New-York tribune., 1902-02-01
POLITICS IN ,NEWJERSEY.

great many political facts that amt so'
are being cheerfully and industriously circulated
Just now. Everybody has. apparently. been
guessing. and many of the guesses are more in
teresting than accurate The nearest point at
which they hit the truth is IN the statement that
there is likely 10 be reformation of political
lines and alliances within the Republican party.
Hobart and Sewell are gone. Ex-Governor
Griggs could, If he would. WELD great influence
but he is not likely to bother much with political
management because he has neither the time
nor the taste. Voorhees, is longer a factor
and some Of those now strutting around under
a magnifying glass will soon pass out OF notice
In the immediate future the men who will
cut more or less of figure in Republican State
politics are Governor Murphy, United States
Senator Dryden, United States Senator Kean,
Senator Thomas n. McCarter Major Carl Lentz
Senator Cross. Congressman Fowler, ex-senator
Robert Williams. Congressman Gardner. ex-,
Senator William NJ. Johnson. Colonel Kuser
David Baird, Barker Gummere Colonel S. D.
Dickinson, State Treasurer Briggs, Controller
Hancock, Robert Carson, ex-senator Stokes
Elisha B. Gaddis, and possibly a few others
whose names do not occur 10 the writer the
moment. What seems quite clear after a survey
Of the field is that if Governor Murphy and
Senator Dryden work together harmoniously
and understandingly ii will be largely their own
fault IL they do not direct the policy and control
the machinery Of the party in New-Jersey dur
ing the next few years. They are likely to have
the sympathy and assistance of w. NJ. Johnson,
Senator Cross. ex-senator Stokes State Treas
urer Briggs. Robert Williams and the Essex
County leaders.
There is of course, no telling what special
quality Of leadership may be most needed in
that time. If patience tact and a keen regard
for public opirion meet the conditions, the Gov
ernor and Senator Dryden will probably get
along swimmingly. On the other hand IL they
are called upon to face situations requiring ag-
gr. ssive bold, masterful tactics the outcome
may be totally different. Both are men of mild,
kindly temperament, who hate to hurt any
tody's feelings. whereas there are occasions in
the history OF political leadership when nothing
IS so timely effective club welded by
powerful hands and guided by keen and
unremorseful eyes.
How to distribute patronage so as to meet
public expectations, satisfy party friends, make
reasonably fair geographical distribution Of
the Offices and yet not arouse bitter enmtties, is
one Of the unsolved problems. II anybody has
patent guaranteed to make this easy he
should have difficulty in getting a hearing
from Governor Murphy. The average citizen in
fists on the highest standard in appontees the
various county leaders concerned chiefly TO
land their own candidates for this or that office
and II falls to the Governor TO attempt to please
everybody. or course. he can't do that and il
has 10 come down to question as to how best
nc can consClSntloUSty DO MS duty 20 the State
please himself in measure and make as few
enemies as possible.
Senator Kean will have his hands full prepar
Ing for his own reelection, and he will therefore
De chary Of doing anything which might provoke
costly sntagonisIns. He Will. probably. endeayor
70 kee0 aloof from any controversies which NAV
arise. and devote himself assiduously tn the
work of building up his fences There are ru
mors that Congressman Gardner may try con-
clusions with him three years hence Five or
six months from now it viii be easier to esti-
mate how much or how little difficulty Senator
Kesn viii nave in retaining his seat
IL there is anything written plainly on the hort,
of State politics H. Is that the next Renlihca
candidate for Governor will be former Senator IA
ward c. Stokes of Cumberland County. the nres
spt clerk in chancery. The handwriting is on the
wall as distinct anything he three years
ahead of the event--(Pater Call
dominating candidates now for an election
nearly three years off has the appearance of
rushing the season" II the nomination for
Governor falls to Mr.. Stokes IL will be due not
so much to anything I'm the past as to develop
ments during the next two years.