The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-07-16
THE Sill YER DISH.
Jersey Democrats Have a
Hard Campaign Before
Them.
REPUBLICANS GETTING READY
Stokes Is Planning a Vigorous
Battle Talk of Crater
for Congress.


more sanguine as to victory than the
Democrats. 1t is easy to account for Re
publican confidence because the old is
sue of 16 to is before the people once
again and the result of our years ago
told very plainly how an influential por-
tion of the Democratic party felt with
regard to it. The paramount issue, as
the Democrats would like to make it
and as has been emphasized by Congress
man DAILY, is not the same issue that is
pleasing to the Republicans or to those
gold Democrats who yet hold aloof from
their party. "Anti-Imperialism and
'Antf-Trusts" may do very well as
planks in the Democratic platform In the
view of those Democrats who refused
to vote for Bryan in 1896, but at the
same time they do not lose sight of the
fact that the free coinage of silver is one
of the tirnbers upon which the Demo-
cratic platform has been constructed.
That being the case they refuse to be-
come reconciled as a whole to the declara-
alton of principles as laid down by the
Kansas City Convention. The spectre
OF l6 to l confronts them and as long as
Il ooes they cannot consistently vote the
Democratic ticket
"Aii nc SAFE 10 predict that Bryan
VIII mold the vote he received in New
Jersey four years ago and will add to it
thousands of those who were then scared
by the silver issue. But as all the Demo-
Gratis will not return to the fold of their
party 1t is reasonable to expect that the
Republicans will carry the State. Many
of the present Democratic leaders appre-
hend such result while some of them
hope for a victory for their ticket. While
the Republicans feel very sanguine as to
the result being in their favor, yet they
do not look for the majority their ticket
received in 1885. They will be satisfied
with a surplus of votes aggregating z. 800
or 50,00, and then they will feel that they
have done well. In fact, MIR. Rfker of the
Republican State Committee, does not
claim more than 30,0C9 and he is a very
far-seeing politician. On the other hand,
Democratic leaders, while they do not give
up the State by any means, yet say if
their ticket is defeated in New Jersey it
will not be by more than 500 or 5000.
OF course the preliminary work of the
campaign is receiving attention and
soon the headquarters of each party will
be opened for business. In the absence of
the chairman of the Republican State
Committee, Franklin Murphy, who is in
Europe, Senator Stokes, as vice chair
man, is in charge of affairs. OF course,
Mr.. Stokes has not been very energetic as
yet, but when he concludes to begin hos
tilities his power will be felt There is no
better informed politician in New Jersey
today that the Cumberland Senator, not
even excepting Allan L. McDermott. In
fo lTr Oh t., So
ming the machine of his party as Mr..
Murphy or any other Republican in the
State. Were he and Allan McDermott
pitted against each other as rival leaders
and were the Democratic party in as good
shape for battle as the Republican, then
a campaign well worth seeing would be
waged.
1t is not yet known what part, If any,
Mr.. McDermott will take in this cam
paign. He has not been heard from at ALL
Four years ago he returned from Chic
ago as mad as a hornet at the ticket
which had been nominated He predict
ed defeat in New Jersey by 100000 and he
was not far wide of the mark. The won
der now is as to how he feels with regard
to the new ticket and the paramount .
issue which his friend Congressman Daily
helped to frame. In fact all the old lea
ders of Mr.. McDermott's calibre are keep
ing themselves very shady, and perhaps
the hot weather accounts for their retire
ment, which surely must be only tenn
porary. Even the whereabouts of former
Senator James Smith is unknown, and
Edward F. c. Young is as dumb as an
oyster concerning campaign matters.
AS chairman of the State Committee of
his party William B. Gourley will direct
the Democratic campaign. Mr.. Gourley
is keen politician and has ripe expert
ence, especially in the running of local
campaigns. He has good reputation for
honor and integrity, and should he receive
loyal support from the leaders of his par
ty, no doubt he will make things hum
during the campaign. Mr.. Gourley is also
a member of the Democratic National
Committee, so that he will have his hands
full until the election is over. There are
some real practical campaigners on the
Democratic State Committee besides Mr..
Gourley, such, for instance, as Senator
Cornish, Colonel Price. General Donnelly,
Colonel Heppenheimer, E. F. G.. Young,
former Senator Martin of Hunterdon,
Oliver Kelly, David S. Carter. Senator
Braun, and former Senator Keyes. Were
the Democratic platform without the is
| to plank these politicians would give the
Republicans lot of trouble and perhaps
would be able to wrest the State from
| their control.
What part former Senator Rufus Blod-
gett will take in this campaign no one at
| present seems to know He is a power
| in Monmouth County. where he is better
| known for the zeal he sometimes dis
! plays in helping to defeat Democratic
| tickets instead of trying to elect them.
| SO his enemies charge. at any rate. And
| still Mr.. Blodgetts name is carried on
| the roll of the Democratic State Com
| mittee. It is reported that he is having
| his lance again whetted for the scalp of
| Dave Crater, who it is said is a candi-
| date for Congress in the Third district
| now represented by Mr.. Howell, Repub-
lican. If Mr.. Blodgett would only fall
| In line for Mr., Crater. the latter would
| surely be nominated and would probably
| carry the district. even despite the un-
| popularity of the 16 to / plank Tk- dis
trict IS Democratic on a square vote as
between the two parties provided, Of
course, that the Democrats were united,