The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-08-31
.LENTz AND RIgER
They Meet In the State
Committee Rooms and
the Major Says
Things.
ONCE HIS FOE WAS DECENT
But Now Is Like a Guerrilla
What the Republicans
Are Doing.

small but very select gathering at the
headquarters of the State Republican
Committee in Walnut street yesterday af-
ternoon; a gathering that was suggestive
of buried hatchets and pipes of peace
There was Senator Edward c. Stokes, of
Cumberland county, acting chairman of
the State Committee; Treasurer William
Riker and Secretary John S. Gibson, of
the State body, and Major Carl Lentz,
chairman of the County Committee, Mr.
Rilker's erstwhie bosom friend and pres
ent political enemy.
From the fact that open warfare has for
some time been carried on between the
Major and the Supreme Court Clerk and
in view of the determined opposition that
the Major made to the Congressional as
pirations of Mr.. Gibson, a friendly visit
from the chairman of the County Com
Snittee to the State headquarters while
MI. Riker and the former Comptroller re-
mained in charge, did not seem likely.
But the unexpected happened.
The Major. grown stout and portly of
late, was escorted to the headquarters by
/ Senator Stokes and Mr.. Riker, the latter
having met the others on the street and
fallen in with them on the way to the
committee rooms. The veteran wore his
slouched hat tipped defiantly over his
right eye, and entered the building with
figurative chip on hie shoulder.
Hello, Gibsoni'' was his salutation, as
he entered the secretary's room.
sHow do you do, Major?'' came the re-
sponse from the former Comptroller, as
he grasped the extended hand of the Yis-
itor.
Major Lentz made a quick survey of the
furnishings of the place and then turned
to Senator Stokes
"Say, Stokes, 1 thought 1 had a good
deal of cheek, but I must say you get
ahead of me-, he began.
I'm what way, Major?'' asked the little
man from Cumberland.
sqWhy, when you sent me that letter
| asking me for the names of people in
this county to swell Riker's pocketbook.
Don't you think we need the money right
here in our own county?"
We'll, that was a mistake, Major" re-
! turned Senatar Stokes. II didn't intend
to send you that letter.
81 got it, just the same, said Major
Isentz. adding grimly. .sYou may have
noticed that it wasn't answered.
Eyes. know. but did not intend that
it should go to you,'' explained the Sena-
tor. had left it aside
But Riker insisted that it should be
sent eh?" and the Major looked askance
at his former chosen friend. That was
always the way with Riker,', he went on.
seating himself in Mr.. Gibson's chair.
You know Stokes that Riker used to
be quite a decent fellow, when he be-
longed to the Army of the Potomac. I
wouldn't have thought half SO much of it
If he had Joined the Army Of North yir-
ginia, under General Lee, who was one
of the greatest generals of the Confeder-
acy. But when he left the Army of the
Potomac and became Colonel Moseby
Riker, the rankest kind of Confederate
guerrilla, I lost a whole lot Of my regard
for him. Colonel Moseby Riker- that's his
title now
Mr.. Riker Joined in the laugh that fol-
lowed and leaning his head back in his
chair said. smilingly:
s0h, dear, how some men do change
with time
That's true, Riker,' acquiesced the
know. Stokes, this man Riker has given
Aot o1AoSr>S any mai IL A1SSS<>
county?"
II can very readily believe that, Major
said Mr.. Stokes, with significant laugh.
Il guess that's true
Eyes. but they were not strong enough
to accomplish the desired result" chim-
ed in Mr.. Riker.
No. they weren't, Z laughed the Major,
you haven't electricity enough to do
that
"or else your Insulation is too heavy"
suggested the treasurer
Major Lentz arose, and glancing around
the room, proceeded to draw invidious
comparisons.
You're very quiet here, it seems to
me-" he began. Now, over at the coun-
ty committee rooms everything is as busy
as beehive. People coming in and
going out, getting information and get
ting this and that, and everybody doing
something all the time. No drones around
the county committee rooms. But you
seem to have plenty of leisure here and
/ he looked inquiringly at Mr.. Riker Say,
Stokes, haven't we got nice place over
| there?r
you certainly have assented the sena-
tAr
| That's where the money of the people
goes, J" put in Mr.. RiIer
| There is no difficulty about getting the
money. said the Major Since Henry
Doremus has been treasurer it has been
easy. Not like it used to be. Rilxer. A
pleasant smile and a cheerful word does
wonders, and the Major nodded sagely
at the former treasurer Of the County