The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-29
TALKSOF RIKERRORGOVERNOR
pRJGGS THINKS JERSEY REPUB-
LTCANS COULD ELECT HIM.

Fort and Pi~tney-Chances Of Success
nS the Se-natOr-Chairman Sees Them.
TRENTON, N. j.. May 2s.-United States
Senator Frank o. Briggs, who is chairman
NJ the Republican State committee, fired
the first shot Of the regular organization
in the eubernatorial campaign to-day by
declaring tina II the Republicans selected
hs a candidate such a man as Chandler w.
Riker OF Newark he believed there would
he no question OF the success Of the Re-
publican ticket next fall. Declaring that,
"A chairman Of the State committee it
would not be proper for him to express
eny decided preference in anticipation
Of the action OF the convention. Senator
Briggs left no doubt in the minds OF
newspaper men to whom he made the
statement that Mr.. Riker is his personal
preference.
4 significant fact in connection with the
suggestion Of Mr.. Riker by the head Of the
regular organization is that he has re-
ceived also the virtual Endorsement OF the
New Idea movement headed by SENATE
Colby. Although senate Colby himself
has refrained from expressing a preference
for any single candidate his associates in
the movement have mad it plain that Mr..
Riker would be acceptable from their view
piont.
In this respect, therefore. the announce
ment of Mr.. Briggs is regarded in some
quarters as an effort to extend the olive
branch TO the force in the State which has
been opposing the regular organization
and the acknowledged party leaders. The
shirt in which the announcement is re-
ceived will be awaited with much interest
throughout the State.
II would be premature to predict that the
Endorsement of Mr.. Riker will insure his
nomination, for there is still a marked diff
ference in the sentiment existing In several
Of the larger counties which must be reck-
oped with. The followers OF the reform
movement in Hudson county are believed
10 favor the nomination OF Justice j. Frank
LIN Fort of the Supreme Court. WIN has been
more or less actively identified with the
reform movement and has also a consider
able following in his own county Of Essex.
At the same time it is likely that Justice
Fort's source of strength in Hudson county
would arouse an almost equally strenuous
opposition from the regular forces there
beaded by Col. s. D. Dickinson.
Passaic is another of the counties to be
reckoned with and from present indications
il will not be an easy matter TO unite the Re-
publicans Of that county for Mr.. Riker, who
has been actively identified with some Of
the Essex county measures viii CT were
most bitterly opposed by the people of
Passaic.
Justice Mahlon Pitney Of the Supreme
Court is another possible candidate who
occupies the anomalous position Of having
the support of both Senator Colby and
Major Carl Lentz, the ~repudiated boss Of
Essex county. Justice Pitney, however.
has been on the bench so long that he has
not been actively identified with any of
the recent factional fights in which the
party has been engaged, and for that reason
his endorsement by one side or the other
would not in itself be likely to draw the
fire OF either faction. Apart from his
admitted strength in his home county OF
Morris and the smaller adjacent counties,
Justice Pitney has a following in Essex
which, il It could be assured that he would
be a candidate, would make him a positive
force in the contest. AS a campaigner
and vote getter Justice Pitney has few
equals and many Republicans throughout
the State are Inclined to regard him as
the logical nominee OF the party.
Senator Briggs in discussing the political
~situation to-day was inclined to be opti-
fnistic. 1t was his first visit to the State
House since the sessions Of the House In
Vestigating Committee began and he was
not disposed to think that the committee
nha SHOWN up any ABUSES LOT WnlCn Jne
party at large would be condemned. He
said that all such probings we're productive
Of good, and even though the primary object
might be to create political capital he be-
leved the State would benefit by the result.
Senator Briggs was of the opinion that
the Assembly Investigation would lead to
legislation requiring all the various State
boards and commissions to have their
permanent headquarters at the State House
instead OF being scattered about the State;
,ha, tha v,abinn 80 nDr@r-ioNi4n -, l,,p,n
sums to the t~wenty-odd commissions and
State institutions, as at present, would be
abolished. and all payments in the future
would be made through the State Treas
urer's department direct, and that there
would be a considerable reduction In the
number of State boards and commissions,
either through mergings or the abolition
Of some Of them altogether.
of course continued Mr.. Briggs, Il am
anxious for the success of the party and have
naturally formed my own personal opinion
as TO the character of the man that should
be selected. II goes without saying that
the nominee should possess capacity to per-
form the duties of the office and be In touch
with advanced public sentiment, but capa-
Die Of distinguishing the real sentiment
from temporary clamor. Most Of the men
who have been mentioned in connection
With the Republican nomination possess
this requisite.
With that question disposed NJ the
matter of availability naturally presents
ITSELF. In considering this point locality
- bound TO play a part, and at this particu-
lar lime there seems to be a very general
feeling that the wishes Of the populous
northern section Of the State should he
consulted inasmuch as the present Cover
nor comes from southern New Jersey.
Then too, II cannot be denied that ~rivalries
and differences Of opinion upon public
questions and party administration have
existed more notably in the upper end OF
the State,
~ believe that il a man from that section
can he found who would he acceptable to
the serious thinking people OF the State
and against whom nothing can be said,
even though he has not been identified
with active politics in the past, he would
be the proper man for the Republicans
to name for Governor at this time
Have you any such maj In mindY' the
Senator was asked.
While ! am not in the business OF picking
ont candidates" he replied, III the choice
OF the convention should fall upon some
such man as Chandler w. Riker, | believe
there would be no question OF the success