New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-12
MAY BECOME REPUBLICANS
Ex-senator Smith and Others Said
To BE Disguised 7cith Their Party

Trenton. y. j.. Nov. II (soeciaD.-Thers promises
TO be q second political landslide in New-Jersey /;
will shortly follow the cyclone that struck the De-
rlocraey last Tuesday. There have been signs %
this aftermath but tie combination being arrareed
between William ]. Bryan, Thcr1as y. Watson an1
William II Hearst hss FASTENED II. The second
lanGs.ds viii consist OF the desertion OF the De-
mocrscy by nunseer of prominent members OF
that parry and their Joining the Republican party
They viii unite with the Republicans. as tSe
churches express It when converts added %
their ranks
Had the Bryan wing os the Democrats Dartv
won az the st. louis convention last June. there
would have been public announcement OF the ir-
teEtios Of score OF o,dtime Democrats
leaders 20 unite with IKE Republican party in New
Jersey. The fact. however that the so-caled souRd
money elencat came out ahead. thanks TO the Par
ker telegram induced the Jerseyncn il question
to remain true 20 the Old faith for another cam
paig1 Probably that circumstance alone rsgn,
not have prevented the exodus but the stanch
fight made by the Jersey delegation for Grover
Cleveland placed the leaders il a position where
they could not honoraby desert the ship until after
election.
1t was last spring that James Smith, considered
the leader Of the New-Jersey Democracy by great
part Of the party. told friend Of his that ha
seriously considered leaving the Democracy and
becoming Republican. The purport OF the
Senator's statement as follows:
What is the use of hanging onto the old hulk
ah9hoW' Inc raoical element IS apparently IN con-
troll. have nothing in sympathy with 1t. I do not
agree with Bryan or hiS faction. We have no
chance CT winning any more in Sew-Je-sey. The
Republicans are firmly intreGched and will continue
In power until there is Z revolution In the Democ-
racy party is started. Our campaigns
are farces. We get nowhere and have money 10
speak Of What Is contributed comes mostly from
my pocket or is obtained BY from personal
friends. The corporations ara with the Repubi-
cans. and whatever they DO in 4 financial way they
do for the Republican candidates. I am tired OF
putting up without tangible results. There was a
time when I thought 1t possible FOR Us TO get
a Democratic legislature one Of the years when a
United States Senator was TO be chosen and then
might have secured another term.
But that is all over continued the Senator
have the least chance Meanwhile, am playing
political solitaire so TO speak My business ail!a
of5ceres by RepuhliGans In a social way knew
believe the Republican party Of to-day is the safer
one for an active business nan to support Whi!s
the present : and OF Democracy.'
This. already stated. was last spring. The Sen
OF his intimate Democratic friends and found nearly
all OF ms nlnq IEen came tEe Ratonat con.s
ates in the Senate, ike German and Hill 20 Join
He agreed Bur sad Se 70 was the ony nan
who could win. He eadeavored TO get MI Cleve-
letter fTO the assouay rsfus to
tb P1innto wen. 20 i1 id Io No, "orSS nT P o
the proper candidate but Joined his friends m TAX
He did not remain long. however, owing to a falling
out with Taggart. He went 70 California for
month. When he came back he told by Will
lam j. Thompson that there was chance 10 get
some money from the national committee, which
could be used for Black for Governor and 70 change
the complexion OF the legislature, Smith AID
Thompson went to headquarters and. according u
prominent Democratic newspaper, received SSc,c0
for New,Jersey TIE Tribune 7 tod from time to
IL did no good, however. except possibly FOR per-
sonal purposes. The party dISastrOuSiy beaten,
and right on top Of the landslide came the news in
The Tribune that BRYAN, Hearst and Watson were
going TeOrganize the Democracy That is enough
for Smith. While he may wait short time. II Is
understood he will quietly make known before long
that he will be Republican IN the future.
Whether he viii endeavor 20 take an active part
convert In the party he so long opposed Is not
known.
In addition to James Smith. IT Is reported that
Democrats OF the standing OF George r GRAY,
William c. Heppenheinler. BENJAMIN F. Lee; Wlli-
lam 2. Gourey. Alvah a. CLARK. Rufus BlOdsstt
and Henry c. kelsey viii unite with the RePUbli-
can party before the end Of the year.