The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-08-09

no &C OCENIH'
will vote either for the candidate for
United States Senator receiving the
most votes in their particular county
or for the candidate receiving the larg-
est vote in the State at large. That
at least, is what the law contemplates.
Senators Like Law.
1t has never been called into opera
ton, although most of the Senators
elected in the last two years have de-
clared their intention of voting for the
man of their party for Senator who
shall receive the largest vote in the
State as a whole. There is nothing in
the act that binds the prospective legis-
lators to it's provisions other than the
moral obligation they may assume in
subscribing to one or other of its al
ternatives.
Governor John Franklin Fort, whose
home is in Essex, has long had his
heart set on Federal office as the
elimination of his career. His strength
in a contest for the Senatorship to
take place in the meeting of the Legis-
lature elected lex year is not easily
estimated today. He is Governor. He
has distributed and redistributed more
lucrative and influential offices than
any of his predecessors in the Cover
norship, with a possible exception or
so.
Should he succeed in forcing the
adoption of his constitutional amend
ments, with their arrangement for re-
organization of the judiciary under his
guidance, his power will be enhanced
UNNECESSARILY in certain quarters.
The Governor has denied hat he is
a candidate for the Senatorship. He
says he has passed the time when 1.-The
glitter of political office" has any
charm for him. That is to be accepted
as perfectly sincere for the time being,
but what of the future? He has dis
played a marked ~friendliness for Sena-
tor Kean and his Supporters of late
and that has given rise to two stories
that essay to interpret his conduct.
One is that the Governor would clear
the field of all other antagonists for
the Senatorship and then cas-
swords with Mr.. Kean when the time
comes; in other words, that the two
are parties to a truce that has been en-
tered into without either written or
verbal understanding, knowing that the
time is coming when they will lock
arms in battle. HI other story is to
the effect that the Governor will sup
port Mr.. Kean for the S~enatorship and
in return that he will have the senior
Senator's backing in addition to the
friendship of President Taft, which he
now enjoys, TO assist him in securing
appointment to the United States Su-
prene Court bench.
Briggs to Be Considered.
But We are going far and have not
mentioned the man who was In line
for the Presidency of the United States
at one time and who ma be a big
figure again in the national party coun-
ellis, former Governor and former
United States Attorney-General John
w. Griggs. In his cam, strong mind
one sees the characteristics that are
attributed to the Senators of ancient
Rome.
Like some of the other distinguished
men who have been here set down as
likely material for the Senatorship, one
could well imagine Mr.. Griggs with
draped toga and arms folded across
his treast. He was elected to the Gov
ernorship after a long period of Demo-
cratic success by the largest plurality
the State had ever given a Gubernatorial
candidate. When he resigned the Gov
ernorshlp to which he had been elevated
to accept the Attorney-Generalship in
the Cabinet of the late President Will
lam Mckinley, and then in turn re-
signed from his Cabinet office to enter
upon a great law practise In New
York, his popularity suffered.
Resembling in characteristics and
attainments the late General Banjamin
Harrison, former Governor Griggs,
Should he go about it, might marshal a
marvellous force under his standard for
the Senatorship. He has never lost
the regard of the party leaders in his
home city of Paterson, and might hold
the northern part of the State solidly
for his candidacy for the Senatorship
Former Governor Edward C. Stokes
who is credited politically to his home
county of Cumberland, has never failed
to make his position clear in regard t.
the Senatorship. 1t is the cherished
ambition of his life to go to the United
States Senate. He is hardly likely tc
make a sharp fight g year, however
realizing that Senator Briggs as g
Mercer County man is credited to Soutf
Jersey. Should 1t be considered bes
Tor the interests of the party to nomi.
nate Mr.. Stokes for Governor mex
year he would accept and make tn,
race for his old office, going ~seriousl,
into the contest for the SenatorshiI
with the expiration of the term o
Senator Briggs In 1918. 1t will be re,
memberod that when Senator Dryder
was elected by the Legislature of 1870
he defeated MIR. Stokes in caucus by til,
narrow margin of one vote.
Former Governor Franklin Murphy
Of Newark. chairman of the State Re.
publican Committee. BrigadIer-G Genera
G. Edward Murray, of Trenton, ant
many others who are strong in theii
party and out of 1t. may be called upor
to serve their State at Washington II
event of a Republican Legislator,
being chosen in the fall of 1910. So far