New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-05
BRIGGS LEADS CAUCUS?
SECRET TRENTON SESSION
Baird SAID to Haze ReceiUed 90
Votes for United States Senator.
IBy Telegraph to The Tribune.I

Trenton. y. J., Feb. AT 10 o'clock tonight
the Republican members OF the New Jersey
LEGISLATURE went into a conference in the Su-
rrerne Court room TO take up the United States
senate fight AL were present except Senator
Ice. Of Atlantic County. who was detained at
home on account Of illness.
The caucus adjourned at 11:45. to reconvene
~ tomorrow. It was said that no final action
had been taken.
The conference. which was secret. lasted half
an hour. Il was rumored at its close that Baird
had twenty votes. At i o'clock the conference
was turned into caucus, # being reported that
all the members present had agreed to abide
~, lis decision. Briggs is believed TO have a
majority.
While It was generally known that Senator
T-yden had Withdrawn from the fight and was
unable TO appear here this afternoon, about
eftv people gathered in the Assembly chamber.
Senator HiIlcry read kilograms from Dr. III, OF
Newark. Senator Dryden's physician. and from
Colonel Kuser. the Senator's son-in-law, saying
THAT M Drydes.'s health would not permit
him to be present.
Senator Frelinghuysen, Of Somerset. read q
.erer-ar7 he had received from Senator Dryden
+o5av. regretting that he could not be present.
The crowd increased during the afternoon.
There were some of the Dryden men who were
aunarontIy doing what they could for Briggs.
colonel Buser was on deck and SO We're Trenton
friends Of both Dryden and Briggs. Mr.. Briggs
81 I'm his office most Of the time, and there was
: constant line of visitors, all congratulatins
him in advance. because his success was con-
sdered certain.
David Baird also enjoyed boom. The Cam
den leader made no attempt 10 conceal that he
was q candidate for Senator. His lieutenants
declared before dinner time that he had eighteen
votes pledged. When the report reached the
Briggs headquarters. the Briggs pledged vote
which had been stationary all day at twenty-five
RI once jumped to twenty-seven.
II was reported on excellent authority that
Governor stokes refused to have his name pre-
ss-ted at the caucus. and had SO requested
C'oIbv to say. The Essex Senator was ready to
Eupport Stokes Colby said he expected to go
into the caucus with the understanding that he
would not remain in case there was a likelihood
Of Baird winning. All the other anti-Dryden
men who remained out of caucus two weeks ago
expressed their intention 10 attend the caucus.
So certain were the leaders that Frank Q.
Briggs was going 20 be elected that fight IS
on for the Office Of State Treasurer, now held
by M Briggs. Two active asplrauts are David
VOORHEES,. chairman OF the Morris County Re-
publican Committee, and ex-senator Charles A.
Reed. Of Somerset County, and a resident OF
North Plafnfeld. Ex-Sherif Samuel Atchley, OF
Mercer County, IS also said TO be a candidate
and the friends Of Senator Wazelee, Of Bergen
say they are going to push him % the front
st the proper time
Assembivrnan Klennert, Of Passaic. leader OF
the majority in the House. announced to-night
++e+ Democratic conference would be held IN
the Speakers room at 1880 o'clock to-moffo"
morning.