New-York tribune., 1906-05-25
VIEW JERSEYS SENATORIAL FIGHT.

VIEW JERSEYS sen AIOhAAL FIUHA'
There are twenty thousand persons. more or
less. in New Jersey who are legally eligible Tor
membership in the United States Senate, and
among these is Mr. George L. Record, of Jer-
sey City Mr. Record is an able man, forci-
BILE talker and a natural agitator. He tried
first to reform the Democratic party in New
Jersey, but finding that an impossible task. he
entered the Republican ranks.
As Corporation Counsel of Jersey City, he has
rendered really valuable service to Mayor Pagan
and the municipality, especially in bringing to
book tax-shirkng corporations and other con-
Germs which were needless Of the law. He too,
played a conspicuous part in the recent fight
for equal taxation. Then when the Colby
movement was started in Essex County Mr..
Record volunteered as adviser in chief. and Sen
ator Colby is known to place high value upon
the services rendered throughout that stirring
campaign
For some time it has been an open secret that
Messrs. Colby, Pagan and Record were not dis
posed to permit the reelection Of Mr.. John f.
DRYDEN to the United States Senate next win
ter without a contest of some kind. 1t was as
sumed, however, that they and the other indie
pendents who might feel that way knew enough
about the political game not to tie themselves
TO any particular candidate until after the legis-
ative election next November. Shrewdness
would seem to dictate course not likely 10
ALLEVIATE voters who think highly, for instance,
of the Senatorial qualities of men like Mr. John
w Griggs, Congressman Fowler, Mr. COrtlandt
Parker Mr.. William II. COrbin, Mr.. Gilbert Col
lins and half dozen others Of like standing.
However that may be Mayor Pagan at a
recent public dinner suddenly launched a Sen
atorial boom for Mr.. Record. Senator Colby had
no previous knowledge Of this proposition but
when it was made he frankly acquiesCed in it,
and now Mr.. Record is out with formal state
ment announcing his candidacy. In this state
ment he criticises Senator Dryden as typifying
and representing the fundamental idea of ma
"chine politics. the alliance between corporations
enjoying or desiring special privileges and the
bosses Of the party machines and that quo
tation gives fair idea of the whole document
Mr.. Records candidacy has produced some i'm
mediate effects which may. of course he modified
by later developments. 1t has caused split
in the ranks of the reformers and newspapers
friendly to them and 1t has ranged the whole Re
publican organization Of the state in practically
a solid body behind Senator Dryden. Until Mr..
Record was projected into the Senatorial arena
it was by no means certain that Mr.. Dryden
would have a united organization behind him.
Indeed, there were rumors of apparent sub
stance to the effect that the Senator might find
a formidable rival in Governor Stokes. Now
il looks as If Mr.. Record had driven every other
organization man off the field. leaving the con-
test to be fought ont between himself and Sen
atOr Dryden 1t is going TO be a mighty inter
esting fight, and there will surely be many stir
ring chapters to write Of it during the next six
months