Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-07-11

OF Tine GuDernaGorlal campaign may pe
taken as about the correct status.
Short campaigns, according to present
intentions, will be the program of both
the Democrats and Republicans this Fall
While neither party has as yet decided
upon the date of its state convention, it is
anticipated that neither will be held until
late in September This will leave moi
more than six weeks between the time OF
naming the gubernatorial candidates and
campaign will necessarily be of short du-
ration.
That the campaign will make up in
vigor what it lacks in length is fore
gone conclusion. The fact that a Cover
nor is to be chosen is in itself sufficient
assurance of hard fight, but local inter
est will also be intensified by the combin-
ing of the spring and fall elections, there
by necessitating the choosing of municipal
as we'll as county officials.
The voters at large have not forgotten
the action of the legislature in forcing this
combination upon them in the supposed
interests of the Republican party in Essex
and Hudson counties, but the possible
effect of this action on public sentiment
is not what is giving the Republican lead
ers the most concern at this juncture.
The leaders are most worried at the
constantly growing sentiment among the
rank and file of the party to the slated
candidacy of Franklin Murphy. At no
time enthusiastic over the prospect of
having Mr.. Murphy as their standard
bearer, mutterings and Indifference in all
sections of the State on the part of the
voters are giving the bosses no little con-
Germ.
TO SETTLE WITH MURPHY.
The strength of the candidates mentioned
has opened the eyes of General Sewell and
the Republican machine to the fact that
it is bad year to try and slip in an off
candidate.
The fact is that the machine owes, or,
what amounts to the same thing, thinks
it owes something to Mr.. Murphy. Mr..
Murphy asks in payment the gubernatorial
nomination, and not having any other
assets which would please him, the machine
decided upon bestowing the nomination.
That fatal blunder was made in not
consulting, to some extent at least, the
patty at large, is now fully realized. But
the edict has gone forth and the name of
Murphy looms up before the bosses which
ever way they turn.
This is the dilemma from which the
party leaders are trying to extrieate them
selves. To attempt to again wrest the
nomination from the hands of Mr.. Murphy
would be dangerous in the extreme, for it
would undoubtedly raise the ire of all that
gentleman's followers, many of whom have
been eagerly looking for his nomination, as
the harvest time at which they should re-
ceive their reward
Mr. Murphy, himself, would not likely
submit to another turn down without
resenting it, and disaffection on the part of
one wing of the party could hardly help
ensuing.
On the other hand, bitter fight S
promised should the bosses insist on forcing
Murphy on the convention. Even if he
should be nominated many of the most far
seeing Republicans concede his election to
be extremely doubtful on account of the
attitude of the people at large.
They realize that Mr.. Murphy has never
been particularly popular, and, further,
that he has never done anything to espe-
cially recommend him to public considera-
ton. His principal recommendation SEEM
ingly lies in the fact that he has always
been willing to contribute to the political
pot when asked.
TROUBLES FOR MURPHY.
In view of these conditions and the
positive opposition from his own county,
together with the Indifferent support of the
State at large, Mr.. Murphy seems destined
to have troublesome times ahead. Thus
far no formidable opponent has arisen to
contest his claims since Mahlon Pitney was
got out of the way by the gift of seat on
the Supreme Court bench, but this is no
assurance that Mr.. Murphy is to have clear
sailing. 1t is confidently expected that
other aspirants will appear before the time
| for tho convention
| Republican aspirants for the position of
president of the Senate have been spring.
ing up like mushrooms, and the scarcity
of available timber from which to hew a
presiding officer has led to general scram-
BILE for the place. South jersey has its
candidates and North Jersey also appears
with several aspirants, but the contest
seems likely to be fought out on the basis
of the factions which made themselves
apparent last winter rather than on geo
graphical lines.
South Jerseys most likely candidate
seems to be Senator Herbert w. johnson,
of Camden, who is entering upon the last
year of his second term. Solomon H.
Stanger, of Gloucester, who is also COM
pleting his second term, has also announced
his candidacy, but the announcement,
strange as it may seem, does not appear to
be taken seriously.
Senator Johnson's most formidable op-
ponent is Senator Cross, of Union county,
who, while only on his first term, has some
influential backing which may land him
the place. Senator Cross has served as
speaker of the house and has been close to
the faction which now seems to hold the
upper hand in the Senate.
M'CARTER HAS DESIGNS.
Senator McCarter, the peppery Essex
representative, also has designs on the
gavel, but his aspirations seem in no i'm
mediate danger of fullfllment Mr.. Nc
Carter has been willing tool of the Lentz
wing in his own county, and in the Senate
Major Lentz has not the influence to which
he lays claim in the house. Besides this.
Mr.. McCarter has on one or two occasions
evinced SO much temper on the floor that
his contemporaries fear trough house,
might result should he ever be entrusted
with naval