Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-12-10
DEMOCRATS TO
Get TOGETHER
AssembIymen Will Assemble in
Caucus at the State House
at Trenton Tomorrow.
QUESTIONS ARE TO BE DECIDED
Hudson Seems to Hold Whip Hand
but Will Yield Necessary to Give
Party Haimony-Small Pluns in
the Baslket--Caucus Will BE Held
i'm Assembly Chamber and VIII
Probably be Open to the Public.

1
Probably be Open to the Public
TRENTON, Dec. 10:-For the first
time since their triumph at the polls
the democratic members-elect of the
assembly will visit the state house in
a body tomorrow afternoon. The oc-
casion is for the purpose of effecting
an organization of the lower branch
of the legislature, of which they are
in the majority.
The campaign for the United
States senatorship remains unchang-
ed, that is 1t continues with John F.
Dryden against the field, and while
this question is bound TO come in for
no little discussion among the poll
ticians at the capitol tomorrow, the
bulk of the interest centers about the
democratic caucus, which is clearly
the most important event on this
weeks political calendar,
There seems to be but little doubt
that the caucus will be interesting.
1t will be conducted in the assembly
chamber, and will, in all probability,
be open to the public.
The only time that the democratic
assemblymen have been together be-
fore was last Tuesday, when they met
in joint conference with the demo-
cratic senators and senators-elect. 1t
was in no sense caucus, the only
question discussed at that time being
the policy it would be best to pursue
during the coming session of the leg
islature
All Democrats Expected.
The full quota of thirty-one demo-
cratic assemblymen-elect is expected
to be present at tomorrow caucus
and one of these will be selected as
speaker of the house, while another
will be decided upon as majority or
party leader Besides the filling oil
these offices there are thirty-nine ap-
pointments that the democratic ma
jority will have at its disposal, the
most lucrative of which is the assem-
bly, clerkship. The other positions
include sergeant-at-arms, doorkeep-
ers and pages.
But it is around the selection OF
the speaker and majority leader that
interest centers. The various county
, delegations have conducted numer-
GUS conferences among themselves OF
with the representatives of Other
l counties, and the candidates for thest
two honors are many. The Hudson
l county delegation of twelve mem
bers, which is the strongest numer-
{ ically of any county in the state, L.
2 pledged to support Joseph A. Riordai
: for the speakership, and the indica
$ tions are that he will land the prize
S although it would not be surprising
if Assemblyman-elect Edward H
t Wright, of Essex county, should be
S selected to WELD the gavel.
Riordon-s Chances.
.. Mr.. Riordan, who served in the
session of 1905, has been a candidate
! for the speakership ever since the re-
suits of the election became known
and 1t is understood that he has the
support of some of the Passaic county
men, in addition TO those of his home
county
AS Hudson county has twelve votes
in the caucus it will only be neces-
sary for that delegation to muster
four more of the remaining nineteen
l democratic assemblymen to gain con-
troll of the caucus. whether this car
be done remains to be seen, as there
are those that believe Essex with its
eleven votes will be able to corral
the necessary five more to put then
in the majority.
Mr.. Wright's candidacy is compar'
atively recent, and as he has had nc
t legislative experience 1t is considered
{ likely that his candidacy for the
D speakership will not be received al
heartily by the eontingents from
Hunterdon, Warren, Sussex, Hudson
and Passaic as will the candidacy o.
, Mr.. Riordan, who, in addition to be
ing a good level-headed buslnes
| man, has had considerable public eE
3 perience, not only in the legislative
S halls, but also as mayor of Harrison
g where he resides.
Another candidate for the speaker
. ship is Archibald Alexander, also o
: Hudson. He is nephew OF Colone
= Edwin A. Stevens, democratic candi
S date for the United States senator
e ship, and although quite young, Is
II lawyer of more than local repute
Mr.. Alexander has also had legisla
tive experience, and curing the ses
ssion of 1905 made an excellent repu
itation by his eloGuence, earnestnes
and aggr. iyeness. 1t is beheye'
that Mr.. Alexander will retire II
/. favor of his colleague, Mr.. Rlordan
in the event of his finding that tn
sentiment is in favor of the Harrison
man.
Holcombe A Candidate.
= Still another candidate for tn
: speakership is Oliver Holcombe, 0
Hunterdon. His candidacy is bein
fostered BY the Warren and SUISSE
assemblymen, and is also said to b.
: regarded favorably by some OF tn
Essex and Passaic men. But MI
Riordan seems to have the creates
strength, and is regarded in mos
quarters as q sure ~''-7aer, ShiS