The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-09-25
C. 0. P. men CONVENE
Gathering of New York Repub-
licans Called to Order In
Saratoga.
GOVERNOR HIGGINS DECLINES

viii NotAccept Renomination-Hug
and Bruce, the Former Favored by
County Chairman Parsons, Leading
candidates-Secretary Root and For
mer Governor Black Mentioned.
Saratoga, N. Y, Sept 25-"Up in the
air. was the answer most frequently
given to questions concerning the gu
bernatorial nomination of the Repub-
lican state convention, which convened
at noon today. The refusal of Gov
ernor Higgins to accept renomina-
ton unsettled things, and now all eff
forts are being put forth by the leaders
to form new lines, to make readjust-
ments and to secure a ticket which can
be nominated by acclamation. Har-
mony is being preached and harmony
means Slate" without disturbance
In the convention, such as would be
created by several ballots for governor
To make this slate an agreement up
on candidate for governor is neces-
sary.
vailed upon to accept denomination
the remainder would have been easy,
but the expected happened, and the
"chaos" which the governors friends
told him would ensue followed.
Chaos" however, is nothing morN;e-
rious than the necessity Of selecting
candidate who will satisfy all the
leaders and who will make good run
in the fall elections. With degree
of earnestness which had been lacking
until the action of the governor was
known the leaders set to work on their
task.
Bruce and Hughes In the Lead.
The two men who seem to stand out
most prominently among those sug-
gested for the nomination are Charles
e. Hughes and Lieutenant Governor
NJ L. Bruce.
The delegates from the city of New
York are working heroically to secure
enough upstate votes to bring about
the nomination of Mr. Hughes. They
are meeting with considerable opposi-
ton, however, from the upstate Hig-
gins followers. Mr.. Hughes is sup
ported by County Chairman Parsons
of New York, whose victory over Odell
in the recent primaries has brought
him much prestige.
The most important single factor in
the situation is Mr. Parsons. At the
outset of his career as political lead
er he is confronted with an opportuni-
ty to demonstrate his prowess. Op-
posing him and the men who stand
with him, men like Job Hedges, Sen
ator Page and Assemblyman Prentice,
are the more seasoned politicians who
seem intent on turning over to Bruce
the upstate votes which would have
gone to Governor Higgins.
Hughes Would Accept.
The Hughes movement was given
considerable encouragement by the ap-
parently authorized statement that Mr..
Hughes would accept the nomination if
1t should come to him without con
test. Bruce undoubtedly would accept
without imposing this condition.
At one stage Of the game, while the
big and little bosses posing as leaders
were pulling and hauling each other. 1t
looked as IL Ex-Governor Frank s.
Black might be the compromise candi-
date.
The former governor declared, it is
said, that the only conceivable condi.
tion upon which he would consider
such proposition would be the unani-
nous demand of the convention. This
of course the leaders could hardly guar
antee. Ex-Governor Odell declined to
be an active party to this movement,
declaring that he-was here largely in
the capacity of a spectator, ready to
assist in anything desired by the new
regime, but with no desire or intention
to assume any of the responsibility and
from which the result of the primaries
had, to put it mildly, absolved him.
odeIl Favors Black.
1t is understood that Governor Odell
told a number of friends that the nom.
ination of Black would be the best
thing the convention could do and that
such result was not impossible.
Timothy L. Woodruff, who has. been
frequently talked of as candidate,
said: ''I did not come here as a candi.
date. am not candidate, and l am
discouraging my friends from talking
of me as candidate.''
Secretary Roots name is suggested
by men VINO say that man of the
greatest prominence should be selected
for the head of the ticket. Doubt is
expressed whether he would accept the
nomination.
All other features Of the convention
are naturally dwarfed by the more
important matter of the governorship.
There are candidates enough for the
other places, but they must wait until
there is some solution of the first puz-
zle. The only exception seems to be
In the case Of Attorney General Julius
M. Mayer of New York, who, it is gen.
orally agreed, will be nominated with
out opposition.
Black Doesn't Want to Run.
Troy, N Y, Sept. 25.-Ex-Governo
Black In conversation with friend
l.