New-York tribune., 1902-01-08
MUCH TALK OVER SENATOR
EXCITEMENT AT TRENTON INCREASES
APPARENTLY ONLY THREE
IN THE RACE
IN THE RACE

United States Senator the only topic Of
public interest that was discussed. AS has been
forecasted in The Tribune from time to time,
the tide of expression and sentiment flowed
with increasing strength toward the three most
conspicuous candidates-John w. Griggs, John
F. Dryden and Edward c. Stokes, who were
here as were also David Baird, of Camden;
Barker Gummere. of Mercer; John w. Herbert.
Of Middlesex. and Congressman Loudenslager,
Of Gloucester
Although the supporters Of the four last
named candidates were active and assertive in
their efforts in behalf of their favorites, they
made no perceptible headway against the pre-
vaiiing odds in favor Of Griggs. Stokes or Dry
den. South Jersey well and ably repre-
sented, but there the lack of unity and the
assertion OF individual preference which fore
boded defeat in every case, except possibly.
that Of Mr. Stokes. whose support is not con-
fned 20 any locality. AS constantly as the wheel
Of conversation revolved it as constantly stopped
at the name of or the other of the three
leading candidates. II might be Dryden Griggs
or Stokes; Stokes, Griggs or Dryden; or Griggs,
Dryden or Stokes; but the pointer found no other
stopping place. The friends of Baird did their ut
most Some of them declared as an argument
that the candidacy of Loudensager was intended
10 injure their candidate. Some of the supporters
of Stokes pointed at Loudenslager as the fly in
fully held his own. if he did not advance while
Baird, If he did not lose ground certainly did
not gain.
Ihe Gr1ggs and Dryden supporters, as we'll as
those OF Stokes, expressed the confidence of sin
cerlty, based upon something Of characteristic
force. The other candidates seemed to be cling
ing TO something intangible. If they had hope
they did not manifest it with the enthusiasm
which indicates the solid substance of faith
Moreover yyb
centive for continuing the contest, the fact was
constantly uppermost that their efforts were
without the cohesive strength of unity. This
condition Of things brought out the expression
from observing Republican tacticians that when
the time for the election should arrive South
Jersey, divided upon individual preferences and
each faction unable TO secure the success of its
own choice. would go to the support of one Of
the North Jersey candidates: or North Jersey
and South Jersey would ultimately agree upon
Stokes Meanwhile the friends of Griggs Stokes
and Dryden, although losing no opportunity to
present their candidates in the best possible
light were evidently content for the present 10
let matters drift they were going
An ambitious effort to poll the members of the
legislature was made early in the day. The re-
suit was most unsatisfactory. It revealed moth
ing stable beyond individual reticence except
that the undercurrent running toward the
three leading candidates. Any figures made
now necessarily would be speculative. and. ex-
cept upon the accidental outcome Of a lucky
guess, would be misleading The members of
The legislature, with the exception Of the Essex
delegation, which had agreed TO support Mr.
Dryden, thereby giving him strong start in
the race, resolutely refused to make any definite
pledge and what they did say meant nothing
more than that they were in favor of the candi-
dates Of their own locality as a first choice
possible. save that they were generally agreed
that Dryden, Griggs and Stokes were strong
FACTORS in the contest, and that the selection
might fan upon either the one the other. This
indefniteness Of the situation in South and Mid
ole Jersey probably will continue for some time
The single pledge known positively to have been
made to-day was that of Assemblyman Holman
OF Ocean County, to John w. Griggs
One thing, however, was clearly developed
and that was that the management Of the con-
test mad been placed in a competent hand bv
consent Of the three friendly and leading rivals
The supporters of the three most prominent
candidates must have felt that there was q
silent and impressive influence at work The
same sense of observation must have come
nome 10 the members of the legislature. It was
not palpable, nor could il be individually identi
fed. but it was felt. The clearest and most de-
clsiFe evidence Of this influence was manifested
"hen the supporters of some Of the candidates
80 - e on Iool d movement TO hold a caucus
conference of the Senators. This movement
was 1OiiOheu Dy a proposition TO
the members OF the House A single word in
opposition uttered by a Republican whose no
tency and strength were foresha doWed imnedi-
ately after Senator Sewelrs death and whose
capability and advanced position In Republican
politics grew and strengthened while General
Sewell was in active leadership frustrated the
conference movement a moment after it was
born. So quickly the word In opposition To
the movement spread by men of influence and
commanding position, who had received Il at
dlrst hand, that the proposition merely breathed
ana oled. This nasterful bit Of tactics may not
have been-probabiy was not-observed by three
OF the several hundred Republicans al the
State House, but its effectiveness led to the in
quiry Of the man who gave the word as to vhv
porized, but replied sententiously: when we
have a caucus it viii lie a caucusr' 1t seemed
for the moment that General Sewell was still
the Republican leader of the State.
The effort of some Republicans more jealous
than wise to gain strength for their favorites
by asserting that the absence of four OF the
County conference on Monday was indicative
that the Essex delegation was not a unit in
favor of Mr.. Dryden proved TO be ephemeral
and abortive, and it was abandoned after a con-
suitation with the members of the delegation
who were here to speak for themselves
While il was Lot conceded, It might as well
have been that not one OF the candidates from
South Jersey, including Mercer and Aiddlesex
counties, could count reliably upon more than
sporadic support beyond his own county and
even IN some OF the counties this support was
either divided non-commttal 1t also was
rurored that there were possibilities OF a divi
rior in Passaic County. but this rumor was not
whe ~ disinterested, inasmuch as those who
were In position TO speak authoritatively de-
clared that the Passaic delegation would he
unit for Mr.. Griggs. To the theorists and the
enthusiasts the situation appeared to he snecu
lative, and they agreed that the contest
yet "anybody's fight" To the cool head
ed practical Republicans-the men who are tac
ticians and who the vitality and inteIlipanca
of the party-the situation was only probIemat
ical in so far as II related to Dryden Griggs