van
Rutgers, and Stokes to Brown University
OF the A~ssemblymen, Ashley, of Altar
tic, is the only one who admits that he has
uty keeper at that institution for nine
years. Mr.. Wright. of Burlington, still
lives on the farm where he was born and
which has been in. the family for three
generations, n his colleague. Mr.. Hor-
ner, is the son of a man who was a Lay
Judge. McMurray. of Camden, is a
preachers son who has not gone wrong:
Mr.. Marshall, of Cape May. is director of
the Seaville Campneeting and recording
steward of the Seville NJ. =. Church.
and Mr.. Steelman. of Cumberland, is q
contributing member of the Methodist
church of Milville.
The Essex member are all modest men.
but Mr.. Clark heads the list. His biogra-
ply takes up Just four lines. Mr.. Guen-
Their, like Mr.. McMurray. is a preachers
son. Mr.. Kreitler tells that he received
the highest number of votes on the AS
sembly ticket; Mr.. Deleot thinks it no
disgrace to have been twice defeated for
Office by Tax Commissioner William Har-
rigan, and Mr.. Bullard is the only menu
Der of the Assembly born in louisiana.
Speaker Watkins has a lengthy biogra-
ply, telling of his official career in Glou-
cester County,, as Speaker of the Assem-
bly, and Acting Governor, and Mr.. ABB
bett, of Hudson, is the only surviving son
of the late Governor Albeit. Mr.. Benny,
of Hudson, tells of how Justice Lippin-
colt, in 1894. ruled that he was not a
citizen. although born in this country, be-
cause his father had never been natural-
lied, and how the Supreme Court re-
versed the decision. Mr.. Marks. of the
same county, belongs to the Robert Davis
Association. and of Mir. Bruder it is
declared that Ibis unsulled reputation and
aggressive public career, combined with
Observation-Disclosures, has won for him the
respect and confidence of the people,
Mr.. Blackwell. of Hunterdon, is a law-
Yer. and also. strange to say a granger,
and Mr.. Yard. of Mercer, once shook
hands will President Lincoln. Mr.. Butch
er. of Monmouth County. is vouched for
as "a MAJ of rare good Judgment n
ability in business affairs. and both the
grandfathers of his colleague. Mr.. Heyer.
served in the Revolution. Mr.. Carr. of
Ocean. is one of the sixth generation of
his family raised on the same farm, and
Mr.. Wright. of Salem. owes his popularity
to the satisfaction he gave in erecting
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