New-York tribune., 1902-01-14
NEW-JERSEY NEWS.
DOTBT OVER NEW SENATOR
FIVE CANDIDATES ESTABLISH HEAD
oU.RTERS IN TRENTON.

QUARTERS IN TRENTON.
Trenton. Jan. Is CSpeciaD.-The wisest poll
tc.an in this city tonight cannot tell who will
be the next United States Senator from New
Jersey to succeed the late General seweH, but
all were agreed that if the predictions. hopes
and expectations Of the candidates and their
friends could eliminate favorably. this State
would contribute at least six new Senators to
Congress before the end OF the month. So we'll
Informed q Republican Governor-elect Muir
phy said at late hour that the contest was
now, as 1t had been from the beginning, "all
in the air"
Edward c. Stokes. vice-chairnan of the Re
publican State Committee. and one of the three
or four men who are reputed to be in the lead
for Senator. said frankly at a late hour to-
night that he could see no change IN the situa-
ton But the friends Of the six or seven bona
hde candidates contended vigorously that their
favorites in the lead From their talk it
was plain that the situation changes with the
locality. but nothing that they could say dis
proved the always apparent fact that South
Jersey as far from being united upon can
didate it a week ago. Nor was II clear,
often as it was otherwise rumored, that there
had been any notable change in North Jersey
where John T. Dryden and John ". GTiggs are
IN the lead, as Senator Stokes and David Baird
assuredly are in the southern part Of the State
The twelve votes Of Essex County still remain
firm as unit for Mr.. Dryden, and it was de-
clared with the emphasis Of truth that, despite
the rumors that Passaic County was divided,
the five votes there would be unit for Mr.
Griggs. Colonel William Barbour and other
leading Passaic Republicans said that the vote
of the county for Mr.. Grigs was assured. and
that they were entirely satisfied with the prog
ress Of the contest
This sentiment was duplicated by the friends
Of Mr. Dryden. high Republican authority
stated that 10 him the situation had appeared
10 be narrowing down TO Dryden and Griggs,
ana that II was his opinion that the other can
Cluates, with the possible exception Of Stokes,
would not be strong factors in the struggle
after the middle Of this week. An equally trust
worthy Republican said that South Jersey was
unquestionaby so seriously divided that it was
his belief, from an inside knowledge Of the stu-
alton there, that il could not be brought together
III the interest of any single candidate.
An effort made tonight to give much sig
nifcance 10 the fact that Con ngressmen Loudens-
lager and Gardner and Barker Gumnlere would
work together 10 harmonic South Jersey In the
interest Of David Baird. While this statment
was true in so far as Mr. Loudenslager was
concerned, the vitality completely knocked
out Of II by Congressman Gardner, who said:
Il am IN the contest for United States Sen
atcr for myself and not for anybody else. You
may say loI me that nave as many votes as
some candidates who claim TO have great
many more. I have not kept accurate count, |
but if what I have heard since 1 arrived here
This afternoon is true. there about hun
ored and six members Of the legislature al !
ready pledged, with good many members yet
70 he heard from"
All The candidates-Griggs, Dryden, Baird |
Gardner and Herhert-opened headquarters in q |
hotel here. Mr.. Gummere received his friends |
IN the rooms Of the Republican Club. From
early IN the evening until early in the morning |
the rooms Of the candidates were thronged by |
Republicans from every part of the State.
open house" was the rule everywhere, and If |
there was q candidate in the lot who did not re
oelye many assurances Of distinguished consid- |
Grafton. he was not paying attention TO the com
tlInea'ary words which were ready to his ear.
here was much talk to the effect that the drift
o. south jersey when il broke away from The
local candidates. would go TO Grfggs or 10 Dry
den, but every effort TO fix the source of such
rumoTs. so far as 10 individuaze it for either Of
these candidates. was futile. At one moment |
there seemed 10 be some ground for the report |
that one or the other Of these candidates had a |
good Iced over the other, but at the next mo- |
Irent it was dsPelled by the fact that there
was scarcely South Jersey member of the lesis-
lature who stood ready TO desert his local IA
N0rite and positively commit himself TO another.
however, the admission was frequently made
that II South Jersey man could not win, and
II h. time should come when Dryden and Griggs
were the only candidates, the vote was as likely
70 20 70 one 10 the other. No more notable
gathering Of Republicans has been seen in this
'itN IN many years, nor has there, probably,
ever been time when men who are recognized
as party leaders were, by their own admission,
80 greatly al q loss for opinion to the out
come Of a Senatorial contest, or so reluctant 10
give expression 10 their views.
Assemblyuan Horner. the Republican leader
of the House said that Senator McCarter and
himself would tomorrow fix the date for hold
Ing the Republican Senate caucus. Mr.. Horner
SID that the date probably would be January
=, but 4 might be at any time between then
ana January p. There was. Mr.. Horner said,
some sentiment in favor of holding the caucus
on the night before he Inauguration OF Franklin
Murphy rs Governor, but he did not think that
his sentiment was so pronounced as be ef-
iectve in changing the dates originally favored,
which were those given above
franKlln Murphy, at a meeting of the State
committee tonight, resigned both chairman
ana member Of the committee His resignation
was accepted, but his successor was not chosen. |
II was thought, however that Edward c. Stokes
would ultimately be chosen 10 succeed Mr.. Muir
phy Congressman Fowler, Senator McCarter
ana Colonel Samuel D. Dickinson were chosen |
e committee 70 prepare q testimonial TO the re-
trlng chairman. Ex-senator z. Q. Stokes, Ma |
2or Z. J. Anderson and United States Senator
hean were appointed committee TO prepare
resolutions upon The death Of the late United |
States Senator Sewell.
4 painful incident of the progress of the SEN !
ate campaign was the sudden death at the Hotel |
windsor, in this city. OF Isaac E Antrim, a well
known Burlington County politician. Mr. Antrim |
hao Just entered the hotel door, and was greet |
lhS some friends. when he fell TO the floor and |
cied slmOst instantly.
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