New-York tribune., 1907-09-09
POLITICAL FIGHT on
,SOmnper, Fort and Kat@eRbach an
Spotlight an Primary Contests.

! Trenton. Sept (SpecaD.-The results of the pri-
maries tomorrow will largely indicate the outcome
of the state convention the week following So
far as the Democratic slate for Governor is
cerned. the primaries practically discounted
at the Robert Davis outing last Wednesday. Frank
s. Katzenbach, jr., of this city. will probably be
nominated for Governor. Votes will be cast for
favorite sons on the first ballot in of the
counties but the nomination of Katzenbach seems
certain the second ballot. Some may cast
complimentary ballot for William c. Heppenheimer
Essex may show a temporary appreciation of ex
Judge Francis Child. Camden may give show OF
hands for ex-Judge Howard Carrow. Union may
show its admiration of James Z. MARITIME to the
extent of one ballot; Passac may give temporary
send-off to Senator John Hinchiiffe and on, but
all will Join the katzen0ach procession very early
in the balloting.
The primaries on the Republican side are not
likely mark the final result as clearly as Will
the Democratic While the present outlook is
equally favorable Justice J. Franklin Fort and
! Frank II. Sommer. there is certainty as to
what the primaries will eventually reveal There
Is much of the favorte son in the regular Re
publican situation. Nearly all the large counties
will have votes for two three different candi-
dates. Essex will cut its vote up between SOM
mer, Fort and Pitney. Hudson will vote at lis
primaries for sommer. Fort and Collins. Union
will divide its vote also among Sommer, Fort
and Collins Bergen. Passaic and Sussex promise
to show harmonious front and cast solid ballot
for Vivian NJ. Lewis. clerk in chanccry- Mddlesex
and Monmouth will split UP between Ptney. Fort
and Sommer. and Pitney and Fort will divide up
certain parts Of South Jersey 0Fhe advantage OF
some one candidate may be distinct when the
primaries that the Republican nominee
can he predicted with good deal of confidence,
but il is doubtful
II is unfortunate that the independent condition
Of affairs is SO mixed II is TO be hoped some kind
of harmony be arranged between now and the
convention. There has been and to certain ex-
tent there stt1l is, considerable friction.
Cool observers who recognize that the lack OF In
dependent unity will prove fatal. are striving to
harmony get the leaders together again
possible, They this is the cam
paign that is going tell IF there TO be three
four different reform movements working sep
arately. the movement will lose prestige. IL Hud-
son.- Essex. Passaic. Union and Bergen get back
and fight in line the result will please the thou
sands who desire the cause 10 advance.
EPfLEPTIC HOME HAS CLEAN RECORD.
1t is refreshing to come across one Of the state
institutions OF which nothing can be said save good
The Epileptc Home al Skillman. that the House
investigating committee visited Friday, reflects
credit upon most of the managers and officers
There chance ito fix up and get ready for
COMPANY John H Backes. the counsel ar
ranged the visit cleverly that three Of the COM
mittee the sergeant alarms end half dozen
newspaper men appeared at the door OF the institu
ton without a word in advance. II a
plete surprise. and yet every part of the establish
Tent IN perfect form. or course. there is the
criticism of Skillman 10 be found that s
found elsewhere. When the managers reside miles
away and only come 10 the Home, in this case.
every two months TO hold meeting they cannot
keep in close touch or feel the proper sense Of
sponsbility. Cndoubtedly in its report the
mittec will recommend the appointment OF paid
officials who shall live the premises and he held
strictly accountable.
The House committee will meet again on Thurs
day. II will endeavor finish up the Railway
Reformatory investigation. but It may be unsuc-
ceEsfui- The committee is bound to learn several
important things from George A. Squire. the presi
dent OF the institution. The repeated evasions Of
the subppnas by Squire is helping him. 1t Is
adding the belief that further crookedness will
he revealed the ,reformatoTy. II possible. the
committee will have explanation OF the meth
cd OF bookkeeping employed at the epeptic home
The progra OF the committee takes in the state
prison at Trenton and the insane asylum at Morris
Plains soon may he.
once the Senate investigation committee
seems TO have hzZled out. John I. Blair Reilly
refused last week to serve as counsel He took the
ground that II not right for him to act as
counsel FOR probe committee and be Prosecutor
Of Pleas Of Warren County at the same time. II Is
understood that half q dozen we'll known lawyers
have been sounded the subject. and all have
refused. for various reasons to 1t does not
speak very well the honesty and sincerity OF
the investigation that one cares to represent the
committee or undertake the probing involved
There seems he almost fatal lack Of the
shrewdness and sound Judgment that at one time
controlled the Republican party. For months all
sorts propositions have been made, and none or
them carried out. When the Democrats started the
Investigations and the Republicans were invited 10
join. they refused In the course of a week they
saw their mistake and arranged for another in
vestieation committee The committee ap
pointed. That the last OF it
The Democrats. through the investigation com
mittee have been making the best kind of cam
aaign material. The Republicans have sat still or
drfted about, accomplishing absolutely nothing.
What does il all mean? Has the Republican end
of the inner alliance surrendered 10 the Democratic
end and are the Democratic bosses to run things
as they please and reap all the advantage this
wear? 1t certainly looks that way. The Repuo-
lican administration promises be forgotten be-
fore it's term has expired, instead OF a few weeks
after as was formerly the custom.