The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-01-08

candidacy, and the New York 4" Trib-
une" of Saturday said in regard to
the matter:
Will there be combination be-
tween the friends of Governor Ed
ward G. Stokes and Justice Mahlon
Pitney, of the Supreme Court, for the
latter,s election to the United States
Senate to succeed Senator Dryden :?
There were signs of it around the
State House to-day. The interest in
the Pitney movement is certainly
noteworthy. 1t is cropping out in
every direction. Stokes gives his
friends no encouragement regarding
his own position, and, in fact. has said
that he would not be a candidate. A
number OF his supporters, like Sena-
sor Frelinghuysen, of Somerset coun-
ty. for instance, frankly said that
while they would like to vote for the
Governor, they fear that constitu-
tionaI provisions will prevent their
casting their ballots for him.
The Stokes men seem to be rapidly
lining up for Justice Pitney. lndica-
tions of this tendency came from all
parts of the State to-day. Governor
Stokes is a great friend of Pitney.
They we're in the State Senate to-
gether, and their supporters are
friendly. Probably nothing showed
this more plainly than the fact that
the Governor and the judge were
closeted for some time in the formers
private room this afternoon. They
remained together until the judge
had to 90 back to the courtroom.
The fact that Chief Justice Gum
mere joiaed them for few minutes
might have meant simply judicial
conference, but the character and
length Of the conversation between
Fitney and Stokes did not indicate
anything of legal nature. 1t was
both too earnest and too animated to
point to some dry subject like law
proposition. While there was not the
usual crowd around the corridors,
there was a representative gathering
and pretty nearly the usual amount OF
gossip.
The current talk indicated that the
Pitney boom was growing, and that
there were at least a dozen Senators
and ASSemblymen who were ready
and possibly anxious to pledge them
selves to him. Assemblyman Kleinert,
the Democratic leader on the floor at
the coming session, applied TO Custo-
dian Weseman to-day for permission
to use the Assembly Chamber for a
caucus next Monday night. He re-
ceived the permission, and call will
be issued for the caucus at 8 O'Clock
on thai evening"
To a representative of THE CHRoN-
ICLE Justice Pitney stated that the
story in the Tribune" is simply re-
portor s error. Justice Pitney called
upon the Governor in regard to a
matter Of public business in which
both were concerned in their official
capacities. and the question of the
Senatorship was not alluded to. The
surmises of The Tribune" cores
pondent to the contrary are without
foundation. THE CHRONICLE can
state that when Justice Pitney ac-
cepted position on the bench he re-
tired from politics absolutely, and has
since unreservedly devoted himself to
the duties of his high judicial Office.
He has neither suggested nor given
encouragement to the mention of his
name in the matter of tie Senator
ship and has not in any wise presented
himself as candidate. While he has
a high appreciation Of the Senatorial
Office, and is naturally gratitied by the