The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1904-11-21
GOSSIP or THE:
SESSION
Mckee Of Passaic and Brad
ley Of Camden Looking
forl Senate Leader
ship.
EDGE TO LOSE sECRETARYsHIp
Folwel Of Mt. Holly Likely to
Succeed Him The Patron
age Problem.
EDGE TO LOSE SECRETARY SNIP
Especial to F7The Jersey city News.'')

Special to 'The Jersey city News.'}
TRENTON. Nov. q, 1904. When it
was learned here today that the Essex
delegation in the Assembly, at its con-
ference in Newark Friday night, decided
to support J. Boyd Avis for Speaker,
it was generally conceded that that set
tied it. and that the young statesman
from Cumberland would preside over the
lower house second term
AT the same time authentic assurances
We're received from Senator Joseph Cross
of Union, that he would not resign from
the Senate to take the office of Clerk
in Chancery, but would remain in the
upper chamber and be a candidate for its
presidency. This was considered as set
Ting the presidency Of the Senate also
in Senator Cross's favor, and these two
leading offices being out Of the way. the
people about the State House began to
speculate upon the remaining positions in
the two houses of the Legislature. There
appeared to be a settled conviction that
the leadership of the Assembly was as
good as settled. inasmuch as Essex had
asked for the place for Edward D. Duff
field and the general feeling among the
leaders, that in view of the excellent
showing that county made at the last
election, she should have granted "this
most reasonable request as the common
law pleaders would say.
There was no such degree of certainty,
however, in regard to the leadership of
the Senate, although many were inclined
to favor the chance of William ] Brad
ley of Camden, as against that of Wood
Mckee, of Passaie, who at this time are
two leading aspirants for the place.
When the Senators and the Assenblymen
were hereon Tuesday very little was said
about Mr. Bradley's candidacy for the
leadership, and almost all the talk with
which his name was connected concerned
Cross's being made clerk in Chancery.
| On the other hand, Mr.. Mckee was here
and told every one interested that he was
a candidate for the leadership and intend
ed to make the best fight he could put up
for the place. His supporters said that
they considered that he was as much en-
titled to the place as any one else con-
sidering the fact that he has been in the
Assembly two years, in the senate four
years and has two more years to serve
in the upper chamber They further de-
clared that his course in the Legislature
had shown that he possesses in marked
degree the qualifications for the efficient
leader, and there is no good reason, it
was urged, why he should not be chosen.
Some of the Senators who heard this
were inclined to take issue with the
friends of the passaic man on this ques-
tiI. They We're willing to admit all
that was said of Mr.. McKee's long serS
vice in the Legislature and to aclxnowl-
edge that his experience as a lawmaker
should have fitted him for the leadership,
nevertheless they We're of the opinion that
the calm, deliberate disposition Of Mr..
Bradley and his general leveEheaded-
ness made him the more desirable can
didate for the place.
There is a strong sentiment in favor of
the Camden man, and inasmuch as the
presidency is going to Union. it was
argued the leadership, according to prec-
eGent, ought to go to the southern end Of
the State. and that section had as yet
produced no candidate as strong as Mr..
Bradley, from all Of which it was de-
Jared that at this time he appeared to
ave the leadership in his grasp.
One thing in connection with the or
;anization Of ths Senate. which seems
10 be almost as certain as death and
taxes, is that Walter 3. Edge. of At
lantic, will not be the secretary again.
There is an unwritten law among the
Senators, as immutable as the laws of
the ancient Medes and Persians, which
provides that no one can have an office
within the gift Of the Senate unless he
has the support Of the Senator from his
county N view Of the fierce fight which
Edge waged 50 unsuccessfully against
Edward s. Lee for the Senatorial nom