Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-07-12
Popular Paterson Man Likely to
Get Nomination in the
Fall,
ONLY TWO OTHERS ARE
IN A RECEPTIVE MOOD
They Are State Senators Wake
lee and Frelingliuysen-He
Takes Optimistic View.

II the Republican State convention
should be held tomorrow instead of
Wednesday, September 81. when it
Nobably win be held in Taylor Opera
House. Trenton. the nominee for Gov
ernor would be Vivian M. Lewis, of
Paterson, and the selection would be
made on the first formal ballot.
It is highly probable that the popular
young commissioner of banking and
insurance win be the nominee. anyhow.
The fact remains that. with the excep-
ton of State Senator Edmund w.
Wake1ee, of Bergen, and Joseph G.
Frelinghuysen. of Somerset. no other
candidates of prominence appear to be
even IN a receptive mood.
WV" Lewis-as his friends, who are
legion, affectionately term him-has
been very much in earnest so far as
his candidacy is concerned, ever since
the close of the legislative session. His
boom had been launched even prior to
that time. and has invariably been
coupled with that of former Governor
Edward c. Stokes for United States
senator.
Unwilling to Admit 1t.
Unlike some others who have been
named as possible gubernatorial nomi-
nees. "viv" Lewis is unwilling to admit
that this may prove an off year for
Republican candidates. On the con-
trary, he Is inclined to- take as opti-
mistic a view of the outlook as State
Chairman Franklin Murphy. and be-
lieves with the latter that his party
should win on the record of President
Taft and the last Congress.
Mr.. Lewis has always been optimistic
and inclined to look on the sunny side
Of everything. Like his closest COM
petitors for the Republican nomination
l-Wakelee and Ffehnghuysen-he was
born in 1859, and celebrated the 41st
anniversary of his birth June last.
| Senator Frelinghuysen was born three
months earlier. March IL. and Wakelee
is the leading candidates junior by
| five months.
Mr.. Lewis is an attorney and coun-
selor-at-law with offices in Paterson.
For more than ten years. or prior to
his election to the House OF Assembly
| in 1898, Mr.. Lewis has been engaged In
the service Of the State.
! Prior to his appointment as clerk in
Chancery by Governor Murphy in 1904
! to fill the vacancy caused by the retire
ment of Edward c. Stokes, then gov
ernor- r-elect. Mr.. Lewis had been special
counsel to the State Board of Health.
as we'll as an Assemblyman during the
sessions Of 1899, 1900 and 1901.
| During his last year as assemblyman
Mr.. Lewis was leader of the Republi-
can majority. The House that year
stood forty-flve Republicans to fifteen
Democrats and the duties Of the leader
were not over-arduous.
Popular with Minority.
Leader Lewis was as popular with
the minority as with the members Of
his own political persuasion. and could
always rely on them to aid him In
| fghting the efforts Of the Essex dele
CATION to force Passaic to agree to the
Passaic valley relief sewer problem.
| Prior to his admission to the bar
Mr.. Lewis was a newspaper cores
pondent of considerable note. His popu-
| larity with the fraternity has never
waned, and many of his former CO.
workers can see no other candidate
than "viv" Lewis. The sheriffs' as
sociation Of the State has a similar
view, and 1t goes without saying that
the backing of the sheriff Is a. good
thing to have on primary day.
| After his temporary appointment as
clerk in Chancery, Mr.. Lewis was
named for full term in the same
office by Governor Stokes in 1905. He
was one of the few State officials
whose office escaped the criticism of
the Hahn Investigating Committee in
1907, when almost every other depart
ment was found loosely conducted.
Last year just as his term as clerk in
| Chancery was about to expire Mr..
Lewis was rendered and accepted his
present office to succeed David O..
Watkins, who was retired for political
reasons. The salary is $4,000 year
and the term three years. Inasmuch
as it is not judicial position Mr..
Lewis would hardly resign unless
elected as Governor.