The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-06-06
New Jersey in November.

was a series of articles forecasting the
results of the elections, this fall, in a
number of States. Among these are
New Jersey. 1t may be said in one word,
that, If all the States were as accurately
sized up as this. the aggregation of mis-
Information laid before the 'sTribune's''
readers was the most wonderful on
record.
The New Jersey forecast, written pre-
sumably by the more or less able re-
organizationist, claimed about very
county in the State for the G.. O. r,
the coming fall, with resulting majorities
both in the Senate and Assembly, and
the reelection of General William J.
Sewell 10 the Senate, two years from
now. So very brave is the writer in his
long range attack on the Democracy,
that he sees even Hudson sending a Re-
publican phalaux to Trenton.
There is one truthful statement, any
way. In the ..Tribune's'' article. 1t is
that Senators will be elected in seven
ountie s:-Essex, Monmouth, Union,
Somerset, Gloucester, Salem, Camden
and Warren. OF course it claims a sure
victory in every one-perha2s with the
exception of Warren, and 50 It continues
to see the control of the Senate in the
hands of the G. .. P. for at least .wo
years. To us, It seems, however. that
Camden is about the only secure Repuo.-
lican county in the list. Monmouth and
Somerset are almost as certainly Demo-
cratic as Warren itself, and in Essex.
Salem and Union Democratic chance are
good, while in Gloucester they are not
hopeless. Thus we have the eight coun-
ties classified into three Democratic; one
Republican; four doubtful, of which two
incline to Democracy.
In Salem, The Democrats have the best
chances they ever had of electing a SEN
ator. Salem Is always a doubtful county
with leanings toward the Democrats and
the returns for the past few years plain
~ indicate that much depends upon the
character of the men nominated. SHOULD
the Democrats nominate some representa-
tive citizen like Robert Gwynne, nothing
Republican dishonesty can invent could
keep him from election.
Over in Gloucester the Republicans are
cutting each others Threats in the most
bloodthirsty nj The offering of the
position Of United States District Attor-
ney to Speaker Watkins months before it
was vacant, has by no means taken him
out of the fight. Although he has disap-
oeared as an a~spirant for the Senatorship
himself, he has brought forth a personal
vate secretary. The Stanger faction don't
think such a movement fair and the order
has gone forth:-"Wherever you see a
Watkins or Pearson head, smash it." 1t
would not surprise many careful observ-
ers to see a Democratic Senator for Glou-
cester in the next Legislature.
The same state Of affairs exists in SOM
erset where the bitter war between the
Reed and Thompson factions is rapidly
viping out what little prospect the Re-
publicans ever had of carrying the coun-
~. The recent alleged surrender OF the
Thompson faction on the Somerset post
mastership. upon which the Republican
leaders are building such high hopes is
only what Thompson and his friends can
"a bit Of strategy" The Thonpsonftes
have only tried to conceal the knives they
have I'D their sleeves for anybody who
whispers to Senator Reed; but the saio
knives are so long that the glfttering
points stick out from their cuffs.
Monmouth county, normally a Demo-
cratic stronghold, has about recovered her
pristine glory, as that little bantam
Ben1bIfean. Asa Francis, will learn to his
sorrow If he attempts to run for Senator,
again next fall.
The Republicans are also beginning to
feel that Essex is not SO sure for them as
death and taxes. and they realize that
they have the fight of their lives on their
hands. The recent persecution OF Major
Carl Lentz is bound to have a disastrous
enect on the party's next campaign. With
GOOD management and good candidates
the Democrats ought to carry the eoun-
ty next fall.
The prestige of being the home OF the
Governor and the Junior United States
Senator, the Republicans think is enough
to assure them of Union, but the time ~
not SO far away when the Democrats
used to carry Union right along and there
Is no reason whyFthey should not again.
The Tribune want to take another
1ook at the situation without magnifyins
glasses. 1t then r~eorganize its hopes.
49, .aAAA4ATa