New-York tribune., 1901-12-17
NEW-JERSEY POLITICS.
FRANCIS NAY NOT BE PRES
DENT OF THE SENATE.
THE HOUSE SPEAKERSHIP WILL PROB
ABLY BE SETTLED TO-DA1-BA1hD
AS A SENATORIAL CANDIDATE.

A.. ,,,rs,,i+ rx Senator Charles Asa Francis of
Monmouth County. of the office of president OF
the New-Jersey Senate, although not uneA-
pected was encouragingly illustrative OF the
popular temper when brought race TO race win
a proposition which includes the incumbeney OF
the place next in Importance to that OF Governor
of the State. By some Republicans VINO nao
hitherto given the question of organizing the
Senate little if any attention the progress Which
Mr. Francis had made was regarded with as
tonishment, and freely declared 10 De d
menace to future legislation and party suprern-
acy Other Republicans ridiculed the ldea OF
making Mr.. Francis president OF the senate
saving that it was only 2 passing Vasary "nlcn
q few moments of calm contemplation would
dispel and defeat. Still others regarded the
subject more seriously, and said that, in view
of the activity and celerity of the supporters
Of Mr. Francis II was the duty OF the oppo-
nents of MI Francis to concentrate at once
their forces and make them felt in opposltlon
to the lobby Of the Legislature and to the men
who, according to report, had special interest
in his selection. The Republican party, they
said in some instances was not the property of
a few individuals in the pursuit of either the
bonors or the enolunnents Of office or the quanti
ties of specific legislation. The combination Of
these forces which 1t was believed had been
made in the Francis interest primarily and for
q purpose not named, but understood, and the
experience and facilities at their control were
regarded as elements Of danger to the best in
terests of the State and the good name of the
Republican party. The overthrow of this COM
bination by the defeat of Mr.. Francis would
require diligence and activity in action and the
earnest exercise of ,lIe influential and patriotic
leaders of the PARTY it was declared.
L is conceded generally that the supporters
of Mr.. Francis have been able TO place their
candidate upon footing Of assurance. so far
as pledges are concerned, sufficiently so, in fact
to make it apparent that unless a determined
opposition develops he will be president of the
Senate. Up to this time there has been no
active candidate against Mr.. Francis.
There seems TO be no doubt that the number
Of Senatorial votes alleged to have been pledged
to Senator Francis has been exaggerated. Early
last week it was boldly affirmed that Mr.. Fran
els had eleven votes besides his own at his
command. At the end Of the week the number
by some Of his own partisans had been reduced
TO ten, and yesterday it admitted by some
Of his friends that he had only nine votes. in
cluding his own. which would give him bare
majority of the caucus. But these nine votes.
il was contended. would be firm for Mr.. Francis
and could not be changed.
SENATORS NOT PLEDGED TO FRANCIS.
On the other hand by what is regarded as
competent authority. it was averred that the
statement that Mr. Francis held the pledges of
all Of the Senators except McCarter and Cross
was erroneous. One State Senator whose name
is neither McCarter nor Cross. said that this
statement was notoriousiy untrue. Another Re
publican Of State prominence said that not only
was this statement untrue. but he readily
counted up five Senators. not including Mr..
Cross, who were not pledged TO MI Francis he
said, moreover, chat he had good reason for
believing that a number of the alleged pledges
IN Nv EraU IA m a lie and
were not absolute or binding. The condition
upon which some pledges 10 Senator Francis
were made understood to be that no candi-
date should appear against him. or that otner
conditions Of the organization should warrant
the selection of the Senator from Monmouth
as the presiding officer. This was the view
most generally entertained by a number Of
representative Republicans. and upon it they
based the conclusion that the defeat of Mr..
Francis would follow a deliberate and dignihed
consideration of the subject by the Senators
1t appeared yesterday to be The unanimous
decision Of the opposition to Mr.. Francis TO con-
centrate their forces upon Senator Joseph Cross,
OF Union County. Mr.. Cross. who is serving his
last year in the Senate is lawyer of recognized
ability. He was member of the Assembly IN
1894 and 1885, and was Speaker OF the House.
where he made an excellent record. His sup
porterS say that he has had the legislative
training and has the judicial temperament and
! experience which will be especially needed in
the conduct Of the Senate at the approaching
session.
Every serious situation has its humorous side
/ The appearance of David Baird. of Camden
/ County, as a candidate for United States Sen
! ator, although extensively and repulsively pre-
mature, in view Of the painful and pathetic con-
! ditions which exist, and made especially SO by
| there being no vacancy in the Senate. is one
| OF those eccentricities of politics which has
! provoked satire and humor in about equal pro-
| portions all over NeW-JerSey. Mr.. Baird's
| ability to manage a primary meeting and to
manipulate county convention is on every
! hand conceded; his good fellowship among good
! fellows is nowhere denied; his appointment to
a place the State Board of Assessors is large
! Iy regarded as a compliment to his genius for
/ politics and the support of his friends; but when
! it comes to considering him as United States
! Senator, it is impossible for anybody who knows
/ him to be serious, and the opinion prevails that
! he himself must regard the proposition make
| him the successor of Senator SewelI a a life
! sized practical joke with unlimited capacities
! for expansion. 1t was, indeed, difficult for any
! Republican Of dignity and prominence in the
councils of his party to regard this proposition
| seriously until it became a menace as one of
| the tributaries to the election of Charles Asa
! Francis president OF the Senate.
Another of the humors of the present political
situation is in the announcement, recently made,
| that Senator Reed, Of Somerset County. may
! be again prevailed upon to become the leader of
| his party in the Senate" It has been under
/ stood that in order to perfect the combination
/ which had in view the election of Mr.. Francis
/ president of the Senate the promise had been
| made to Senator Mckee, Of Passaic County
/ that he should be leader of the Senate, as an
! inducement TO join the combine This pro-
/ posal. it is said, Mr. Mckee declined. Hence
! the report that Mr. Reed might be prevailed
/ upon to accept the party leadership.
| IN HURRY FOR REORGANIZATION
! It has occurred to several members of the
! New-Jersey Republican State Committee that
one of the South Jersey members is in great
haste to effect the reorganization of that body.
! He is reputed to have addressed letters to GER
/ request that they refuse to pledge themselves
/ to the support Of any one for chairman until