The Jersey City news., 1904-10-14
CUMBERL. AND NOW.
AGAINST STOKES
Canvass Of the County Shows
: the Republican Guberna-
torial Candidate is
Opposed at Rome.
HIS DIcTATloH OFFENDED
Oystermen Flock to Join
Blacks Ranks Stekes's
Proteges Unpopular.
HIS DIcTATIoH OFFENDED
Especial to ..rhe Jersey city News,

p Special to 1.-THE Jersey City NeSs'I
BRIDGETON, Oct. IA, 1904.--The in
vasion of the enemy's country by Charles
C. Black. the Democratic candidate for
governor, revealed a condition of political
affairs in Cumberland county gratifying
10 the party of equal taxation.
The Democratic organization is in
splendid working order, and, besides this
1.-THE Republican situation has several un-
favorable phases.
A canvass shows that the Republican
candidate is being opposed by men of his
own party in his own county. The rea-
sons are twofold. Mr.. Stokes's connection
with legislation detrimental to certain
Abusiness interests in the county, and his
fhigh-handed domination of the county Re-
publican organization.
All along the bay oystermen and fish
ermen are after Stokes's scalp because
lthey charge him with being the father of
kthe bills taking away from them their
natural oyster fishing privileges. and pre-
venting the fishing with seine nets.
Among his opponents on this ground are
many Republicans, and they do not hest
tate to let their opposition be known.
Your correspondent today saw letter
---..stt - = a ,,,o,,;,,r., I2enuhl;oopl nV.x.
herman of Commercial Township, this
county, wnich throws light ON the situa-
tion This Republican is out for Mr..
Black, and wrote to the Democratic
County Committee for Democratic itera-
ture to distribute among his neighbors.
He concluded his letter by saying
There is quite split on the Republic
cam ticket in Commercial Township, and
it seems to be all Black
This man has two sons, who are Re-
pnbdcans, and both are working for Mr..
Black. His name is withheld only be-
cause the letter was a personal one.
The opposition to Stokes for his domi-
nation of the county machine dates back
FIVE years, when Stokes used his in1u-
ence to defeat DIR. Thompson, the pres
ent Surrogate. for the nomination for
County Cierk Stokess man was Sam
llel Sheldon, and he forced his uomina-
a. Al 1.
ment of his party. The result was that
the Stokes ticket was simply slaughter
ed by the Republicans, who helped the
Democrats to elect George W. Betchner,
the Democratic candidate for County
Clerk. by majority of 1874. William
G. Hendy, the, Democratic candidate for
Sheriff, was also elected by over / 800
majority. The result led to Stokes being
hung in effigy in this city by members of
his own parity.
The enmity against Stokes has been
revived in full force because County
Clerk Betchner has been renominated by
the Democrats, and the Republicans
have again pitted Sheldon against him.
Giving added force to the enfnity to
Stokes in his own party is the fact that
the cause of equal taxation is winning
Republican votes TO Mr.. Black
County Clerk Betchner has made
good record. and his reelection by an in
creased majority is predicted
Another factor that viii figure against
the usual Republican majority in the
county is the unpopularity of Assembly
man Lewis A. Miller of vineaand. Mil
ler's record in the Assembly last winter
was not at all pleasing to the better ele-
ment of his Republican constituents, and
they charge that his attitude towards
several measures, held to be not to the
credit of the State, was of the stand
and deliver" sort, after which he voted
for them. They regard his denomination
as a mistake, and this gives another rea-
son for the cutting of the Stokes ticket.