The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-19
LETHBRDGE FOR SPEAKER
OCTCOME or THE DEMOCRATIC
Caucus IN NEWARK.
firth Grs eefully Ieciinss-The Essex Men
Hold Together and the Hudson Men
can't Get though Votes 70 WR-The
Caucus Ends In q Burst Of Harmony.

tancts Enus IN q burst OF htarnnon1.
Edgar Il. Lethbridge OF Essey bounty was
made the unanimous choices yesterday of the
caucus Of the Democratic members of the
New Jersey House Of Assembly for Speaker.
Lethbridge was selected after the caucus,
which had reconvened at the Continental
Hotel, Newark. a convenient place for the
various delegations to gather, had accepted
rhe d%eclination Of Joseph II. Firth Of Warren
county. The latter was chosen Speaker
last week at the Trenton caucus but was
forced out when it became generally know
that in 1901 he was convicted Of keeping a
disorderly house" at Phillipsburg, for which
he paid a fine of $500. Firth's offence was
operating a slot machine device which was
called gambling.
Prior 20 the assembling OF the delegations
yesterday an interesting fight went on
for fully three hours between Hudson
'caders on one side and the smith-Gour-
ley-Nugent combination on the other. The
smith men had a double job on hand. They
had not only 10 beat Hudson and prevent
the Speakership from soing there, but they
were up against a serious split in tho Essex
delegation. Seven Essex men had openly
declared themselves emancipated from
the yoke of Smith and the lash Of Nugent.
They also declared they would not do any
hing Nugent should ask them; and their ulti-
matu m vas that they would stand behind
one Of their own men for Speaker, not one
whom Nugent or Smith might ma me, but
one OF their own choosing.
The Essex leaders adopted the shortest
and easics. way 10 settle this dificulty.
They agreed to keep their hands Oh and
permit the delegation to thresh out the
problem for itself. At first a majority
n. Wright, Jr. Later Wright declined to
stand and ~Lethbrdge was named as the
unanimous choice OF Essex. Meanwhile
the Hudson men declared for Archibald
;. Alexander, twelve strong. They needed
four more votes and set out to get them.
There had been some sort Of promises
made by L~ethbndge. Wright, Groel and
Brady of Essex to vote under certain con-
ditions for a Hudson man. and there were
said 10 be at least two personal pledges
by Essex men to AlexandepT-
But the acquiescence Of Smith and Nugent
70 the selection of Lethbridge, who refused
20 make a single pledge and even declined
fatty 10 promise that he would accept assist
ance from the leaders in making up his com-
mittees, placed Essex in such a position
that its members were practically bound TO
stand as a unit. State Chairman william B.
Gourley was in full control OF the Passaic
delegation Of five. LAST week one Passaic
MAN cast MS lOJ Win the huOSOn men.
Yesterday Gourley had the whole FIVE Sc
cure. The three lone stars from the rural
counties were still in allegiance with the
mith-Nugent-GouI1ey arrangement, and
with the internal trouble in Essex smoothed
ont 1t was an easy matter TO beat Hudson and
is candidates.
A letter from Firth TO leader Klenart
announcing the former declination and
explaining his position was read.
Hahn of Essex nominated Lethbridge,
yVhfla AlnrnnHnrfa nro1aaa xvAra a,Nn1 h1y
Riordan, Baker, Sullivan, Btehm and Tu-
multy, all of Hudson. But one ballot was
taken and on it Lethbridge received nine
teen votes to twelve for Alexander. The
candidates exchanged compliments by vot-
ing for each other. Then, when the result
was announced Alexander gracefully lauded
.LethbridGe, took satisfaction because the
Essex man mad been named contrary to the
slesire of the bosses, and moved TO make
she domination unanimous, which was done.