The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-11-09
PRESIDENT AND SPEAKER
Johnson Of Camden and
Bacheller of Essex Slated
for the Offices.

Especial to "The Jersey City News."]
TRENTON. Nov. 9, 19O1-Speculation is
| already rife among the corridor states
men at the Capitol building as to the
organization of the next Legislature. The
belief holds sway among the wise men
of the corridors that the President of the
| Senate of 1902 will be Senator Herbert w.
| johnson, of Camden County, who is about
| to enter on the last year of his term as
maker of laws The Camden man was
! virtually slated for the place before the
! last session had closed and there is no
| disposition on the part of any of the
returning members to dispute his claim
| to the gavel.
The return Of Assemblyman William J.
] Bradley. the Speaker of the last Houss.
/ to the legislative halls for a fifth trip,
has given rise to the belief that he may
be a candidate for reelection to the
Speakership, but If the programme OF the
Senate embodying the selection of Sena-
tor johnson for the Presidency, is carried
out there will be no possibility for an
other term in the chair for Mr. Bradley.
A boom has been launched in some OF
the southern counties calculated to keep
the Speakership down that way for the
next session. The new boom has been
sprung in the interest of Assemblyman
Charles Wright, the Quaker member from
Burlington, who will go back TO the
House for a fifth term. Mr.. Wright has
not vet expressed wish for the honor or
presiding over the House of Assembly, but
the boomers are certain that he will not
refuse if it be made plain to him that his
colleagues wish to honor him in that way.
The return of Mr.. Bradley to the House
is not, as some believe, to insure his re-
election as Speaker. In fact, Mr.. Bradley
has stated positively that he does not
desire another term as the presiding ofn-
Ger of the House. and that he will not be
a candidate for the position. Camden
politicians say that the reason for his re-
turn to the lower branch of the law
making body is just to keep him IN line
for the nomination for Senator next year,
to succeed Mr.. Johnson.
Soon after being nominated for his fifth
term Mr. Bradley declared that he would
not be a candidate for the Speakership
and that he would not seek the office.
.sOf course said Mr.. Bradley as
sort of amendment to his original dec,ar-
alton, .ff my colleagues come to me and
ask me to be a candidate for the Speak
ership, will not refuse but 1 will not
make a fight for the place.
The plans of the Wright boomers and
the efforts of those who are talking of
BRADLEY for the Speakership will amount
To hut little when it comes to the actual
selection of a man to occupy the Speak
e1.,s chair. as the members of the next
house and the most influential of the
state leaders have practically settled on
Assemblyman j. Harry Bacheller, of Es-
sex, for the Job.
The Essex member made such an excel
lent record in his two years of service.
from a Republican point of view. that he
was marked for the Speakership before
the adjournment of the last House. Mr..
Bachelor has made firm friends of nearly
all the members who will return to the
House next session, and his path to the
Speakers desk seems to be comparatively
clear of distractions.
In fact, the wise men of the corridors
whisper that the certainty that Mr.
Bacheller will be the next Speaker Is all
that has kept Senator Thomas N. Me-
Carter from getting into the fight for the
Senate Presidency. The E ssex Senator
is about to enter on the last year of his
term, and is just aggressive enough 70
make matters decidedly interesting for
any other aspirant, if he should decide
to enter the fight on his own account
But with Bachelor in view as the prob
able Speaker, the Essex Senator will re-
main on the floor.
The new Senate, in point Of numbers,
will stand just the same as the last, II
Republicans and 4 Democrats. butt n the
House the minority will have one vote
less than last year, the figures being 46
Republicans and IA Democrats, so that the
vote on joint ballot will be, Republicans
63. Democrats IS.
Four of the Senators are new men-Ed-
ward s. Lee of Atlantic Bloomfield A.
Minch, Cumberland; Jacob w. Welsh.
Morris. and George shinn. Ocean. Mr.