The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-21
GOVERNOR AND
BIG 4 CANDIDATES
RAPED BY CRITIC
Republican" Analyses Situa-
ton and Finds That "Self'
Dominates.
70 the Editor of the Evening star:

To the Editor OF the Evening Star:
The fight within the Republican party
as to who the Big -Four shall be has
ssumed considerable proportions, and
the intrlgues to accomplish either n
result or the other are numerous.
In the first place. Governor Fort,
while publicly stating that the days
when 4 single set of men shall dictate
these nominations are passed, has as
sumed for himself to say who the Big
Four shall be.
Colonel Kuser. for some reason or
other, has a grievance against the
United States Senators.
Governor Forts slate is Murphy,
Fort, Baird and Griggs. The only 'ea-
son Baird is in this combination is be-
cause the Others cannot get along with
out him. He will virtually control the
South Jersey delegation in the state
convention.
Governor Murphy, while generally
liked, has little personal or political
strength in Newark. except u as
may be given to him by the local menu
bers.
Naturally. being Governor. Mr.. Fort
meets with little opposition in his own
community.
Governor Griggs will have Passaic,
Bergen and Sussex to bring to this
combination.
All the State leaders are shy in sup
porting this combination of the Gov
errors, as they feel. or say. that the
two United States Senators should not
be omitted.
However, Governor Forts combina-
ton can safely rely upon Essex Coun-
ty, Hudson County, Bergen County,
Passaic and Sussex counties. All Fhe
rest of the State will be practically
unanimous for Baird, Kean and Briggs,
leaving Essex to determine who the
fourth one should be. and 1t is safe
to say that il the fight is left to Essex
between Fort and Murphy, that Fort
will win.
The privilege that Governor Fort has
taken to eliminate the two United
States Senators has created a very bit
ter feeling all through the State, and
has added much to the opposition of the
Governor caused by his insistence on
radical legislation. His desire to land
the vice-presidency seems to have
overshadowed everything else in his
mind, and he seems to be willing to go
to the extreme to accomplish that OBJ
ject.
Ex-Governor Stokes Is practically
leader of the anti-Fort forces in the
State, and the echoes of the late Sena-
torial fight which ended in the defeat
of MI. Dryden can indeed be heard.
Fort, Stokes and Murphy are all play
ing the political game for Kean's seat
in the United States Senate. Senator
Kean has kept quiet and taken no active
interest in any of the local and State
fights until even his best friends realize
that he has lost ground. In fact. IT may
be safely said that he has almost elm
mated himself from State politics.
Governor Forts surrender to Messrs
Colby, Martin and Record; in fact. "a
all the New Idea element, has driven
from his support the large conserva-
tive business element of his own COM
munity, and in the State his uncertain
attitude on the local option question,
saying one day that che was for local
option" and the next day that while
he was not opposed to it, he did not
think the time for local option had
come" has made him a great many
enemies inside of the church ranks to
which he has been catering since his
election as Governor, while it has made
him no friends among the liberal rur
of the Republican party.
Nc one can predict with n GER
talnty what the result of the fight may
be. but it can be safely said that sell
will be the all-dominant factor in the
fight. and no one OF the boys will droE
his entry, for by so doing he cannoi
accomplish his own success.
A REPUBLICAN.
Trenton, March l..