The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-18
IS
FAVORITE
CANDIDATE
CONTINUED from First page,

strength outside of Essex is not well
known.
"If Judge Fort is the choice of Essex,
will the New Idea support him?"
IT am not prepared to say anything
about that now" was the reply.
When 1t became rumored today that
Judge Fort would not favor an opel
Sunday delegates from wards which
the regular candidate claims will sup
port him were wondering whether it
was true. New Idea men, at the head
quarters, stated that some of the Fort
delegates had announced that they ia
vored Sheriff Sommer since they heard
tina Judge Fort was opposed to an
open Sunday and would champion the
Bishops bill.
81 understand that Judge Fort stated
that he favored the present Sunday
law and was opposed to any modifca-
ton OF It," said one sommer man. 81
believe that In the wards where the
people are crying for freedom and
American liberty that their delegates
will not vote for him, either"
Conferences nave been held during
the last week or more between Repub-
iican leaders in the State. United
States Senator Briggs n Governor
Stokes have been advising with the
| other leaders. and the visit of Gov
ernor Stokes to Justice Fort last Sat
urday, told of that day by the EVEN
| ING STAR, is believed to have been for
the purpose of discussing h planks
to be inserted. Both the Governor ana
| Senator Briggs have stated in refer
ence to the excise plank that 1t would
not declare for the repeal of the
Bishops law. The fact that the Gov
ernor consulted Justice Fort is con-
strued to mean that the Governor.
with his good sources of information,
looked on the judge as the probable
candidate, and that 1t was as such
that he talked over the platform with
him.
It is understood that the judge then
made the declaration of where he stood
on the excise matter, and that this led
to the statements made by the Senator
and Governor.
After the Democratic State platform
was made known yesterday, the Gov
ernor and a number of other Republic
cans, including President Thomas N.
McCarter, of the Public Service Cor
| pOTdlIUu SlldliCVly Shih $3.50
ators Frelinghuysen' and Robbins and
a number of others had a long talk In
the Governors private office in the
State House. OF course. the nature of
the discussion could not be ascer-
tanned, as none of the conferees ap-
preached would talk on the matter.
1t was stated in Trenton yesterday
by a few reliable persons that Senator
- - 10 AI.A& 10 xrr(ar1d dHV1Rar
Justice Fort If he were made the
nominee.
If this be the true attitude of the
New Idea leader, the chances of JUS
tice Fort are considered brighter.
While the supporters of Sheriff Sommer
believe that Hudson County will give
Judge Fort a majority of It's votes, they
claim that delegates from HARRISON and
Kearny will stand by their man. and that
four Hoboken delegates are pledged to the
reform champion, and others are expected
to fall into line.
Sheriff Sommer will leave for the scene
of the battle late this afternoon, and, with
Senator Colby, Alderman William P. Mar
tin and other New Idea leaders, will dis
cuss the situation at the Sterling House
with the unpledged delegates and with
some claimed by the Regulars.
Some hope was held by the Colbyltes
that Passalc County delegates would turn
to Sommer in convention. When asked
about the report today one of the Sheriff's
lieutenants said that some of the Passaic
men would confer with Senator Colby and
others tonight at Trenton.
Assistant Prosecutor Wilbur Mott will
place the name of Judge Fort before the
convention. Mr.. Mott lives in South Or
ange, but will act as a delegate from East
Orange in place Of one duly elected who
finds 1t impossible to go to Trenton.
Senator Colby will make the speech
nominating Sheriff Sommer.
Sheriff Sommer will act as a delegate
from the Eleventh Ward, which will have
as its chairman Alderman Martin. The
Sheriff was elected a county delegate in
his district, and Is serving as a State dele
gate for another who also finds 1t impos-
sible to be at the convention. The dele
gate placed the name Of Sheriff Sommer
before the Eleventh Ward body, and he
was unanimously agreed to.
Many prominent county leaders visited
the Sheriff at his office yesterday and
today, planning for the work to be done
tonight and tomorrow.
TRENTON, Sept. 1S.-The Republican
State convention for the nomination of a
CdItlludtt LII 1ONCAhOA VA O.
noon tomorrow in Taylor Opera House.
Its deliberations will be presided over by
former Governor John w. Griggs.
There will be a meeting of the State
committee Of the Young Mems Republican
Clu tonight, and United States Senator
John Kean will receive his friends In
room 100 at the Trenton House.
The number OF delegates entitled to a
seat in the convention is 1851. and Mer-
| Ger County is entitled to IS. Essex will
have 24S, Hudson POI, and all other coun-
ties will have less than 100, the smallest
number being IS, from Cape May.
Among the Republican Senators and As
semblymen at the State House yesterday
were many who predicted that the nomi-
nee would be Supreme Court Justice j.
Franklin Fort. There were Others who be-
lieved chat the question was yet an open
one and that the honor would not be
game by anyone without a contest.
Supreme Court Justice Mahlon Pitney,
Vivian Lewis, clerk OF the Court Of
Chancery and Frank H. Sommer, Sheriff
of Essex County, doubtless will have the
backing Of many friends.
It was said yesterday that Justice Pit
ney, in addition to liberal support In North
Jersey, would receive many votes from
several sections of the State.
The chances Of Vivian Lewis are also re-
garded as bright by loyal and influential
supporters who declare that his strength
has grown greatly during h last fort
night.