New-York tribune., 1902-12-25
NEW-JERSEY NEWS.
TURBULENT MIDDLESEY
The County's Reputation SAID To Be-
Maintained at Present.


trenton. N ]. Dec. "a (speclaD.-It has become
otorious in New-Jersey that, although every other
ounty in the State may be free from trouble in the
psnubIican party. Middlesex County always has
,yne sort OF factional quarrel or commotion on
.,s and ready for distribution. This condition of
s+rffe among the Middlesex Republicans has been
o,r,ost continuous ever since the death of Levi d.
Tsrrard Air. Jarrard was great leader and held
his place among the foremost Republican poii-
cians in the State. but he fell by the way at the
rlose OF long and strfeful career and died in the
State prison
Several Democrats who were contemporaneous in
noitical life with Mr. Jarrard also sent the
s.zte prison. but they escaped death in that in
stituon. Up TO the time OF his fall. which caused
,be greatest CONSERVATION throughout New-Jersey
Nr Jar-ard held firm grip upon the Republicans
of Aiddiesex and won many victories from the
nsmocrats. who during his time largely in
he majority there. well in most of the coun-
ties Of the State. Since his death, no other man
has succeeded in getting the grip on the party
SANITATION which he held so firmly. Faulthnding
within the party has been the rule. and harmony
the exception
GRIGGs'S REMARK STILL HOLDS GOOD.
This condition still prevails. What Ex-Governor
f-riggs is reputed to have said of New-Brunswick
.he capital of the county and the homestead OF
most Of the troubles in the county, after he was
elected, still holds good Other Republicans have
said harsher and more bitter things of Middlesex
than when one passes through New-Bruns-
wick 10y raid one feels like pulling down the
blinds" There are few Republicans in Middlesex
County who have neither forgiven nor forgotten
This remark the who made it; but there
are other Republicans there who respect more
than ever before the man who had the courage TO
make il. They know the men for whom the re-
mark was cut Of plain, durable experience and
they have never considered it a misft.
To emerge from political trouble into an
other is the rule IN Middlesex. except when one
factional disturbance crowds so hard upon another
that instead of one. there are two, sometimes
three. disturbances in the Republican ranks.
Just now the most conspicuous factional strife in
Niddesex is the choice Of chairman OF the Re-
publican County Committee Some weeks ago the
Republicans who had put Chairman Prickett into
office determined that he must get out. Incidental
to this determination the indirect service Of
notice upon Senator Strong that he must retire
from the State Senate at the end of his present
term.
THE SENATOR NOT CONSULTED.
To the end of dropping Mr.. Prickett from the
head Of the committee and eliminating Mr.. Strong
from the Senate. Milton Edgar. a Republican war
horse Of Perth Amboy. was selected to succeed Mr..
Prickett. Senator Strong not consulted upon
the proposed change, for the reason is said to
have been believed. that he would oppose the re-
election Of Mr. Edgar, and for the additional
given by his enemies that 'he wasn't worth consult
ing anyway"
expire with the next session of the legislature. He
desires denomination. and frankly says so. He
has made, in the estimation Of a great many Re
publicans in Middlesex County excellent, If not
brilliant Senator His record will compare favor
ably with that of some Of the better Senators that
Nir Strong does not get his living out OF politics.
he has the reputation of being honest and
WORTHY Republican Of that county said yesterday.
that such reputation is rare In Middesexr but 1t
is helpful to the Republicans when the people go
10 vote"
Of the Republican County Committee prospered
and it gradually became apparent that he would be
what was going forward but he had not been asked
for his opinion and he did not interfere t G He did
of the county committee as IT was feared he might
DO if the efforts OF sleuth poliaelans snee11 oe
behalf of Mr.. Edgar.
HIS SILENCE APPRECIATED
BY keeping silence. under what was believed to be
great prcvocation, If the Edgar men should be
caught in the act Of paving the way TO the nomi-
nation Of a new Republican candidate for Senator.
Mr. Strong according to his friends, has developed
unexpected superiority In politics to the politicians
who assume TO start and stop the Repubiican ma
ton was considered assured and Senator Strong $
downfall was regarded as a future matter ,d OF
for Chairman OF the Republican County Committee
Mr.. Edgar, and had been his choice all the
Then there was sadness in the bosoms Of the
too well The emergency reverse brakes were ap-
Piled and the Republicans who had been working
for Nr Edgar as a means to upset Mr. Strong,
began TO take the back track. They found that Mr
Edgar would not after all. be acceptable to the
people They did not mention Senator Strong. who
presumably was not regarded one of the people
IN fact man of Mr. Strong's ordinary taclturnity
is not generally supposed by the leaders TO be a
peoples man. and IL expected that the selection
OF Mr. Edgar as the head of the county comInlttee
would convince him that he was out or MS ciass
as politician and as Senator
WENT QUIETLY ABOUT HIS BUSINESS.
Nr Strong continued to say nothing much. but
smiled his way through the bars that had been put
up to balk him He seemed not TO have lost 1rlehas
and went quietly about his business, observing, by
the way. that the former supporters OF M. Eogar
were no longer advocating him for the chalrInaI-
ship of the county committee. 1t became clear, as
matter of fact, that Mr.. Edgar was no longer ule
favorite OF the people, SO to speak ,-,
And now" said the Republican from MiooieSex
in closing who told the foregoing story 70 the
Trfbunes correspondent, They don't want hogar
any more than they don't want Strong But 1hey
have gone toe far 10 turn the toe, MI Edgar
will be chosen as the chairman OF the Mloolese&
County Republican Committee, ana SenatoI
Stroness pathway to a denomination, II he shonlo
seek il will not be so thorny as VIII some OF Ine
highways over which his too conspicuous oppo-,
nents may again be led by their sagaclous neio
marshal to travel in the dark