New-York tribune., 1902-09-08
CLOSE CONGRESS DISTRICT
NO waLKoTER FOR LoUDENSLAGER IN
FIRST NEWJERSEY.
.PrTBTICANs CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS IF
PLENTY OF WORK IS DONE-COLONEL
GREEN A PROBABLE OPPONENT.

GREEN A PROBABLE OPPONENT.
Woodbury.. Sept. 3 (SpeciaD--Tnterest in the
present conditions and the ultimate outcome
of the political contest in the Ist Congress Dis
trict rarely has been so absorbing, not only
within the district but ali over the state as
It is now.
Mr Loudenslager. entering upon campaign
for his sixth term in The House Of Repre-
sentatives. finds himself confronted by an op-
position which makes it necessary for him 10
be much more diplomatic. aggressive and CON
stant in his efforts to be elected than he has
ever been. Ordinarily, for the last eighteen
years a Republican nomination has been con-
sidered the equivalent of an election 10 Con
Gress. but Republicans OF approved standing
in the party and whose partisanship Is as
earnest as their opinions are conservative no"
say that one must go back to 1882 and the
disastrous Robson campaign to find anything
at all resembling a parallel TO present poiucai
conditions In the LIST District.
The district lines have been so changed ior
the ensuing election as 10 include the couhueS
OF Camden Gloucester and Salem. which In the
last election for Governor returned a Repuph-
can plurality Of 5,663. Mr.. Boudenslager, III
1900 when the district contained the two adul-
tional counties OF Cumberland and Cape May
received a plurality of 12.77s. OF this vote the
rality Of 2,55S These figures. Republicans IN
the district say. are interesting from the facJ
that they show a wide margin for Mr.. Douden-
s1ager under favorable conditions. But these
conditions they contend, are not more favorable
TO the Republican party than they were for MI
Robeson in 1882 when he defeated by
Thomas NJ Ferrell- Nevertheless. they main
tain that Republican loyalty TO the ticket, and
not to the individuality of the candidate. VIII
insure the election of Mr.. Loudenslager. Popu-
lar duty 10 the party. therefore. it is easily de-
duce6. must be Mr.. Loudenslagers MAN re
lance for his reelection.
DEMOCRATS ENCOURAGED.
The Democrats. encouraged by the disreputa-
bIe-not more so however. than some of their
own proceedings in times past-conduct Of the
recent Republican primaries and the facttonal
strife fer political control in the district the
end Of which is not Vet apparent believe that
they can again "Robesonize' the district. They
have consequently become more than usually
active with some indications of increased ag-
gressiveness The lack of party unity, the in
difference, not TO say hopeessness, Of party sue
cess and the difficulty Of selecting an accept
able and well equipped party candidate. no
longer prevail. and the Democratic situation Is
not weakened thereby. While il is true that there
IS some difference of opinion TO the indlVldual
selection of party candidate TO oppose MI
Ioudenslager, il is also true that the Demo-
cratic leaders who have hitherto been somewhat
stupefled in this respect. are now apparently
agreed upon the choice of a man. At first. some OF
these leaders We're disposed to insist upon the
nomination of eX-CongresSman Thomas NJ Fer
reIl but after his announced determination not
to be q candidate. and his assurance that he
would earnestly use his best endeavors for the
party nominee. three other Democrats became
prominent These were ex-senator George
Pfeifer. ex-Judge Howard CaIroW. of Camden
County, and Colonel Green, of Gloucester.
When IL became known that Colonel Pfeiffer
would resoiutely decline the nomination and
that Judge Carrow said that he had no desire
at present to enter social life" at Washington.
preferring TO remain in Camden and practise
law Colonel Green became at once the prom
inent factor 1t said in Camden few days
ago that Colonel Green would accept the norp-
ination. and several Of the Democratic leaders
said that unless some unforeseen change should
occur he would be the party candidate What
ever Colonel Green's qualifications for repre-
sentative in Congress may be, il is well known
that his equipment for a political campaign is,
sn one and importaat respect, at least, ample
and complete. The Importance Of nominating
wealthy men for high office does not alone pre-
vail in the Ist Congress District Some Of the
Democrats say that Colonel Green would be
preferable to what they call ''old timber" and
that he would be invulnerable to Republican
attack; and that, therefore. it would be impossi-
bic TO put him on the defensive. as they hoped
TO put Mr.. Loudenslager,
HAS SUPPORT OF REPUBLICANS.
Although many Of the Republicans of Camden
County severely criticise and condemn the po-
litical methods Of the present Congressman and
refer Indignantly to his efforts at an inopportune
time 10 obtain control of the county
chinery by dubious tactics and proceedings not
IN accord with long established usage it is by no
difficult TO find that he has the support Of
Republicans without whose assistance he could
scarcely hope to be successful in the banner
county of the district. Such Republicans as
State Controller Morgan David Baird. Sheriff
Sells Z. T. Patterson. Isaac Moffett and others,
all able and strong IN party leadership while
not at all at TO the discretion and pro-
priety of Congressman Loudenslager's efforts in
behalf of himself, united in the expression OF
the opinion that Mr.. Leudenslager will be re-
elected. Mr. Morgan and Mr. Sells who if auy
Republicans, naturally would be opposed to the
continuance OF Mr. Loudenslager in Congress,
assured The Tribune correspondent that he
would be reelected, and that no endeaVor would
be spared 10 secure Republican harmony n
Camden County before the election. Mr.. Baird.
of the recognized Republican leaders Of
Camden, visiting the Pacific Coast but a
Republican who was authorized TO speak for
him said that his support OF Congressman
Loudenslager would be earnest and sincere. and
.hat reports to the contrary Were i'll advised and
antrue. That the support of such influential Re
pubcans these viii go far toward the
surance Of the reelection OF Mr.. Loudenslager
need scarcely be said. Their ability 10 hold the
workers and what is known the rank and file
n line rarely has been disputed in Camden
County.
But it would be a direct conoealment of the
situation-to be reminded Of which is G be fore
warned-to say that there are not mutterngs
Df discomfort and diSaffection among the work
ers which will require all the skill and intell-
Eeuce Of these Republican leaders TO silence and
overcome. The attempt Of some Of Mr. Lou
denslagers too ardent supporters TO remove
many OF the members OF the local boards Of
election was constantly being remarked upon
as blunder Of possibly threatening proper
tons. But the assurance OF leading Republic
ans that this mistake would be corrected and
that the p9rty workers would almost all line up
for the present Congressman was freely given.
Indeed the determination of these leaders TO