New-York tribune., 1902-02-05
BRIGGS FOR TREASURER.
SENATORIAL COURTESY" FAILS MR..
REED BY ONE VOTE.

Trenton N J. Feb. 4 (SpeciaD.-"Senator1al
courtesy" received a rude blow this afternoon
when the Republican joint caucus selected
Frank o. Briggs as State Treasurer Senator
Charles A. Reed as a candidate for treasurer put
forth the queer proposition that membership in
the Senate entitled a man to the support OF his
fellow members in pursuing any office that ne
might see nit to fancy. Senator Reed was the
brains of the combination that succeeded In max
ing c. A Francis president OF the SENATE out
the forces which enabled him 70 accomplish that
were powerless to-day. His competitor was
chosen on the first ballot by one vd0f The Reed
delegations worked constantly, and they sue
ceeded in winning few votes away from MI
Briggs. One feature of their effectiveness was
the consolidation Of the Mddlesex vote, con-
trary to the better Judgment OF two OF the
NIiddlesex members. or, at least, TO their well
defined desire to support Mr.. Briggs.
1t was apparent early this morning that the
legislature would do little work this week beyond
settling the agitating question of the State
Treasurership, and neither the Senate nor the
House was in session for more than ten or
fifteen minutes. The supporters Of Mr.. Reed
and Mr.. Briggs were everywhere filling both
Of the legislative chambers and the corridors,
and at II o'clock it was impossible to determine
which of the two candidates was IN the lead.
Senator Lee. of Atlantic County, declared that
without including his ov n.
VERY CLOSE BEFORE THE BATTLE.
Assemblyman Williams, of Essex County.
after carefully making tally list. in which he
surrendered to the Reed men everything that
they claimed. said: 1T is very close, very close:
so close that either side would appear to be
justified in claiming the victory, but my judg-
ment and belief are that Mr.. Briggs Will win
by bare majority"
The opinions of these two members OF the
legislature reflected the opinions of the ma
tority, but the supporters Of Mr.. Reed from
Camden. Mercer, MiddleseX. and elsewhere, who
had come to Trenton to assist him, never for a
moment wavered in their prediction that the
Senator from Somerset would Van. Only Presi-
dent Francis. of all the Reed men. would go so
far as to admit that the contest would be close.
and that the result was even momentariy In
doubt.
The Republican joint caucus was called for
D. m, and few moments after that hour the
Republican members OF the two houses took
admitting the members Of the press to the gal
lery quickly adopted. Senator McCarter.
subsequently appeared. held the key TO the situ
alton, presided at the caucus, and the secretary
clerks. 1t was apparent at once that there
would be no delay in getting down to work. A
business air pervaded every movement of the
members when the counties were called for
nominations Assembyman EIvins OF Atlantic
County, nominated Senator Reed
Assemblyman Leavitt, Of Mercer County. In
Frank o. Briggs. the ad interim incumbent.
Senator Hutchinson, OF the same county, after
saying that the majority Of the people Of Mercer
County were in favor Of the election OF Mr..
Briggs "a statement which another member
said. sotto voce. entitled the Senator to another
guess), seconded the nomination of Senator
Reed. Mr. HOagland of Somerset County also
seconded the nomination OF the Somerset Sen
ator. Senator Cross OF Union County. said Mr.
Reed was an able Republican, whose integrity
above question, and who had earned the
appointment to the office OF State Treasurer by
long and faithful party service. With the speech
of Mr.. Cross the nominations were closed. and
the voting began at once. with the following
result:
For Mr. Briggs-Avis, Bacheller, Bogert, Boyd.
r. ". Brown, Cresse. Cummings Davidson.
Garrabrants. Gnichtel, Hoffman. Holman, Hor-
ner, Howe, Keasler. Laire, Leavitt, Lord,
Mercer, L. II. Miller, Moore. NewcOrn, Page,
Reed, Schmidt SharwelI. StaIter. TiIlOtson,
Tyler. Van Barcom, Williams and Wright-32.
For Mr.. Reed-Bradley. w. T. Brown, Cham
pion. Cross. Elvins. Francis. GILL; Gu1ick. Haines.
Hall. Hand. Hoagland, Rowland Hutchinson.
Jackson Johnson, Lee. McCarter. Mckee. F.
Miller. r. c. Miller. Minch. Montgomery. Shinn,
Stanger Strong. Waite. Wakeee, Welsh. White
head and Whitford-31-