New-York tribune., 1902-02-04
NEW-JERSEY NEWS.
TO NAME NEW TREASURER.
SENATOR REED AND EX-MAYoR BRIGGS
Roth CONFIDENT OF SELECTION.

Trenton. N. J.. Feb. (SpeciaD.-Governor Muir
ply took possession of the house In West-st to-
day which he he's leased from Hughes OHphant'
During his term as Governor the house will be
known as the Executive Mansion. Governor Muir
ply came down from Newark early this afternoon
with Senator-elect Dryden the special car Cleo
patra in which Mr.. Dryden went to Washington
In the party were Mrs. Dryden. Mr.. and Mrs For
rest Dryden. Colonel and Mrs Kuser. DR.. Leslie d.
Ward, Major Carl Lentz. State Senator Thomas N.
McCarter, Uzal McCarter, Frank Bergen and
Elisha B. Gaddis. 1t is expected that Senator Nc
Carter will return from Washington tomorrow in
time to preside over the Republican joint caucus
which will decide upon candidate for State Treas
urer to succeed the late George B. Swain.
There all sorts of rumors here tonight about
the treasurership. Senator Charles A Reed, of
Somerset County, who is still aggressivey pushing
his candidacy seems to be as confident now
he week ago that he would be the sue.
cessful competitor of eX-Mayor Frank O. Briggs OF
Reed had received a letter from Senator McCarter
him to call the Republican joint caucus ana ~
preside over it, was not generally credited
Senator e. c. Stokes and David Baird had locked
horns over the choice of state Treasurer. ana
Senator Reed would decide the South Jersey leader
snip Mr.. Stokes being in favor of Briggs and Mr.:
Baird a supporter of Reed. AS this Is the sort of
politics which has been played IN New-Jersey fire.
eooer heads said that the Tamor had no foundac
ton. as Mr.. Stokes had so far made no move which
would indicate that he aspired 10 the Republican
leadership in South Jersey.
'Ihere Is no reason why MT. STOKES SnOulu en-
ter a contest for political supremacy in South
Jersey with anybody said cautious Republican
leader 'Inasmuch as It is more than possible that
he will be in the front rank of Republican leaders
in New-JeTsey by the time another State campaign
rolls around. Notwithstanding the efforts of
number of South and Middle Jersey Republicans to
keep Mr.. Stokes in the background. 1t is a good
guess that no will be the next chairman of the
Republican State Committee, and nobody needs to
be told what his selection for that place would
mean in connection with the leadership Of the
party. Moreover, l do not think that Mr.. Baird.
willy and wideawake politician that he is would
verify the report that he IS fighting Mr. Stokes at
this time, especially over office OF no greater
Importance than that of State Treasurer"
4 Senator who is usually well informed said to-
night that he believed that Senator Reed would
before the meeting Of the caucus tomorrow take
the lead OF his opponent. and hold 1t to the end.
Meanwhile the supporters of Mr.. Briggs are to-
night as confident as they were week ago In
deed, they say that, after making q careful
Vass they are sure that Mr. Briggs will have five
six votes more than the thrty-two which are
necessary to a choice. An attempt was made
night to postpone the Republican joint caucus but
when It definitely learned that both Senator
Reed and ex-Mayor Briggs were in favor OF hold
ing IL without further delay, Assemblyman Horner,
the Republican leader of the House, announced
that the caucus would meet at p. m. tomorrow.
Mr. Horner also said positively that Senator Nc
Carter would return from Washington in time to
preside at the caucus.