New-York tribune., 1907-05-27
COLBY BACKS PITNEY.
Senator Kean Also Names Justice
for JcrseY's GOrernOr.


governorship revived this week. despite the
less intense interest in the investigation
with its disclosures and revelations. There really
seems a fight the Republican side, which
may result in pitched battle a. the weeks roll
toward the date for the convention. 1t is pretty
well assured that there will be no vacation taken
this by any who enters the list and
announces his candidacy for Governor. Nor Will
there be much recreation ahead Tor the
men who going TO help in the campaign for one
candidate or another. To begin with the House
investigation is 10 last until the Legislature
convenes again. June IS. Then the extra
Eion Itself promises he "a pretty long winded
affair. with the investigation keeping up the fun
more or less Indefinitely. If the months be
tween July and September ! are left for the cam
paign for tho conventions the leaders in the par
ties can consider them~elves lucky.
@acn candidate and each party will want all the
time available 10 patch UP fences, carry a can
vass and get the delegates-and particularly the
latter II is not going 10 he easy TO obtain dele
gates. There promises TO be an amazing amount
of Independence in the air tllis summer The
Who are wanted FOR delegates, well the men
who want to go viii find the usual cut and
dried programme prepared. To a large extent 1t is
going to be case Of Individual preferences. There
is likely 10 be a great deal Of shifting back and
Forth between the delegates, or the asplrants in
that direction. and the various candidates and
their supporters.
This Will he especially true on the Republican
side, from the present outlook There are three
active candidates. This does not mean that there
are lhree men who are holding out their hats and
something aid. Not at all. 1t would he considered
extremely undsniied for judges on the bench to
conduct an active canvass But Judges can have
lot of friends, and those friends can make the
hght fer their preference, and, after all. that
amounts to pretty much the same thing in the long
fun- Justice j. Franklin Fort does a
padge telling OF his aspirations. He does not
have 10. Mahlon Pitney does not need to adver-
use his political intentions Neither Of these
esteemed and honored judges has to come out, .
like debutantes &C the other sex at the opening
OF the social season. But they are in 1t just the
same Chandler Riker IS a judge the
bench like the others, but he IS just as reserved
and just as anxious Fort Pitney. These
little political fctons have be observed. but they
are so well understood by the public. and particu-
iaTly by the press, that they tossed aside good
naturedly, with a knowing sort Of a laugh
Fort Pitney and Riker the Republican lead
ers as the track is being laid There may he
other entries ard plenty of them before the race
really begins but the field stretches out TO the
vision Just only the three named are clearly
outlined. Fort and Rik Il from Essex. but
Fiksr lives in Newark and Fort il Orange. or
rather in East Orange. There are politicians in
South Jersey who declare Essex shall the
candidate this year as only Stokes hailed from
the southern part, while his three predecessors
GriEgs. voorhees, and Murphy came from the upper
tier Of counties they are denominated. They
seem 10 think South Jersey is entitled to least
one more Republican Governor before there is a
geographical shift Whatever of merit there may
be in this argument one has appeared as yet as
an active Republican candidate from South Jersey
flt;ley might prove good compromise candidate
in case OF any squabble about the section of the
state the next Republican Governor df the next
Governor is TO be Republican, should come from
Morris County is Judge Pitney's home It is a
eehuai county, 10 a certain extent and has not
had q Republican Governor. Theodore r Ran
oats from there who hlled the Ceyernor's chair
Norri oslf iIS sFJllo al sent1ent should prevail
iiily| i;I;| Would have to make his fight, in all proba-
II is hard to compute the relative strength of The
three leading Republican candidates. They ali are
from his competitors. Fort is more of a poll
s:rdn as sopi gf, SaIPa'sPer: & fitney Is re-
Wild be genial and magnetic enough in a cam
district Riker is also geat sneaker aud gsts iit
me attention and enthusiasm Of his audience. In
t1ag ~ WAYS ne ls the most popular and most likely
IL Colby element and 50 does Pitney. for that
1ampa{pn ernaPs d & one OF the odd festures Of the
i3rhators John Kean and Everett Colby are for
h. for Pitney exclusively while either Pitney or
@ Ir-Rer would sui. Colby There is pretty good rea
9nking along the same lines Of late It is certain
tlere IS vet lots of room for its growth
,s Frfnh ha o briggs The new United states Senator
ias Deen very quiet ana sphinXke of late. But he
Keeps an eye on all that is going on He has made
81 orintlee = fIi Torh ana the routine Of his office
as II VIII % eTeoP Vel MT Briggs is stil the active
his friends hone he Lii e st I alq
u IS doubtful. He is watching the trend Of events
ana what may he the outcome Of the House in
vestigation and the special session. Senator Briggs
and Clerk in Chancery Lewis to be two of the
very few politicians and ofceholders Of both par
ties who have been exempt from attacks of cold
began.
The investigating committee Of the House met
two DAYS last week. Friday and Saturday. There
VIII he only one session this week Saturday.
The members of the committee, and especially Mr.
Barnes the counsel want opportunity to look
after some important personal business. Then II
ddX va aarn
week from next week until the Legislature con-
venes again on June H. Those witnesses who have
been so badly mixed up regarding their accounts
VIII welcome the few extra Us this week in order
70 give them chance to get their second wind and
see If they cannot make explanations that are more
satisfactory and can be understood by the public
The Of the State Fish
and Game Commission ne will issue A state
meut ia the public in few days There some
others who would like make statements. but they
are doubtful whether they would help their case
materially by going into print