Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-09-26
DEMOCRATS At
SOMERvILLE NAME
COL. VIM LIBBEY
Convention Picks Princeton Pro-
lessor for Candidate to
Congress.
CONVENTION MAKES
CHOICE UNANIMOUS
AS at Trenton, Delegates We're
Full of Enthusiasm and
Harmony.
trrom a star correspondent


SOMERVILLB, Sept. 26.-Democrats
of the Fourth congressional district,
comprising Hunterdon. Mercer and
Somerset counties. assembled here in
Somerset Hall today and nominated
Colonel William Libbey. of Princeton,
for Congress, in opposition to Congress
man Ira Wells Wood, who has been re-
nominated by the Republicans.
The Democratic nominee, while al
ways taking an active interest in pub
lie affairs, has never before accepted a
nomination for public office. He is a
lieutenant-colonel and assistant in
spector of rifle practise in the National
Guard and one of the best-known men
in his section in National Guard circles.
Colonel Libbey is a professor in
i Princeton University and a warm per-
sonal friend of President Woodrow
Wilson, of the institution, the Demo-
cratic candidate for Governor. 1t IS
the Princeton enthusiasm for DIR. VIII
son displayed by the alumni every
where that is partly responsible for
Colonel Libbey agreeing to accept the
nomination.
The convention was one of the most
enthusiastic gatherings of Democrats
assembled in this city since former
Congressman Alvah A.. Clark, of this
county was nominated, elected and
represented the district in Congress
from 1875 to 1879 inclusive.
Harmony and Success.
1t was more than a gathering Of
earnest delegates hoping for success.
It was made up of delegates who
seemed confident of victory, and were
apparently imbued with the thought
that the only question TO be deter
mined was the question of their nomi-
nees' plurality.
The same spirit that prevailed IN
Trenton on September 10. when DR..
Wilson appeared on the stage of the
TAYLOR Opera House and accepted the
Democratic nomination, and the plat
form of the convention that nominated
him prevailed here today in old Som
erset Hall.
The Mercer county delegation, more
than $50 strong, half of them dele
gates, were bubbling over with enthu-
siasm as they stepped from the special
train which brought them in over the
Reading railroad shortly before the
hour set for opening the convention.
The Mercer delegation had n caucus
on the train. which showed ninety
skhree votes for Colonel Libbey and
'thirty-four for former Senator George
70. Vanderbilt, who, while living in
Mercer county. has a voting residence
in Hunterdon county.
This delegates from the latter county,
many Of whom arrived last night, had
no candidate and stood by Colonel
Libbey, as did the Somerset delegation,
after e. complimentary mention of the
name of former ~Assemblyman Samuel
S. S~wackhamer. That left Colonel
Libbey the only choice and his NOM
inatlon was made unanimous.
william sperry Presides.
William l.. Sperry, of Trenton. was
made the unanimous choice of the con-
vention for chairman, n Daniel H.
Beekman, Of this city, for secretary of
the convention. The platform as pre-
scented by the committee on resolutions
and adopted, after indorsing the State
platform and the nomination of Wood
row Wilson for governor. reiterates the
platform declarations of 1908 and as
sails the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill as
being the real cause of the increase in
the cost of living.
Every mention of the name Of Guber-
material Candidate Wilson was cheered
to the echo, and a tremendous ovation
was rendered Congressional Candidate
Libbey when in his speech of accept
ance he extolled the merits of DR.. VII
son n predicted a repetition of the
Maine verdict on Tuesday, November s
Should Colonel Libby be elected &c
succeed Congressman Wood he will hi
the first Mercer county Democrat elect
ed to Congress in ffty-eight years ant
the second of the same political per
suasion to represent the county since
it was formed in 1880.
William Halstead, a Wing. was thu
first man chosen from Mercer and III
served in the twenty-fifth and twenty.
seventh congresses. George shelton, {
Democrat. was elected in 1850 n agai.
an 1852. He was succeeded by Georg'
&R. Robbins, Republican, elected in 1855
and 1856, after which Mercer lost tn,
office for a period of twenty-four year.
until ]. Hart Brewer, Republican, wa
elected in 1880 and again in 1882.
James Buchanan, Republican, wa
elected in 1884 and served eight years
There was another lapse of ten years
while Mercer was in the old Secont
district. When the lines We're changed
and Mercer put back in the Fourth dis
trict William NJ. Lanning, Republican
was elected and when he resigned t.
become United States District Cour
Judge he was succeeded by Congress
man Wood.