New-York tribune., 1901-10-14
OUTLOOK FAVORS MURPHY
BUT THE DEMOCRATS ARE PROCLAIM
ING THAT THEIR CANDIDATE
WILL WIN

but a few days OF mingling with the plain
people in a half dozen counties of the State
would convince any conservative mind that the
prospect of the election OF Franklin Murphy
is better than is the outlook for the election OF
James NJ. Seymour. OF enthusiasm there has
been only a little anywhere in either party
yet, but there is a quiet earnestness among
Republicans which is entirely satisfactory to
them and somewhat disconcerting TO the Demo-
Gratis, although they affect TO believe in and say
that they of victory next month. They
do not give their sources Of information but ap
parently build their forecasts upon generalities
that glitter and phrases that look well in print
In this sort of campaign work William B. Gour-
ley. the chairman of the State Democratic Com
mittee: Colonel Edward Livingston Price and
Robert Davis are slkilful and probably sincere,
but the facts and figures for the faith which
they expound and for the stability OF the high
colored rainbows which they chase up to this
time in this campaign invariably missing.
On the other hand the Republicans. with that
careful attention to detail in political work
which the late John Y. Foster instituted as
committee work all New-Jersey. and which
the State Republican Committee still perpetu-
ates are daily gathering statistics which show
the strong and reveal the weak places. Hence
they are in position to speak with some degree
of authority. They have found that the county
organizations. generally speaking, are in excel
lent working order and they base their reports
of the conditions in the State upon individual
intercourse and written communications. From
these sources. TO which The Tribune has had
liberal access, the impression seems TO be con-
elusive that. with the exception of few slight
disaffections. the party has never been better
equipped to make contest, and rarely, IL ever.
has been cheered by more encouraging signs of
success. 1t is not to be forgotten, however, that
in many instances the necessity for active and
aggressive campaign work is made prominent.
This is especially the view of the conservative
and reliable Republicans of Essex, Monmouth,
AIiddlesex and Burlington counties. and in these
Essex IS made the most prominent Of all
DEMOCRATIC HOPES IN ESSEX
This probably is because the Democrats are
placing their greatest hope upon the result in
Essex County. They chalk up Hudson County
as safe for 10000 to 1900 Democratic major
ity, and almost invariably say that they will re-
duce the Republican majority in Essex TO a few
hundreds, and that possibly they may carry that
county. In reaching this conclusion they base,
or affect 10 base, their opinions upon the fire.
quently reported healing of all Democratic dis
cord there. AS example, they point to the
remarks of several Of the recently irreconcila-
BILE opponents OF Mayor Seymour, and from
these they select, with many manifestations OF
pleasure, the statement of ex-senator Michael
T. Barrett. In this statement Mr.. Barrett is
made to say: IT know of no disaffection in any
part OF Essex County. The utmost harmony and
enthusiasm prevail in the Democratic party"
To the individual seeking accurate information.
however, It is the harmony Of stealth and the
enthusiasm of ice
Try as they may to conceal it, those Demo-
Gratis OF Essex County who were opposed 10 Mr..
Seymour before his nomination cannot warm up
in support Of him in a way which does not
seem to foreshadow trouble for him in the bal
lot box But the supporters Of Mr.. Seymour at
the first sign Of doubt Of the correctness Of Mr.
Barrett's view OF the situation produce as a
final and incontrovertible argument the letter
OF ex-United States Senator Smith TO a promi-
nent Newark Democrat in which he says:
desire to thank YOU for the assistance YOU
gave in the campaign for the nomination for
Governor. Although candidate was not
honored with the nomination. IL is our duty
Democrats TO make every honorable effort for
the election Of the nominee Of the convention.
While there is no doubt, as The Tribune said
a week ago, in giving space to the expression
OF close friend Of ex-senator Smith that he
will vote for Mayor Seymour. the fact that in
this letter he absolutely abstains from men
tioning the Democratic candidate by name and
the additional fact that 1t contains no sign Of en-
thusiasm or word Of praise for him. are taken
by conservative Democrats to mean between the
lines that he will receive no more than the
usual perfunctory support which one partisan
feels in duty bound 10 give to another The
appointment on Saturday of ex-senator Smith
as member at large OF the Democratic State
Committee would, II was feared by many Demo-
Gratis. be accepted in the same perfunctory way
Indeed, it openly said that Mr.. Smith would
lV ~ ont In Ordar
tain for the time being and to possibly increase
in the future his standing in and grip upon the
party. But the Seymour Democrats said that
Mr.. Smith was now in entire harmony with both
the candidate and the party. Their warrant for
this. in the belief and vocabulary OF many Demo-
cratic friends of Mr.. Smith, entitled them to
another guess" Incidentally it was said that
the appointments OF Mr.. Smith and Colonel
Price members at large of the State Com
mittee, 10 succeed General Richard A Donnelly
and ex-United States Senator Blodgett, were
made for two peculiar reasons one of which
was that General Donnelly wanted to retire and
the other was that ex-senator Blodgett was in
vited to go-in other words. that he was per-
mitted TO resign.
REPUBLICANS TO HOLD TO STATE ISSUES.
In view Of the work before them the members
OF the Essex County Republican Committee
have laid out a distinct plan of campaign. Mr..
Murphy present at the conference OF the
committee. The unanimous opinion expressed
was that Mr.. Murphy would be handsomely
elected, and that the next House of Assembly
would be Republican by about a two-thirds
majority. 1t was decided 10 make a vigorous
but dignifed local campaign. and to stick close
10 the State issues laid down in the Republ-
can campaign textbook AS to local issues IT
also was agreed to take up track elevation, Pas
sale River pollution. Morris Canal abandonment,