Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-10
HIS CHANCES IN DOUBT.
New Candidate Might Press Dryden
Very Hard.

A dispatch from Trenton, N. j., says:
When 1t became an assured fact that the
republicans would have majority Of seven
on a joint ballot in the legislature 1t was
generally taken for granted that United
States Senator John F. Dryden would be
reelected. Yesterday there were indica-
lions that the appearance Of a really strong
candidate in opposition to Mr. Dryden was
alone needed to make his fight doubtful.
Yesterday Mr. Dryden was threatened with
an open revolt against his candidacy. the
initiative of which came not from the party
leaders but rather from its followers. The
opposition which has rapidly been taking
concrete form since election day is based
upon the growing belief that the reelection
of Mr.. Dryden would mean the satisfaction
of his personal ambitions at the expense of
his party.
The first open declaration by member
of the legislature against Mr.. Dryden yes
terday made by Senator Ernest r.
Alderman of Union. who issued the follow
ing signed statement:
lowing to the fact that south Jersey
will have more than twice as many republic
cans in the next legislature on joint ballot
as north Jersey 1t seems to me that Gov.
Stokes would be the logical candidate for
the office of United States senator for the
term commencing March 5, 1907. I hope
that Gov. Stokes can see his way clear to
become candidate. If the United States
senator is to come from the northern end
OF the state former Attorney General
Griggs is my choice
The statement of Senator Alderman was
concurred In by Assemblyman Peter Till
man, one OF his associates from Union
county, except far as it related to Mr.
Griggs as second choice. The break in
Union county. with the known disaffection
In Bergen county and the republican defeat
In Essex. Hudson. Passais and Middlesex
counties. leaves Mr.. Dryden practically
without support in his own section Of the
state and makes more possible of fulfill
ment the claim of south Jersey that it Is
entitled to choose one Of the two United
States senators.
Senator Hillery of Morris county has an
nounced that he is pledged to no mans can
didacy. Senator Wakelee Of Bergen per-
sistently refused to vote for Mr.. Dryden
when he first ran and Senator Frelinghuy-
sen of Somerset Is not rated among the
Dryden followers. though he has expressed
no preferences.
In the few republican spots remaining in
north Jersey there Is either neutral or
antagonistc disposition toward Mr.. Dryden.
and in south Jersey similar feeling is be-
coming more apparent each day.
In Ocean county, whore there was an in
dependent ticket Mr. Dryden lent his sup
port to the unsuccessful candidate. In the
Mercer delegation there Is belief that
Mr.. Dryden's election means the subse-
quent defeat of the party. In Camden.
where David Baird has been the acknowl-
edged boss. there are open signs Of revolt
against Mr.. Dryden. and In Cumberland,
the home Of Gov. Stokes. a south Jersey
candidate would be welcomed in the field.
Cape May. Salem and Monmouth are pre-
sumably for Mr.. Dryden. although rumors
today indicated doubt as to the attitude
of Monmouth.
In Atlantic Senator Lee is regarded as
a Dryden supporter. but Assemblyman Ell
WINS who constitutes the rest of the dele
CATION. has declared against him.
AS the situation stands Mr.. Dryden has
defeat him, but no avowed candidate has
appeared to oppose his claims. Col A. R.
Kuser. son-in-law Of Mr.. Dryden; John T.
Kuser and~Uzal McCarter of the Pruden-
tial Insurance and Fidelity Trust Company
were all on the warpath today and their
appearance here was understood to be a
renewal of the efforts to secure from Gov
Stokes, who is regarded as the most dam
gerous possible opponent of Mr. Dryden, q
declaration in favor Of Mr.. Dryden. The
only statement which the governor would
make was in these words:
IT know no other candidate for United
States senator except Mr.. Dryden
Some of Mr. Drydens friends tried yes
terday to construe this as meaning that the
governor would not himself enter the fight,
but other persons are inclined to give the
agement from the governor would give him
a strong following in the fight. while in the
opinion of those who are willing to declare
their preference for him his silence Is con-
strued as an unwillingness to enter the
lists. Thus far the contest seems to lie be-
tween Gov. Stokes and Mr.. Dryden, with
the governor so unresponsive as to en-
courage the belief that some other candi-
date must be sought unless chaos Is to pre-
vail in the Joint republican caucus