New-York tribune., 1902-09-08
IN The lid DISTRICT.
40 CANDIDATE HAS YET BEEN FOUND
TO CONTEST WITH B. F. HOWELL.

TO CONTEST WITH B. F HOWELL.
nomination without opposition of Benjamin F.
Howell for Congress a few days ago was at once
q recognition of his fitness and a testimonial to
the respect in which he is held by the Repub-
licans Of the lid District 1t admitted by
the Republicans of the three counties-Middle-
sex. Monmouth and Ocean-composng the dis
trict that strong candidate was needed TO de
feat what promised to be an aggressive and
determined opposition by the Democrats The
time was. and not long ago. when Monmouth
County one of the Democratic strongholds
OF the State, and to factionaI strife and differ
ences and fusion elements was and is attributed
the change to the Republican column by small
ma ajorities As recently as last year the Re
publican plurality in Monmouth County was
only 40 1t is now asserted that factional strife
in the Monmouth Democracy has become sati-
ated by Republican supremacy, and that in this
campaign the warning elements will be united in
favor of the Democratic candidate and in oppo-
sition to Mr.. Howell.
MiddleseX has been so frequently untrust-
worthy in its Republicanism that the Republi-
cans were mindful of the necessity of nominal
ing a candidate who could come nearer than
any other to receiving the majority vote there.
They remembered that a year ago the Repub-
lican plurality there. in the election for a Gov
ernor. was only 110-close enough to be danger
Gus al any time. But Mr. Howell had uniformly
carried MiddleseX and he was again selected
the Republican candidate first because he
had been four times elected, and secondly, for
the reason that his conduct and career in the
House had been such warrant his re-
nomination.
In view Of the declared unity OF the Demo-
Gratis in Mddlesex and Monmouth. and of the
hat flai-
they can return Democratic pluralities for their
candidate for Congress in those counties may be
true. the Republicans still have Ocean County
10 fall back upon 1t should be said that the
Republicans do not admit the probability
that the Democrats carry either Middlesex
OF Monmouth. but declare that. upon a reason
able basis of estimate. Mr.. Howell will receive
pluralites in both OF these counties But putting
the most unfavorable construction upon their
prospects there. the Republicans still maintain
that Mi Howell viii be elected. Ocean County
is one of the strongezt rural Republican
ties in the State and Mr.. Howell is reported to
be as popular there any Republican in the
IIId Congress District. Last year the Repub-
Iican plurality in Ocean County was 1853, and
this year the leading Republicans there assert
that il will be least 200 for Mr. Howell.
While it is a fact that a plurality of Loo IN
Ocean County is not in excess of former Demo-
cratic plura1iues IN Monmouth County alone,
those days have gone by, and only wide-eyed
and windy Democratic enthusiasts predict the
return this year of former party aScen0ency
there to that extent in Monmouth. It is not be-
lieved that the Democrats can in this election
overcome the Republican plurality in Ocean in
both Middlesex and Monmouth Nevertheless, II
| is conceded by conservative and farseeing Re
publicans that Mr. Howell has not a walkover
/ In this campaign, and that aggressive, earnest
endeaVor may be necessary 10 carry MN throush
successfully.
1t is not yet positively known who the Demo-
Gratis candidate for Congress will be; but as an
| evidence of their intention to make an aSgres-
/ sive campaign, ex-Congressman Geissenhalner IS
more prominently mentioned than any other
Democrat Mr. Geissenhainer has had some eX-
! perience in political campaigning and knows
what IT costs he having been elected TO the
! House Of Representa- three times in success
sion. and defea ted when running for a fourth
term by Mr. Howell in 1894. Mr.. Geissenhainer
has ample means and has the support OF the
! Democratic organization in Monmouth, at tne
head of which some of the most skllful poll
| ticans in the district.
Another candidate much spoken or Is NlIilaH
J. Harrison, of Ocean County who is easily
the strongest Democrat in that Republican
stronghold He also is possessed Of one OF the
most pleasing personalities of any Democrat in
the State, and is prominent in the councils or
the Democratic leaders The object of his selec-
ton of course would be the reduction 70 a
minimum Of the large Republican vote In Ocean
County. and the receiving of the full democratic
vote in Middlesex and Monmouth counties But
so far all the indications point TO the nonina-
ton Of Mr.. Geissenhainer who, it is said, Is
more than willing to be the Democratic nominee,
while IL is averred that Mr.. Harrison has no
political ambition at this time.
Notwithstanding the apparent confidence or
most of the Democrats in the lid Distrlct, II
does not unanimously prevail, and the possiblli-
ties Of encOuntering rocks and shoals IN the
political current are feared. .
what We may have to contend with" SAID
a Monmouth County Democrat of State prom-
nence "is the possibility that the Monmouth
and Nfiddlesex leaders Of the party may enter
l,non an agreement with certain Repub!lcan
leaders of these counties. wherein the national
and State offices would go to the Repubhcahs,
and the local and county offices would De given
tn the Democrats This would not be any thIhg
new as every well informed Democrat and Re
Enrh coIIusion. however is not yet In sight In
the present campaign, and the determination ol
the Republicans to be loyal to their party APP
pears to be clear - .- ~;
IT is probable that former Assembly1nan Oh
Yer n Brevyn will be the Republican candidate
+ba Dennocrats rave not selected a candidate for
the Senate.
GARDNER'.S ELECTION SURE.