Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-07-24
Regular Organization Men at
Trenton Think He Will be Re-
turned to The Assembly.
FEAR COLBY MOVEMENT
Proposed Special Session NOT
Talked Of Much Machine
Men Fear Outcome.
speoIal % lhe EvENINe NEws:

I
Special to the EVENING NEWS:
TRENTQN,ss July 24.-Mercer
county has fired one of the 1rsk
guns in the regular republican assem-
bly, campaign in the announcement
that Alfred N. Barber, of this city
will be re-nominated for third term.
The announcement is of special In
terest to Middlesex county, because IL
Mr. Barber is named, he is certain to
be an active candidate for either the
speakership or leadership, and as
such will be running in opposition to
DR.. Frank Crowther, of Perth Amboy.
AS was stated in these dispatches
several times last winter, few assem-
blymen have made the impression az
a legislator during their first term
that DR.. Crowther did. He has =
magnificent voice and Is splendid
speaker. At the last session he shows
ed himself to be a good parliamentar-
ian, and displayed other qualities
that 1t was deemed fitted him for ei4
ther of the positions mentioned. Be
fore the session ended not few men
who follow closely the. doings OF the
house were stating DR.. Crowther for
either speaker or leader, in 1907 II
is understood here that the Perth
Amboy assemblyman will be renomi~
mated. and he is looked upon here as
being in the running. as far as the
camp of the regular republicans Is
concerned.
MIR. Barber's Record.
Mr.. Barber has already served two
terms In the house, and made his
mark from the state administrations
standpoint, each time. Last winter
he frequently overshadowed Leader
Perkins, in the management Of Iu=
portant questions, and was often rez
ferred to as "Iieutenant leader. He
lis sffne -rarfiia16siffs ".
did tactician, and 5a,rs-ases m Atsst
forceful a speakers as S<1owthers
knows how to make strong argu-
ment. The leaders here state that
Barber is too valuable a man to re-
tire, SO a long established precedent
will be broken and Mercer county
will run him for third term.
AS the situation seems to stand
now these two Legislators will be in
the lead for the places named 1t
would seem therefore, as though IL
one lands the speakership the other
will succeed to the floor leadership.
For the past six years the speaker
has come from South Jersey, Bradley.
of Camden, in 1901 and 1902; HOr-
ner of Burlington, in 1908; Avis. Of
Gloucester, in 1904 and 1905; and
Robbins, of Burlington, In 1905.
! North Jersey is certain, therefores
to claim the speakership this year.
This would seem to favor the chances
of DR.. Crowther. But against hr%
geographical advantage must be put
Barbers greater experience and the
fact that he stands a trifie strongerk
perhaps, with certain leaders in the
state administration.
This is the way the situation lines
up at present in the camp OF the
Stokes Briggs wing of the republican
party, and the contest is pretty cer-
tain to be an unusually interesting
one.
The Question Arises.
But the question that Is agitating
the regular leaders more than the orr
ganization of the next legislature lss
are they certain to have enough votes
to do the organizing. 1t Is no secret
that the leaders all have their ears
to the ground, straining earnestly to
catch every sound that will aid them
in determining where they stand.
Though the first of August is rap
| idly approaching. not a word has yet
I been heard of the special session OF
the legislature that was to be con-
vened early in September to consider
the Passald pollution problem. The
correspondent of the EVENING
NEWS has heard whispers that per-
/ haps there would be no special ses-
4 sion, owing to the fears that the pro-
gressive republicans might re-intro-
duce some of the bills in the interest
of the people that were smothered bY
the majority last spring.
Afraid of Fordyce.
1t is figured that II this was done,
1t would surely make capital for the
Colby faction, and in turn would be
most disastrous to the regulars
Looked at from a local standp0int-
such a contest based on the peoples
interests and having for its slogan
"No Legislation by committee" would/
be certain to initiate In favor or
Col. Fordyce in Middlesex county,
and on the other hand make 1t more
difficult for Jackson, who is recog@
nized as the candidate of the BOSSES
/ to capture votes. That is regarded az
the secret of the disinclination OF the
state administration to call the spe-
ciaI saSSi0n