The Jersey City news., 1902-08-14
('H|LDS VS..
LANNlNC'
Fourth District Democrats
Hold a Conference on the
Congressional Situation.
CONVENTION ONsEP1EMBER rs
With the Somerset Man as a
Candidate Leaders Are
Sure the Party Will
Win.
CONVENTION SEPTEMBER rs

lSpeclal TO -Ihe Jersey city news. y
TRENTON, Aug. IA, 1902. Fleming
ton, September Is, is the place and date
fixed upon by the Democratic managers
for the Congressional Convention for the
new Fourth District, embracing Mercer,
Hunterdon and Somerset counties. A
conference was held at the Columbia
Hotel Belmar, Tuesday evening, at
which the Congressional situation was
discussed, and while there was no agree
ment to support any one of multitude
of names suggested, the y consensus of
opinion seemed to be that S. S. Childs,
of Somerset County, would be the candi-
date, if he can be induced to stand. The
conference was called by the members
of the old Congressional Committee of
Hunterdon and Somerset counties.
Mercer County did not have a Demo
cratic Congressional Committee. Mayor
Frank S. Katzenbach, as the recognized
head of the local Democracy, was in at
tendance, and among the other Trenton
Democrats at the meeting were former
Senator Jonathan HI. Blackwell. who has
been regarded as strong possibility for
the Congressional nomination; Richard
Stockton, who is likely to be nominated
for county clerk; Counselor John H.
Backes and Tax Receiver e. Furman
Hooper.
CHILDS'S AMBITION.
Mr.. Childs is known to be ambitious
to come to the State Senate as the repre-
sentative of Somerset County, but a
strong effort will be made to get him to
accept the Congressional nomination. He
is looked upon as one of the very strong
est men in the district. Mercer County
will have at least portion of its Re-
publican majority offset by the Demo-
cratic majority of Hunterdon County,
and the Democrats are of the opinion
that if they can get strong Somerset
County man to lead the fight, they can
carry that county and elect Congress
man.
Former Senator Blackwell declared to
a reported to-day that he was positively
out of: the canvass, and would not be a
candidate under any condition. His busi-'
ness interests are such as to require him
to be in Trenton most Of the time. From
what could be learned of the discussion
at The conference, it also seems pretty
we'll settled that the other. Mercer Coun-
ty men who have been heretofore men
toned will not receive serious consid-
Grafton.
4 n d
'If it is not -ChiIds it will be dark
horse" declared leading Democrat to-
day. ssWe have a man in mind who
would make q good run, and you can
their political opponents one of the fights
Of their lives We expect to name first
class men for every office, with view
of electing them. 1t will not be case
this time of putting up candidates for
the mere formality of the thing. We are
going in to win, and we believe that we
have a very good chance, inasmuch as
there seems to be general feeling of
dissatisfaction with the party now con-
trolling the local situation
The convention is to be held in the
Pennington County Courthouse, where
former Judge William NJ. Lanning was
named by the Republicans last week as
their standard bearer. The lateness of
the convention will make the campaign
Of little more than months duration.
but the Democrats are preparing to make
things fly while the campaign is on.