The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-09

loved at the White E,use, and IL he
should be supplanted the Senate by
John w Griggs in 1911 there would be
no administration grief. Griggs's pro-
nouncement for Taft has puzzled some
of his friends, who have heard his crit
icisms of Roosevelt and who believe
they have reason to look upon Taft
as not whit more acceptable than his
political master as a presidential can
didate. They do not understand that
Griggs has an objective which he is to
be helped to attain by his alliance with
Governor Fort and that that objective
is the United States Senatorship in
1911 with the aid of the Governor. The
first step in the attainment of this
ultimate object is the election of Gov
ernor Fort and John w. Griggs as
delegates at-large in place of John
Kean and David Baird. The humilia-
tion would be for Kean, since this
would be an involuntary retirement of
a Senator, while it would not hurt the
presEfge of Baird,
oven Right in Stntc Convention.
ThAee will be an open fight in the.
STATELY convention, the delegates for
which will be elected in the usual way.
1t is understood that tine Governor Is
not particular as to the personnel of the
''big four" ds long as he and Griggs are
not shut out, and the fight in the con-
vention will be for the Endorsement of
Taft by the State delegation because,
of course the nomination of Jersey
man for Vice-President will be contin-
gent upon his State delegation support
ing the nomination of Taft for Presl-
dent 1t is the custom for the CHAIR
man of the State committee to go as
Che of the MISUNDERSTANDING to a ma
Z tional convention, and as Franklin
Murphy is the chairman, his title reads
clear. But politics nowadays are ui1-
conventional. Murphy expects to so,
and his friends rest in that belief, but
the fight is taking such shape that
he may be left out in the cold. Essex
delegates will no doubt support Fort
and Murphy in the convention. but
what others it is hard to tell It will
be natural for the Essex men to line up
to get votes for Murphy.
Ikcan Refuses TO Retire.
The suggestion has been made in high
quarters that as a means of restoring
party harmony both the United States
Senator's step aside. John Kean fatty
refuses to retire, but it is reasoned that
he might consent to do so in good COM
pany. What Senator Briggs thinks of
the proposition deponent sayeth not, but
his friends aver that he would not en-
tertain such a proposition for a mo-
ment And nobody likes to bell the cat.
The retirement of the two Senators to-
gether would be quite graceful, if not
picturesque, and 1t would have a calm
ing effect upon the rising wrath of the
factions, but it does not seem practical
BILE, and this looks like no-surrender
fight and fight to the finish.
It is understood that the plan is for
Griggs at Chicago to make the nomi-
mating speech for Governor Fort. as he
did in the State convention last year.
Griggs can be brilliant platform
talker, and he shines In & convention
hall He would be exceptionally bril-
liant on this occasion, for he would
have in sight the Senatorial shoes OF
John Kean as his reward.
AS far as John Griggs is concerned
he has no large personal following IN
the state outside of Passalc County,
but he reasonably relies for his
strength upon the power of the large
executive patronage.
Exclamation of Taft Sentiment.
The explanation is made in regard
to the protested Taft sentiment by
some prominent party men is that they
believe If the nopination does not go
to Taft the convention will be seized
by some spasm, as was the Democratic
national convention at Chicago when
it suddenly turned to Bryan, and would
nominate Roosevelt, but the answer is
given that Taft Is only a reflection OF Il
Roosevelt, is pledged to his policies ana,
in fact, is believed TO have prompted
some of them, Many of the stronger {
men Of the party, such as Barbour, OIL ]
Paterson, and Roebling, of Trenton
who will 20 as district delegates. are I
anti-Taft men who believe they might I
as we'll have Roosevelt as Taft as far
as preference goes. IL
In this connection there will be one
Of the bitterest fights in Hudson that
there has been in years, and the result
t1ere will largely depend on the ability
Of the Governor to hold the convention.
which he Is likely to do, Hudson Coun-
ty's delegation in the State convention
win be larger than that of Essex, and
the fight for control will be between =
the regulars under Rotterdam, VINO
support Taft, and doubtless also Griggs, y