Evening star., 1902-01-18
THE CONTEST IN JERSEY
EIGHT CANDIDATES IN RACE FOR
UNITED STATES SENATOR.
Three of Them Seem to Have About
Equal Chances of Eiec-
tton.
Special Correspondence Of The Ereaing Star.

Special Correspondence OF The Evehing Star,
CAPE MAY. n. J., January Ii. 1902.
The contest over the election of a success
sor to the late General William ]. Sewefl
in the United States Senate has developed
considerable warmth. So far Governor
VOORHEES, has declined to complicate mat
ters by giving any one of the mentioned
candidates a preference over others by
naming a man to succeed the senator until
the legislature can elect. Now that the
legislature is in session, and probably be-
cause the constitution of the state prohih-
its the governor from naming any officers
of any character for the last seven days
of his term, which expires next Tuesday,
there will certainly be no appointment.
There are now eight candidates Tor the
position, with three in the lead, with about
an equal number of supporters among
members of the legislature. They are For
mer Attorney General John w. Griggs,
John T. Dryden, Former State Senator
Edward C. Stokes of Cumberland county
who is the south Jersey candidate fhe
other candidates. who control from one &c
five votes each, are: Congressman John j.
Gardner of the second district: Congress
man Henry c. Loudenslager of the nrst
district; County Clerk Barker Gummere OF
Mercer county; John W. Herbert, whose
home is in New Brunswick. MiddleseX
county, but who is New York city ousi-
ness man. and David Baird, now a state
aSSeSSOT, ana TWICE sheriff OF 1dIlOeli
county, formerly.
OF the eight candidates named all have
announced their candidacy except Stokes,
who is at present clerk in chancery, and
who seems at present the most likely win
ner, He is just forty years old, brilliant
orator, author of the present state school
law, and man who has had a wiGe eX-
perience for one so young.
EX-Attorney General Griggs has a large
following from the northwest section OF
the state, while John F. Dryden of New
ark has a large vote from Essex county,
twelve, to start with in his fight, and he
mas the support of Goyernor-elect Franklin
Murphy. Mr.. Dryden has wanted to be
senator for some time. He is rich draws
Sloo,oO0 a year salary from the insurance
company, and has served twice presi-
Dental elector for Mckinley He is but
little known personally to the people of the
state. -
Congressman John J. Gardner has five
votes SO far announced. He has been in
legislative life twenty-five years and before
that served as mayor of Atlantic City for
ten years. In 1876 he began his services in
the state senate and served for five terms
in all fifteen years two terms longer than
any other man in the history of the state.
He went to Washington in 1891 as a con-
gresham, and has remained in that ca
pacity ever since, and he probably may go
back as long as he so desires He has the
confidence of the people generally in his
district.
The candidacy of Congressman Louden-
S.dssI iS looheq upon as only an aid for
State Assessor David Baird, for he has al
ready practically withdrawn for that gem
tleman. Congressman Loudenslager is good
for many years in the lower house at
Washington, although he had a severe fight
TO break the unwritten rule of the district
that no congressman should have more
than one term. and which rule caused ex-
Secretary of the Navy George NJ Robson
to be defeated when running for a third
term by Thomas NJ. Farrell, a journeyman
gfassblower.
David Baird really stands fourth in the
list as to strength today, but should Stokes
get out of the fight he is a likely winner.
He is native of Ireland but not the
statesman that SewafI was. He still has a
strong brogue in his speech and would not
keep the stenographers busy getting down
his words to til up the pages of the Con-
gressional Record. He is worth. 1T is es-
timated, about million and a half dollars.
all amassed since coming to America and
public lighting and trolley, franchises are
his principal stock in trade.
Barker Gummere is a son of the late
Barker Gummere, who was a leading re- 4
publican in his day He has been clerk of
Mercer county for fifteen years. and is a
brother of Chief Justice William s. Gum
mere. the judge who decided that child's
life was only. worth ST. in famous trolley
damage suit tried before him about three
years ago. He has another brother who is
United States consul to Algiers ana Moroc-
CO. His second choice is also Baird
The joint caucus is to be held on Inurs-
day of next week, and from present indi-
cations there VIII be many ballots before the
republicans finally select the man for whom
they will vote. The democrats are likely
to name for the empty honor Congressman
Allan L: McDern1ott of the seventh district.
If left for the people of the state to de-
eide by popular vote the indications are
aiiat there would be pretty even division
between ex-Goyernor Griggs and ex-Sena-