The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-09-08
.SEWELL WON'T INTERFERE
Essex Republicans Must Set
tie Their Difference
Without His
Help.
Especial to rhe Jersey city News.1

/
interfere in the formers behalf in the
contest for the Esex County Register
nomination have been convinced that the
Camden chieftain will leave the local diff
ferences in this county severely alone.
Senator Sewell has let it be known def
nitely that he does not propose to raise
a hand for one side or the other, and the
light between the adherents of George e.
De Camp and the supporters of Mr.. Dex-
heImer will be fought out on its merits.
fractional differences in Essex, Middle
sex, Burlington and Cape May Counties
were the subject of more or less gossip
among the Republicans who gathered at
Trenton Wednesday night and yesterday
for the State Convention. 1t seemed to be
the general impression that there was
more bitterness in the Essex County con-
test than in any of the others, though.
from the viewpoint of many of the poll
ticians, the issue in Essex was regarded
as the least important of any, inasmuch
as the Registership has no direct bearing
on State politics and the prospective nom
nation directly concerns but practically
two individuals.
Those who know anything about the De
look upon it simply as contest for su-
premacy between these two men, but
rather as a clash between what are called
the Lentz and Riker factions in Essex.
The withdrawal of John S. Gibson as
candidate for the Republican Congress
sional nomination, and Mr.. Gibson's
stated reasons that he was stepping aside
in the interest of party harmony, was TAX
en- up by the men who were supporting
the candidates. of Gibson and Dexheimer
and used as an argument that the other
faction should, in turn, make a conces-
sion.
The concession wanted by the Dex-
heimer peopel was that Major Lentz
should withdraw his active support from
De Camp and leave the way practically
clear for the nomination of the present
Register. Major Lentz did not accept the
suggestions Of Mr.. Dexheimer's friends,
and it is curretn political gossip that the
latter wanted to have General Sewell
bring the Major to terms. AS it was
known that the general would hold one of
his usual receptions at the Trenton House
Wednesday night, it was argued that that
would be a good time to have matters
fixed up
Before going to General Sewell direct
ly, as it was said they fully intended to
do, the story has it that certain friends
of the Essex Register got one of the
Camden chieftains warmest friends to
sound him on the proposition This man
is said to have brought back word that
General Sewell would not, under any cir
cumstances, take sides in the Essex fight
for the Register nomination. The words
of the emissary were so unmistakable
and his advice on the subject so emphat-
ic that the idea of asking the general for
help was abandoned by the Dexheimer
men.
General Sewell would not discuss the
subject for publication, but in Trenton
yesterday one of his confidants, in reflect
ing the leaders, sentiments, said
why should Senator Sewell bother him
self about the Essex Regstership or about
the personal differences of any men in
the county. Let Lentz and Riker fight out
their own battles themselves. As a mat
ter of fact the fight seems to be resolving
itself into a case of the difference be-
tween tweedldum and tweedledee''
When William Rier was asked If General
ana
effect compromise in Essex, his reply
waS:-
II don't think so, and don't see why
he should. My impression is that that
fight will go on until the convention
There was little sideplay to the con-
vention yesterday, which had somewhat
of a bearing upon the Lentz-R -Riker situa-
ton. Before the Essex men got to Tren-
ton there was much doubt as to who
would be the Eighth district candidate for
Presidential elector. Several conferences
were held by Union and Essx county lea
ders, and it was practically decided that
Ernest r. Ackerman, of Plainield, would
be the man. When Major Lentz and his
Essex cohorts reached Trenton, however.
word was passed around that the Essex
end of the district had declared for Will
berforce Freeman of Orange.
Essex wants harmony" was the way
the Major put it, $50 our forty-four votes
in the Eighth District were given to MIR.
Freeman, and it is up to Will Rier to do
the rest
Before the Majors declaration had been
noised around Mr. Riker was Indifferent
almost as to whether Mr.. Freeman or
Mr.. Ackerman should be named, as it
was understood the Orange man was not
making a fight for the honor Finding,
however, that it was "up to him. Mr..
Riker hustled around, and just before
noon a little conference was held by MIR.
Riker, Charles N. Cadding, the Union
County chairman; Mr. Freeman, and one
or two others, which resulted in Mr.. Free
man being named
Another incident which escaped general
notice and in which Essex figured was
the meeting of the conventions commit
tee on credentials. Major Lentz ahd
heard about the failure of the State Com
mittee to formally approve the Essex
County Committees appointment of dele
gates and he had himself nominated as
the Essex representative on the commit
tee on credentials. This was so that the
Essex committees action and the rea-
sons therefore could be properly present.
ed and defended if necessary The major
was made chairman of the committee and
the Essex credentials were not questions
ed.
1t was with evident satisfaction a little
later that Major Lentz arose to report
credentials were examined and declard to
b al lright.'
Next to the Essex situation the polfti-
clans seemed to be most interested in the
selection of a candidate to succeed Sena-
tor Johnson, Of Bergen County, who has
been made First Assistant Postmaster
General. The general impression seemed
ff1 hE1 ia Aeca III ~