Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-04-18
Former Governor, by Petitions,
Is Appealing Directly
to the Voters.
PLAN WITHOUT PRECEDENT
IN NEW JERSEY POLITICS
Friends Confident Cumberland
County q. O. P. Candidate VIII
Land U. S. Senatorship.
From a star corre.pondent. l


TRENTON, April 1S.-Fornner Gov
ernor Edward c. Stokes today opened
the most unique campaign for a seat
in the United States Senate that ha )
ever been attempted in New Jersey
Political history in this State it with
out precedent along the lines adopted
by Mr.. Stokes. His scheme Is to ap-
peal directly to the voters instead or
building political fences to try TO cor
raj the next Legislature In a nut
shell, Mr.. Stokes believes in sowing
the seed deep. with the hope that the
growth will develop itself
Stokes's friends with Stokes's knowi-
edge and permission. of course, today
began the circulation of petitions in
dorsing the former Governor as a can
didate to succeed United States SEN
ator John Kean, of Union county The
petitions are to clinch to a certain ex-
tent the sentiment of the people at tn
primary election next September. The
customary method is TO make the CON
test for the seats in the State Legisla-
ture, but Mr.. Stokes is trying the pop
ular idea plan" How well the Stokes
scheme is going to work remains to be
seen. His personal friends and CO.
workers ale sanguine of success, but
there are others to be reclsoned with
such candidates in the Republican fold
as Governor Fort, Franklin Murphy,
John w. Griggs and David Baird, to
say nothing of the upheaval that will
result if the Democrats should control
the Legislature.
Seventy five neatly prepared petitions
began to circulate in Mr.. Stokes's home
county today-cumberlan county
Rainy weather did not interfere with the
program Following the canvass OF
! Cumberland county Stokes's admirers
win invade the other counties through-
out the State, and the force viii be in
creased voluntarily or otherwise. The
entire State viii be canvassed by
Stokes's boomers during the next few
months. and by the time that the legis-
lators are ready TO vote for their repre-
sentative in the United States Senate
Mr. Stokes viii. at least know what his
chances are
There is nothing to prevent other
candidates from working along the same
lines. but il is doubtful If those tactics
win be used.
The Stokes advance agents will pay
particular attention to South Jersey
| first The former Governor will be as
sured Of a solid South Jersey delega-
ton, but for two thiEgs-first and per
haps the most important the fact that
David Baird. of Camden, the recognized
! leader of the Republican party in that
section of the State. is an avowed can
didate for the United States Senate
himself, and the old saying that 'Dayy''
Baird generally gets what he goes after
I and second. the likelihood that Assem-
/ blyman Isaac Nichols. of Cumberland
county. will he elected to the state Sem
ate at the coming election. Nichols is
bitterly opposed to Stokes politically
/ If the asselnbiyman should be elected t.
/ the State Senate and he should not
/ change his attitude toward stokes, the
latter will be without Senatorial sup
port in his own county.
Stokes's friends do not, get cold feet
/ in contemplating that. however, Add
tional thereto. Essex county is the home
/ of Franklin Murphy, who is also MAX
! ing a contest for the can seat. Incl
dentally it might be of interest to
know that Senator kean himself is
looking for reelection. Figuring out the
strength in North Jersey, Mr. Stokes
will also have to deal with John w
Griggs. of Passaie county. Taking the
entire situation into account. the Stokes
sailing will be anything but smooth.
but the former Governor will at least
have the pleasure Of testing his
strength before the critical time ar
rives. That surely is worth some
thing to a man who is seeking the
highest gift within the State
| That stokes is strong candidate
nobody will deny He is an eloquent
and convincing talker and is known
from one end of the State to the other